Lynch mob lies
Garry Kasparov November 05, 2008
The Australian
THERE is no doubt Barack Obama’s election as the next president of the US would have an impact on how many in the rest of the world think about the sole superpower. Obama represents a new generation of leadership, and he sounds and looks very different from his predecessors.
Here in Russia, as in most places I have visited recently, Obama’s appearance — he would be the first black leader of any world power — is getting the most attention. His victory would mark the end of the view of the US still promoted by many in Russia, a line used by the Soviets to counter accusations of repression: “Ah, but in the US they lynch negroes.” It is practically conventional wisdom, and not just in Russia, that in the US the rich WASPs and Jews exploit the poor blacks and Latinos. If Obama wins, it will be as if suddenly everyone can see the world is undeniably round.
Unfortunately, most would rather talk about what this is likely to mean for race relations in the US instead of confronting the racism and xenophobia in our own nations. But the only thing that will matter, and surprisingly soon, is whether Obama acts differently. The window of opportunity for Obama to take advantage of the world’s curiosity and goodwill will be small. The crises we face are too big; the next US president will not enjoy much of a grace period.
Obama would be halfway there simply by virtue of not being George W. Bush who, rightly in some cases and wrongly in others, has come to symbolise every problem anyone has ever had with the US, Americans and US power abroad.
Bush is practically a bouquet of the classic American stereotypes, the ones so easy to hate: rich, inarticulate, uninterested in the world, stridently religious and hasty to act. (And the images of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina seemingly exemplified the stereotype of Americans as racists and were viewed largely without surprise abroad. Of course they wouldn’t rescue poor black people.) Obama would explode these stereotypes. But the world’s multitude of grievances against the Bush administration quickly would be laid on Obama’s doorstep if he were to fail to back up his inspiring rhetoric with decisive action.
He could get off to a good start by making it clear he does not consider the people of Russia to be the enemy of the US. As in most authoritarian states, the Putin regime does not represent most of its citizens. Kremlin propaganda works hard to present the US as Russia’s adversary. Obama could strike a blow against that image by speaking out against dictatorial leaders in Russia and across the world.
Then those words must be quickly followed up with deeds.
Garry Kasparov, a leader of The Other Russia coalition (theotherrussia.org), is a former world chess champion and lives in Moscow and St Petersburg.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/
I guess that Kasparov has hope in Obama. Don’t we all!
What does Kasparov mean with “decisive action” ?
Bomb Iran ?
Bomb Iran first and then Russia ?
How “Putin does not represent” the russian people ?
Ridiculous. The guy has approval rates Bush and his camarilla never had.
Few years ago Kasparov advocated the idea of invading not only Iraque but ALL middle east countries and redrawing the map in good old 19th century colonial style.
Hopefully he will never have the chance to realize any of his ideas. We have to trust in the russian people 😉
To look at politics like at a chessboard can become quite bizar.
You have to deal with human lifes and not just move around wooden peaces and sacrifice some of them according to your ingenious home analysis.
Few years ago Kasparov advocated the idea of invading not only Iraque but ALL middle east countries and redrawing the map in good old 19th century colonial style.
Did Kasparov really say that?
Well….in that case I change my view, which was that just because somebody can see many moves ahead in chess, the person can’t necessarily see ahead in real life issues. If Kasparov said that, he was more correct than many can imagine. Because eventually that is exactly what will happen in the future, when the world’s oil supply will start running out (whenever that may be). The question is not whether it will happen or not (because it will), but when will it happen and who will be in the position do it so.
Speak out against them? He was funded by them…
when the world’s oil supply will start running out (whenever that may be). The question is not whether it will happen or not (because it will), but when will it happen and who will be in the position do it so.
Mmh, who’s got lots of oil then?
Iraque (mission accomplished), Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait etc., Lybia, Venezuela, a lot of oil in Afrika.
Did I forget some country? Oh the Russians have so much oil and gas too.
It should be a very clever maneuver to invade all those countries before China does.
May God bless America and safe the rest of the world.
Caption:
Gary passes the invisible basketball to Korchnoi who promptly said:
“This will be the first time and the last time you pass an invisible basketball to me in your life, Ja?”
♫