A slave becomes president. Now that’s Karma. Barack Obama is the president elect of the United States of America. He is America’s first ever Black president. It’s been a long time in coming but the conquered are now the conquerors. If Obama got anything right it was in his slogan “Yes We Can.”
“Can we change?” asks Obama and then swiftly answers his own question, “Yes we Can!” The questions rolled off his tongue “Can we beat Racism?” – “Yes we can!”; “Can we create peace and prosperity?” – “Yes we Can!” The cliches run of his tongue like water cascading down a waterfall, but it is inspiring and America has bought it. And thank god for that! It’s a long way from Obama’s ancestors chained to the bottom of a boat, transported thousands of miles, sold to the highest bidder and then more often than not abused.
Obama won – That’s Karma!
Deaf people and any people who face discrimination should be inspired by Obama. We should adopt his slogan – ” Yes we can!” Ask the question – “Can we have 100% captioning.” – Answer it at the top of your voice or with the most assertive and flamboyant signing you can muster – “YES WE CAN!” Ask the question – “Can we run our own lives and organisations?” Answer it with gusto – “YES WE CAN!” Ask the question – “Can we make Australia provide for all our communication needs?” What’s the answer? “YES WE CAN!”
What Obama has shown, as Nelson Mandela had shown before him is that the little people can win. From descendant of slaves to leader of the free world! If that’s possible, well the small matter of 100% captioning should be a piece of cake. It’s already happening in America! Me thinks we accept too little – “Can we get more?” – “YES WE CAN!” You just gotta believe.
The Rebuttal 
Can we dare to dream of one day having a Deaf or hearing impaired Prime Minister or Federal Member of Parliament who will advocate fervently for Deaf and hearing impaired issues?….
YES WE CAN!
(Sorry, ickle Johnny Howard may be hearing impaired, but he just never cut it!)
He and his cohorts did give us NABS .. However lopsided it is .. Then and again they gave us the AFE too … Can we get rid of it .. YES WE CAN … eventually and with difficulty .. And good riddance to bad rubbbish I say.
Where do you get the idea his ancestors were slaves?
Well .. Pperhaps not his … but Black Americans and slavery have a big pwrt of American history …. So more coreectly Obama represents a past of links with slavery.
“a slave becomes president” in no time during his life was Barack Obama a slave, just so you know. Altough, yes it is all very liberating and inspiring for all people of color and all people of various disability….
The point is, that Obama represents a people who were slaves, and that by becoming president, shows that it is possible to overcome oppression and prejudice, rising above it.
The irony of course, is that black people an [and still are] an oppressed people, led and rule dover by whites, are being lead by a blackman!
Thank you ztony for saving me having to make the point.
Thanks ro all for their comments. Makes for intyeresting reading.
CEO GA GA, (Sung to the tune of Radio Ga Ga)
I am Deaf and I know what’s right
CEO – my ideas took light
And everything I had to know
Oppressed by my CEO
You gave them their very first start
Through changes of laws – and Holden cars
You made us laugh – you made us cry
You made us feel like real small fry
CEO
I don’t want to become a background boy
A backdrop for you and your toys
You just don’t know or just don’t care
And just complain because we’re there
You had your time you had the power
Leaving will be your finest hour
CEO
All we hear is CEO ga ga
CEO goo goo
CEO ga ga
All we hear is CEO ga ga
CEO blah blah
CEO what’s new?
No one here loves you
We see the change – Admire your cars
Overseas trips, whose money yes ours
We hardly need to use our ears
How Deaf changed through the years
Lets hope you soon leave old friend
No longer on you do we depend
Don’t stick around cos we wont miss you
Grown tired of of all your residuals
You had your time you had the power
Leaving will be your finest hour
CEO
All we hear is CEO ga ga
CEO goo goo
CEO ga ga
All we hear is CEO ga ga
CEO goo goo
CEO ga ga
All we hear is CEO ga ga
CEO blah blah
CEO what’s new?
No one here loves you
CEO ga ga
CEO ga ga
CEO ga ga
CEO
You had your time you had the power
Leaving will be your finest hour
that was immediately my thought when Barak Obama was announced president. The world is changing. We have reached a point where the down-trodden people of the world will have a chance to be equal, happy, successful and included.
That is all races of people, and of all disabilities and abilities.
It was such a moment of hope … I would have never respected America again if Palin/McCain had gotten in. Such red-necks – and they actually had ‘reclaimed’ the term ‘red-neck’ as well. What idiots.
but then again – did I ever respect America? No.