What about Kanye?

There was one person missing from the crowd of 125,000 supporters gathered in Chicago’s Bryant Park last night where President-Elect Barrack Obama gave his victory speech. Where in the world was Kanye West?

You see, West is exceptionally fond of calling himself the 'future of the Chi', which he also calls Chi-town or “the Shire.” Setting aside the obvious Lord-of-the-Rings/Hobbit comparison, I think Kanye West can officially let that dream die. Like my friend L said last night, I think the “future of the Chi” moniker can be safely and capably handed over to Barack Obama.

In all this post-election excitement, has anyone taken pause to think how Chicago-native Kanye West must be feeling today? John McCain isn't the only one that had to concede. Hey look, Kanye. There is another black man from Chicago who demonstrates leadership potential and it’s not you. And he’s more humble, smarter, better looking and, oh right, the President-Elect of the United States of America. I wonder if Kanye is actually jealous of Obama? I wonder if he could actually move his massive ego out of the way long enough to allow room for celebrating this momentous occasion?

Like my friend pointed out, Kanye has based so much of his personae on how valuable he is to the people of Chicago that he may now be at a loss for lyrical content. Never mind that fellow rapper and Chicago-native Common is more talented and has been around longer than West, never mind that there are other prominent black figures and role models from Chicago who manage to lead by example without wearing glow-in-the-dark sunglasses. Off the top of my head, I can think of Jennifer Hudson and Oprah Winfrey, neither of whom feel the necessity to use the n-word in order to own their power.

Not surprisingly, a quick visit to Kanye's blog reveals that he is in fact an Obama supporter and no doubt happy that he won. But what I want to know is: what’s Kanye going to rap about now? And why wasn’t he out there somewhere in between Oprah Winfrey and a weeping Jesse Jackson last night conceding as gracefully as John McCain? It turns out that West was overseas touring last night, which is why he wasn’t present. But maybe when he gets back, he can throw a ceremony and hand over his crown and scepter as sire of the Chi? Maybe he could replicate his last album listening party and invite twenty nude models to form a triangular formation around Obama.

Because really, what Obama needs now is to 'call up the homies' and bring a little class and credibility to the White House.

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A NEW DAY!

I have never been more excited, more proud, more hopeful or more connected to the world than I was tonight watching the American Presidential Elections. I couldn’t watch at first, traumatized as I still was by Kerry’s crushing loss four years ago, I was genuinely afraid that history would repeat itself, that all the rednecks and the staunch republicans with all their money and clout and connections would once again rise up and vote in yet another Republican President. I was afraid that the change the Americans sought for wouldn’t happen, that “hope” in and of itself was just a pipe dream. And so I avoided as long as I could. And when I turned the TV on to see the words “OBAMA ELECTED PRESIDENT” and watched his speech and saw the looks on the faces of Americans and frantically sent text messages to friends and family and changed my status on Facebook, I wept with joy and cheered and whooped and hooted and hollered. I danced, I laughed, I cried, I hugged my friend. We drank wine and talked about civil rights and Kanye West and black Americans and the future and what this will mean for the next generation. And then I saw martin Luther’s King “I Have A Dream” speech, and my eyes welled with the completion of this full-circle moment. And if the question is every asked of me, “What were you doing when Obama became President-Elect,” I will always remember.

Today is a new beginning. And I know that Proposition 8 may not pass in California, I know the economy is in the toilet, I know that the US is at war. But there is a Democrat-Elect who is ready, willing and able to face the problems and revolutionize democracy. I know that speaking in absolutes can only set me up for failure and disappointment, but honestly, there is no way that I could feel any less disappointed in democracy and the US government than I have in the last eight years. So for once, I, Karen Rowe, cynic-at-heart am going to go all Pollyanna on your asses and hope for the best.

And the one thing I felt that resounded most with me was an overwhelming feeling that I was sharing my joy with all of humanity. I know I wasn't of course. I recognize that 50 million people still voted for McCain. But across this country and theirs, across Europe and all over the world, people were rejoicing. And it felt great.

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Baited Breath

I haven’t spent much time on this blog talking about politics mostly because I can’t vote in the American election so it seems like that energy which would be better spent elsewhere. And the truth is, a lot of people (myself included) have gotten sucked into a negative space of hating Republicans and loathing Sarah Palin and insulting John McCain and as was pointed out to me, if people redirected all that energy towards positive intentions and goals, starving children could be fed, mountains could be moved and my bathroom could get cleaned more often.


I am excited. In two short days, the US will have a new president. And I am optimistic and hopeful that it will be Barack Obama. Mind you, eight years ago, I was optimistic and hopeful that it would be Al Gore and four years ago, I was optimistic and hopeful that it would be John Kerry. In fact, it never even occurred to me that it would be anybody else but Kerry. I understand now why he wasn’t elected. Lack of leadership. But truly, this can’t be said about Obama. Something about Obama makes me hold my breath. He reminds me of the great leaders of the sixties that I am too young to have experienced first-hand: John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Is it audacious to hope and believe that a black man can rise to lead the most powerful government in the world? Are there enough liberals out there to elect him, or will the red-necks and white supremacists and closed-minded citizens of America come out in record numbers to make sure that a black president is elected over their dead bodies? Consequently, will blacks themselves turn out in record numbers to make sure that never happens? Even if Obama wasn’t black, I would still be excited about the change that he represents.

I like my world leaders very much how I like my boyfriends: young and black. If I had to choose between a good-looking young, vibrant, magnetic, engaging black man or an ancient war veteran to run my country or share my bed…well, there’s no contest. Even looking at John McCain makes me afraid that he is going to drop dead right there on the screen. And while I recognize that there is a lot to be said for his heroism and experience, I want someone who is going to have enough energy left over to get up and make me breakfast the next morning.

But I digress. I know I am not the only one who feels like we are on the cusp of monumental and very exciting change. And although my vote doesn’t count, the results of tomorrow’s election will have an impact on my life and my government and my world, so I will be cheering from the sidelines in breathy anticipation to see the Americans put an end to eight years of rule by a chimpanzee and elect their first black president.

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Paul Newman Is Dead and Other Breaking Stories

Hey Canadians: There is a Federal Election on Tuesday, October 14th. You heard it here first.

Being under that rock like I was for the entire month of September, I was a little caught off-guard last week when I finally came up for air, only to discover that Canada, too, was in the midst of an election. What?! Didn't we just have one? Oh, that was a provincial election...no, actually, the last time we had a federal election was January of 2006, so 'sup with this? Aren't we allowed a reprieve for at least another year? Or do we have election envy from all the excitement down south? Is this a case of premature electation?

I have been so busy ignoring the American election, that the Canadian election almost slipped by unnoticed, which has left me scrambling a bit to get caught up on all the things I have missed. Paul Newman died?



Not that I have to do any research on who 'the best candidate is.' I'm pretty much in the Anyone-but-Harper camp and frankly, I'm a little disappointed that we don't have a black man, a woman or a gay running for federal office. Where's the drama in that?

Anyhow, I generally leave politics up to political pundits and those who know more about it. Living as I do in Torie-stronghold Alberta, I find elections frustrating and futile, but I vote anyway! Recently, I saw an excellent segment on CBC News Sunday that gave me hope: there are others out there who feel the same.

Did you know that Canada has a First Past the Post System which isn’t exactly democratic because it doesn’t always represent all interests fairly? To find out more about it, click on this link

And this site tells you how to vote strategically to reduce the Conservative Stronghold.

There is also a site on Facebook where they match you up with a partner to vote swap.

It just makes me feel a little less helpless. I know the party I vote for isn't going to win, but for every ballot cast, the party I support receives a buck seventy-five. It's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Or is it?

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