President Barack Obama’s Nobel Peace prize is about hope

President Obama represents hope of a better future for citizens of the world – Canada represents the past

By Stephen Pate – Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday less than two years after winning election as President of the United States. Some commentators, including Canada’s CBC, can not end their deep negativity in the face of his power.

Obama was elected because he offered people hope. For Americans he appealed to minorities who believed he would give them a better chance at the American Dream. For blacks he was one of them. For Americans with disabilities he promised inclusion in society denied them for thousands of years.

Once elected, Obama held out the olive branch of peace to the world. He was the anti-Bush, the non-belligerent US leader who might be able to bring peace. He seems sincere, honest, and committed to making the world a better place.

President Obama is not just a talker. He works tirelessly to improve race relations, status of people living with disabilities and the peace process.

Under Obama the EEOC is enforcing the laws that were supposed to eliminate discrimination in the workplace twenty years ago. The number of cases and recent $6 million judgment against Sears are telling business – get serious about disability accommodation.

Some of this is contradictory because he is still the President of the world’s most powerful country involved in two foreign wars.

President Obama has his critics and naysayers like the President of Iran, Glenn Beck and now the CBC National News. The story last night was all about how Obama hadn’t earned the Peace Prize. CBC reporter Neil MacDonald’s cynicism and Wendy Mesley’s little sneer were pathetic.

Of course, Canada is living in the past glory of its days as a peace keeper and social progressive country. Now Canada wandering around aimlessly in the world looking for a small fight to pick.

If you are a Canadian with a disability and can afford a lawyer you might get access to the local Tim Horton’s donut shop. You won’t be able to send your kids to UPEI without a lawyer. You will probably get hired last and fired first.

The right wing Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper misses the good old days when people could just get rid of the poor, crippled and foreigners. Lower taxes so the rich can get richer is a policy embedded deeply in the heart of Stephen Harper. Given a majority government we can expect the little Bushy to enact some draconian laws and policies.

NDP Jack Layton has all the right policies but he is stuck like a train that can’t leave the station.

The great white Liberal hope Michael Ignatieff has one more chance to get rid of the Liberal hacks that guide him. He needs to show us who he really is. He also needs to “have a heart.”

Somehow the US has become the country of hope and Canada the country of middle class status quo.What an embarrassing position for the liberal Northern neighbor who cares more for trade than the disenfranchised.

While the US under Obama pushes ahead with policies to make their country and the world better, Canada is mired in the old dream of suburbia and two cars in every driveway.

President Obama gives Americans hope.

What new social policies does Canada have to eliminate poverty and the exclusion of those living with disabilities?

There is no hope in Canadian politicians. Canadian politicians are petty people worried about money and ego suddenly eclipsed by a  leader with vision for the people.