RE: Angry African. I don’t see Obama as the “American Mandela” – he simply has not suffered anything even approaching the torment faced by Mandela in defending his stand (McCain, obviously, has much more in common with Mandela on this count).
More to the point, I am pretty proud of this country as it stands. I don’t *need* Obama to make me proud. I am proud that we thought it within our national mission to liberate Iraq despite how it has turned out. I am proud that we are the kind of people who would decry Gitmo even though I think that the reality of the situation is that we needed something like it at the war’s outset. And I’d argue that the world is a rough and tumble place: we won’t take our “rightful place” by just mouthing platitudes.
With ALL that being said, you are damn right to dress down Harry for his brainless comparisons of Obama to Mugabe. I won’t be voting for Obama but, if he is elected, I’ll be proud to live in a country in which one’s skin color isn’t a disqualification for leadership. If and when I disagree with his policies I will do so in a respectful manner; honoring his position as our chosen president.
