I watched both the Republican and Democratic
National Conventions that took place within the last two weeks. And the thing
that struck me the most was not just how patriotic Americans feel about their
country (of course there is that), but the quality of speeches by most of those
that were given the honour of addressing the delegates was
eye opening.
There was a lot
of personality bashing, sure, but the focus was more on the issues that afflict The United States of
America. Everyone was so passionate about their respective candidate, Mitt
Romney for the Republicans and President Barack Obama for the Democrats. And
the focus was not just about the candidates and whether you liked them or not
(there was that too), it was about what they said they would do for their
country and how they delivered their message.
Now, I am
personally not a fan of Romney and the Republicans and I hope he loses the
election in November. Badly. However,
since I do not have a dog in that fight, I leave that to the Americans.
-cbsnews.com
Mitt Romney
So, my focus
right now is on the Democratic National Convention and more specifically the
speeches by Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Mrs Obama is easily
her husband’s biggest cheerleader and it showed when she spoke passionately
about him as a husband, a father and as president. She referenced the
challenges of running a nation like the United States in its current economic
situation, and how the president was doing the best for the American people.
Bill Clinton,
who is being touted as one of the greatest US presidents of all time, had very
kind things to say about Obama. He acknowledged that when he was president, that was an easier time for America, and that he
did not have to deal with what the current president has to now. But he expressed
full confidence in Obama’s ability to deliver.
-hiphopwired.com
Bill
Clinton
Then President
Obama spoke to the American people. It was a markedly different speech from the
ones he gave in the last two Democratic conventions. In 2004, he was a senator
giving the keynote speech in support of the nomination of Senator John Kerry
for president. In 2008, he gave his own acceptance speech as presidential
nominee. What stood out in both of these speeches was the high level of hope
expressed.
As president in
2012, Obama seems to have been hit by the realities of the presidency, and so
he tempered this year’s speech. Instead of rhetoric and blind optimism about
the future, he chose to be honest about the troubles bedevilling his country,
and what could reasonably be done
about them. It may not have been one of his most rousing of speeches
(personally, I will never forget his victory speech in Grant Park, Chicago
after he won the 2008 election), but it was one of his most candid.
–opposingviews.com
President Barack Obama
Now, my point is
that words and perhaps more importantly, how they are delivered, have the power
to move masses. These two American presidents, Clinton and Obama understood
this long ago. It helps that they are both gifted with charisma and charm
(important ingredients in successful politicians).
That is how
Clinton won the presidency twice, and why Obama might be on his way to a second
term. By crafting words in such a passionate way to articulate their vision,
and to connect with their electorate. Needless to say, words must be backed by
action.
Back to Kenya.
To be quite
honest, the last time I came close to feeling moved by a political speech must
have been in 2002. Daniel Moi was retiring as president and we could not wait
to see the back of him fast enough. Some of us even had the audacity to pelt
him with mud balls. The incoming president, Mwai Kibaki, gave what I consider
to be the best speech of his political life.
I will not go
into the details of what he said, we all remember. But do you remember how he said it? Man, I still get goose
bumps whenever I watch clips of it almost ten years later. And Kenyans from all
walks of life responded to Kibaki in big ways. We even “arrested” traffic cops
for daring to take bribes when the
president himself had declared zero tolerance on corruption!
-csmonitor.com
President Mwai
Kibaki
That is what I am talking
about.
So, heading
towards the elections of March, 2013, who among all the candidates lining up to
succeed President Kibaki has the ability to get to us like that? Who has the
charisma and charm to use their personal story like Obama, or Clinton’s ability
to break down complex issues into bullet points, to reach out and touch us in
such a personal way that we would almost literally eat out of their hand?
Are we fired up
and ready to go for any one candidate on the issues, rather than our tribal affinity?
You be the judge
of that.
In Kenya, our politicians lack both the charisma and charm required to woo their voters. Its really a wonder how we end up feeling inspired enough to queue for long hours to elect "leaders" whose ability to inspire us is nil at best. This election, let us vote for the "Obama-like" hope inspiring and positive candidate and not for the lunatics we have always been drawn to.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Leez. Though I must say I'll not risk holding my breath on that one. I might just suffocate. The most likely thing is that the candidate with the most money to run a juggernaut of a campaign wins the election.
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