Yes he can?

Something truly momentous is going to happen tomorrow. I'm going to be interested in politics.

Don't get me wrong, I have tried. I realise the importance of politics, I know that my life is directly affected by it. I know its important to vote, and that a lot of people have fought and died so that we have the right to. But as hard as I've tried, I just find it to be so mind-numbingly, gut-scorchingly dull. I try to read a political article in the newspaper and rarely get past the second paragraph before my mind begins to wander on to more interesing things, like whether I should get a haircut, or maybe buy another clothes rack (because lets face it you can never have too many of them).

I'm almost ashamed to say that normally when it comes to politics I'm with Billy Connolly when he says; 'the desire to ever become a politician should ban you for life from ever becoming one'. But tomorrow is going to be oh so different.

The reason for this is arguably more momentous. When Barack Hussein Obama II is sworn in tomorrow as the 44th President of the United States of America, he will become their first black President. That a man who just 50 years ago would have struggled to have a cup of coffee in the same room as a white American can be elected as their head of state is truly incredible, and surely represents a massive collective shift in attitude. It begs the question that if this single event was thought to be impossible just a few years ago, what else can be achieved from here?

It isn't just about race however. As part of my job I've spoken to a lot of people about this today, young and old, white and black, Christian and Muslim, and the general feeling was, yes, it is amazing that America will have a black president, but more importantly they appear to have finally elected the right person for the job. It could be said that that says a lot more about the previous incumbent than the president-elect, but nevertheless this is a story that has captured the imagination, even of the most politically apathetic.

For me, the big draw is that this man doesn't appear to be part of the 'establishment'. The feeling is that he won't be just another politician full of empty promises and with motives other than those for the good of the nation, and the world. A lot of people like me often fall back on the lazy criticism that 'all politicians are just the same', but you'll be hard pressed to throw that one in the direction of Obama.

Whether he will deliver what the world is hoping for remains to be seen. But it is very exciting.


PS He also looks like my mate Hywel.

PPS These videos are only 20 or so years old and I think they show that even then, black Americans never really thought they would see the day. They are also very funny.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5NyvYwfZR38

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-_cdbByTeNE