Lessons from the US Elections

Yes. They. Did. Barack Obama's story ended in decisive victory.

According to the Wall Street Journal's editorial (which went to press before the counting is over):

A man of mixed race has now reached the pinnacle of U.S. power only two generations since the end of Jim Crow. This is a tribute to American opportunity, and it is something that has never happened in another Western democracy -- notwithstanding European condescension about "racist" America. That blacks voted for Mr. Obama so heavily is a typical rite of American passage, and it is similar to the kind of cultural pride that Catholics took in the victory of John Kennedy in 1960.

Obama delivered a very emphatic and inspiring victory speech saying, "We are, and always will be, the United States of America."

Obama said, "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

As Americans rejoiced in the historic win of Obama, the world cheered. In Kenya, they feasted, slaughtered a bull and declared Wednesday, a national holiday to celebrate the victory of their 'son' which Kenyan President Kibaki called 'our own victory'.

Even before the razzle dazzle of the most watched, most talked about election in years starts to fade, Kenyans pondered on what lessons they can learn from the US elections.

. . . Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama fought to secure the most powerful political office in America, and on earth.

Yet, though the stakes were quite high, there were no allegations of ballot rigging, gerrymandering, regional or ethnic zoning, or any kind of violence.

But of more import to us in Kenya is election violence. We have suffered from it for too many years, culminating in the murderous post-election chaos experienced early this year.

If such an outcome is unthinkable in the US, why is it so common in this part of the world? The answer could simply be that we are incapable of harbouring any tolerance for each others’ points of view.

Here is one value that can profit us in Kenya — that true democracy requires tolerance and the ability to give in with grace when we lose a political contest.

It is also a value that can profit us in the Philippines.