Michael J. Fox
Day Two of Obama's America
06/11/08 18:37 Filed in: Politics
So it's now two days since the big election and I'm
still following the news like a fiend. Who would have
thought it?
And I saw a CNN reporter (again, sorry I didn't catch the name) actually make the point today that I made in yesterday's blog that, while the election represents a clear step ahead on racial grounds, the rights of the Queer Community were significantly undermined at the same time. As I said in a post-script note to yesterday's blog, I find it absolutely appalling that the basic, fundamental human rights of any group can be left at the mercy of the majority in the community.
I also note that another concern I expressed yesterday is already coming true: supporters of Mr. Obama are already stating publicly their expectation that their issue should be addressed first once Mr. Obama takes office.
Michael J. Fox (a Canadian actor who has become the public face of Parkinson's Disease in the US) has stated that one of Mr. Obama's first acts as President should be to pass a bill supporting stem cell research, a bill that was killed by Bush and his gang. I'm a big fan of Mr. Fox's and I have seen personally how devastating a disease Parkinson's can be. I support stem cell research one hundred per cent and I agree that any and every government should support this kind of research.
But if every person who supported Mr. Obama in his campaign now comes forward to demand that their particular issue should be addressed first, Mr. Obama will be disappointing a lot of people. Mr. Fox, please, recognise the pressure Mr. Obama will be under, understand the mess he is inheriting both domestically and internationally, and back off. Give him time and space. It might be hard for you to do, considering the personal cost you are paying as each day passes, but recognise that the list of issues demanding his attention is a mile long. And most (if not all) are life and death dilemmas.
Yes, ensure that your issue remains on the table. But please, don't create unreasonable expectations that will only serve to diminish Mr. Obama and the work he does. He's facing a huge mountain of trouble and he's going to have all kinds of people putting up barriers in hopes he fails: don't become one of them.
And I saw a CNN reporter (again, sorry I didn't catch the name) actually make the point today that I made in yesterday's blog that, while the election represents a clear step ahead on racial grounds, the rights of the Queer Community were significantly undermined at the same time. As I said in a post-script note to yesterday's blog, I find it absolutely appalling that the basic, fundamental human rights of any group can be left at the mercy of the majority in the community.
I also note that another concern I expressed yesterday is already coming true: supporters of Mr. Obama are already stating publicly their expectation that their issue should be addressed first once Mr. Obama takes office.
Michael J. Fox (a Canadian actor who has become the public face of Parkinson's Disease in the US) has stated that one of Mr. Obama's first acts as President should be to pass a bill supporting stem cell research, a bill that was killed by Bush and his gang. I'm a big fan of Mr. Fox's and I have seen personally how devastating a disease Parkinson's can be. I support stem cell research one hundred per cent and I agree that any and every government should support this kind of research.
But if every person who supported Mr. Obama in his campaign now comes forward to demand that their particular issue should be addressed first, Mr. Obama will be disappointing a lot of people. Mr. Fox, please, recognise the pressure Mr. Obama will be under, understand the mess he is inheriting both domestically and internationally, and back off. Give him time and space. It might be hard for you to do, considering the personal cost you are paying as each day passes, but recognise that the list of issues demanding his attention is a mile long. And most (if not all) are life and death dilemmas.
Yes, ensure that your issue remains on the table. But please, don't create unreasonable expectations that will only serve to diminish Mr. Obama and the work he does. He's facing a huge mountain of trouble and he's going to have all kinds of people putting up barriers in hopes he fails: don't become one of them.