Truly Unfortunate

Why there is so much backlash against the potential for a female president of the United States is puzzling. American women, after all, are not socially repressed. They are collectively strong individuals who heralded a new horizon for female accomplishment when they stridently introduced female empowerment through their insistence on the equality of the genders. Women's liberation spread fast and it encouraged women to become themselves, not the shadows of their male half of the population.

So why so much resentment among the male electorate at the possibility of a female president? And why the reluctant hesitation on the part of the female electorate at the potential of bringing one of their own to the helm of government? The traditional male candidates and successful few that have attained to the White House haven't, after all, done such an outstanding job of heading the United States through peaceful co-existence with their international neighbours, through troublesome internal problems. Why not give women the opportunity to demonstrate their competence?

Perhaps it's because on this particular occasion, there's an embarrassment of riches represented by two very strong candidates straining at the end of a long competitive process to demonstrate that they and they alone represent the ultimately successful choice. Partisanship has overtaken good fellowship, but that's to be expected in the heat of the race to succeed. Good intentions and civility have slipped up here and there. Fervent supporters of one or the other have intervened to cast a shadowy glance of suspicion on the other.

The fact still remains that the Democratic Party hit gold this time around, and the enthusiasm of their supporters in narrowing their selection to two prime and outstanding candidates is ample evidence of that. The two candidates represent ground-breaking 'firsts' in the candidacy of either party in an American presidency race. First credible female candidate, first presentably neutral black candidate - in the sense that he isn't offering as a black candidate, but as a representative American candidate, foot in both worlds.

And there's little doubt that Senator Barack Obama is an honourable man of good intentions and spotless personal integrity, just incidentally lacking requisite experience. There is the little matter of his unfortunate lapse in judgement in associating himself with unsavoury individuals, but he has acquitted himself well enough in his own defence. And straddling both sides of the great black-white divide he does promise enticingly as a healing element in American society.

Yet it will take more than one strong candidate oozing good will and a promise of hope for the future to convulsively alter a traditionally discriminatory society. The society as a whole - not merely the liberal-minded, the guilt-laden, the young and the bold, but a majority of Americans - black and white - who must devote themselves to the task of healing the wounds of the past.

In the final analysis it might take someone of the calibre of a dedicated woman with experience, political stamina, and sheer determination to represent all of the people of America to begin the healing process. While at the same time demonstrate to doubters that she has the qualifications - as much as any man - to lead that great country in a direction its entire community will lend itself to.

After which time, Senator Obama, still a young man, could, if he would, offer himself once again with his great talents, to the public weal.