Obama: New President, Same Values, No Change

With cries and chants of “Change we can believe in!” Obama made history in becoming the ‘first black president of the United States of America’. This line will be repeated across the world in every newspaper and on the lips of every politician. However, why the emphasis on ‘black’?

For me the issue of colour is a diversion. America already has powerful black political leaders and role models,

• Colin Powell, former Chief of Staff
• Condoleezza Rice, current Secretary of State
• African-American politicians in the US Congress date back to 1870
• Today there are numerous black city mayors – most notably one for New Orleans
• Black religious figures, sportsmen and women are everyday household names.

With Hurricane Katrina vividly exposing the acute racial and income divide in today’s America, the rise of Obama is being hailed as victory for western liberalism – a young black man, leader of the free world – the American dream personified. However, being young and black is not going to solve any of the issues facing western liberal society.

Liberalism, as a political theory and ideology, has undoubtedly caused a huge mess for humanity:

• Economic liberalism - the maximisation and guarantee for the individuals right to buy and sell including laissez faire markets - has brought near collapse in Western economies. Hundreds of billions are spent in an instant to safeguard the interests of a few thousand wealthy bankers while a protracted political debate lasting years holds up vital and necessary minimum healthcare services for tens of million in poverty in rich America.


• Social liberalism – the exhortation and over emphasis of freedom and individualism - above all else has created a selfish, egotistical and cruel society. These propogated non-cohesive values have resulted in facilitating social breakdown and family meltdown. This social disaster is widespread with the massive harmful effects on women, families and the young conveniently disregarded. The wellbeing of the old and treatment of the weak and vulnerable is shameful being conditional on economic growth or maximising the returns of the rich.


• The exportation of liberalism to the Middle East and the Muslim world has brought a brutal foreign policy with Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and the invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands have been killed, tens of millions displaced and made refugees and the military resistance to American occupation continues 5 years on in Iraq and 7 years on in Afghanistan. Enough said on the so-called desire for democracy in the Muslim world.

European states share America’s economic and social ills, as evidenced by the current financial crisis and the increasing social malaise. This shows the underlying problems are the values underpinning western societies. Politicians on the left and right vigorously fight over subtle policy differences to divert attention from the failing liberal values which go unaddressed. This will not change now Obama is the new president.

Two hundred years after the abolishment of slavery western liberal societies continue to debate whether a black man can lead the most powerful nation in the world. Yet for Muslims this issue was resolved over 1400 years ago. The Prophet Muhammad (p) said,

"You should listen to and obey your ruler even if he was an Ethiopian (black) slave..."

Racism and prejudice has no place in Islam even when it comes to leadership and ruling. In this case colour is not the real issue as it has been used as a diversion. The real issues underlying the economic, social and foreign policy problems will not be addressed, because that would mean a change in values and a change in system. If Obama were to suggest such as thing, I am sure he would be impeached!

Just because it’s a new face representing a new found hope – it doesn’t mean that the system will change. You can dress the devil as an angel, but you will still get burnt when you shake his hand!

Note: Amended from a previously published article.