I didn't follow the United States elections due to my belief that in the Palestinian subject particularly, and US policy in the Middle East in general, the difference between the candidates is negligible.
But I followed the approach for both candidates in how they reflected their position and defended themselves, as well as the mode in which each party criticized the other. I realized why they are at the top of the pyramid and rule the world and control the fate of people, and why we are at the bottom of the gendarmerie failing even to maintain our unity.
I followed with interest Obama’s victory speech, delayed more than three hours even though everything was ready and waiting -- the public, the media, and the entire world -- but Obama preferred to wait for a call from his defeated rival Romney to bless his victory and wish him success in his mission.
Obama began his speech with thanks to his rival for his handling the election battle clean and clear from charges, treason phrases, defamation, and personal abuse, as we hear and read in our media every hour and every moment. Then he thanked his wife, his family, and his extended family America, where he said to the public that he became the US president because of them and re-elected, he promised that he will be president for all the people of America in all it segments, colors, ethnics and nationalities.
They are at the top of the pyramid and we are at the bottom because of the governance for the people, who choose every four years their president exactly and perfectly and not looking for excuses and justifications to evade this merit. It’s true that we are not America and not even a part of its state, but we‘re talking about a concept and how to apply it, democratic values, cultural, and moral practice.
They competed for tactile achievements made by the president or claimed that he achieved, they spoke of figures, data and facts. They didn’t talk about fake achievements or military and diplomatic victories that do not exist. They rebutted each other's claims in front of the people who will decide which of them deserve to govern and decide their fate in the coming four years.
We didn't hear one of them accuse his opponent of being an agent of the enemy or neglecting the interests of America for the benefit of its enemy; no one questioned the patriotism of each other. They don’t have patriotic humans, noble, fighter, loyal to his country in the daytime and in the night he is a traitor, an agent, a killer, a corrupt, a thief, and a briber without any evidence provided about what they say or accuse. They talk about everything and criticized anything, but according to the ethical and professional rules that specified by law.
American leaders can’t mislead or underestimate people because there is a free media and most importantly an influential, not cutting and pasting the news but investigations, asking questions, giving answers, and even if it’s necessary, exposing.
Their media don’t accept the official answers about coups and everybody will accept that, but the media examine the accuracy and credibility of a speech and whether the official exploits his power or this is the truth and then the independent and honest justice will protect peoples rights before it protects the official and his action.
The US vexes us on its policy of supporting Israel; US vexes us again with its democracy that makes us feel how young we are and how much they are our senior.
The author is a former Palestinian Authority minister who lectures at Birzeit and Al-Quds University.
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