My interest in America politics came shortly after George W. Bush won the election in 2000.
I remember being in college the day of 9/11 and remember feeling horror, shock and distress. I had no family in the U.S. at the time but some of my country men died in that bombing.
Follow me below the fold to find out my flaming obsession.
In the months before the war in Iraq, I remember thinking that George Bush was crazy when he started talking about war. I remember looking on in horror and felling my stomach clench when the first bomb fell. I was angry with George Bush and his cronies. I wondered how the greatest nation on earth could just go in and drop a bomb another nation just like that. I feared for my tiny country, after all we were in Bush's backyard, when would he turn on us? My Prime Minister didn't come out in support of Bush, and rumor had it Bush was upset. I feared for my country even more.
In 2004, I barely followed the election. I thought the Americans couldn't be crazy enough to elect Bush again. Could they? The day after the election the newspapers had it that Kerry had lost, and I lost it. I cried, I was in disbelief. What went wrong I asked? But I had no reason to cry; did I? What did I do to help? How could I have helped? I was across an Ocean right?
Early 2007 I thought Hillary would have won so I could relax. In the latter part of 2007 I got of those nasty emails (Obama is a Muslim, doesn't say the pledge of allegiance etc, etc). That couldn't be right I thought, that's crazy, so I googled the information and I went on his website (any of you remember when he was having dinner with those 5 person in the early part of the campaign). I watched all the videos, I read all the information and I read the blogs and let me tell you there were only a few people on the blogs.
Sadly my life intruded and it wasn't until January 2008 that I was introduced to him again. I lurked on his website until I finally signed up. I read up on him again and I went to all the links posted by other members on the blog because I wanted to be informed. I would not sit back and allow 2004 to happen again, but what could a single Jamaican do to help?
And thus brought forth my obsession.
You see my friend is an American citizen and she has two daughters. If I could talk to them about Obama, that's three votes, in turn they talk to their family and friends and that's a whole host of votes. I remember seeing a link on my BO for Americans who could vote from abroad in the Primary and I gave it to her and made sure they voted. Three direct votes for Obama, I was elated. I couldn't stop though, what more could I do I asked. I couldn't donate but if I could get my friend and her girlfriend to buy my some shirts and buttons and signs (sadly I haven't gotten then yet, but hopefully this weekend I will). Still I was not satisfied, I spoke about Obama to everyone I met. Most Jamaicans have family abroad, one tiny seed planted could bear fruit. But the fire was still there, more was left to be done so I got some phone credit and I started to phonebank and everytime he won I was elated and everytime he lost, I swore I would work harder. The night he won the nomination, I sat in bed with my 1 year old son and I wept, I helped this man win.
The 2008 election is almost upon us and I am still here and I will fight, my passion and my obsession haven't waned. I am here almost everyday and whenever the nominee ask for donations I will badger my friend and her friends, I am hoarding phone credits to phonebank when he requires, I will smack down any bald face lies about him, and I will continue to talk about him with everyone I meet.
My Obsession is to get Barack Obama in the White House.