Should It Matter That Barack Obama Is Black?

Let me get this statement out of the way first: This is not in any way meant to be a racist post, against blacks OR whites. I want to be clear on that. I'm just interested.

I'm not disputing that for African Americans, to have a black president for the first time is a helluva big thing, and proves that civil rights have come so far... but I guess I'm just hoping that Obama was elected on his policies, not just because it's a "First"? But I've got to admit too, being neither American or coloured, I still feel a bit of pride and happiness that he got elected... without having any real knowledge of his policies - up until yesterday, I probably couldn't even have told you if he was Democrat or Republican.

I don't even really know where this is coming from... I just started thinking about this and then some other "Firsts" that I have yet to experience:

- First change of Monarch
- First change of currency (I was born post decimalisation)
- First woman president of America

There are probably others.

State Of Independence

I can do this, because although it's nearly over at this side of the Atlantic Ocean, somewhere over in that direction (points vaguely Westward), it's still the 4th of July... So...

Happy Independence Day, America!

What actually brought it to mind today is that it was our store Flunky's birthday... and let's just say it was a kind of depressing landmark one... And that brought us on to Independence Day... and all 3 of us agreed how good the American national anthem was as an anthem (if it's sung right, without Mariah / Whitney-esque warblings) - and then we had to confess that none of us actually knew the words properly! (I knew the most, because I knew the bits about "the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air")...

So I've spent a while looking on YouTube for a decent version... and finally I found this one, sung by The Dixie Chicks at a Super Bowl or something like that...

So, what are the words? Well, the first verse goes like so...

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

The Musical Interlude...

Subtitled: USA, A-Okay!

For any Americans who stumble upon my blog, Happy Independence Day!

"Independent Love Song" by Scarlet...

Simon & Garfunkel and "America"...