tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708422251044095765.post2145383752501045139..comments2009-04-26T13:21:48.982-07:00Comments on EL WAHDA: Obama is no Martin Luther KingDrisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12364430378392064971noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708422251044095765.post-27596400875484016242009-02-04T15:02:00.000-08:002009-02-04T15:02:00.000-08:00this is an interesting post. I, too, have been tro...this is an interesting post. I, too, have been troubled by Obama's appropriation of MLK to create his media personality. <BR/><BR/>As As’ad AbuKhalil argues (Angry Arab), and I agree, Obama can be read as a representative of the White Man, in a similar fashion as Margaret Thatcher was representative of the White Man, and, I would add, Condaleeza Rice. Gender and race are performative, and Obama can play white man, just like Maggie Thatcher and Condie played white man; skin colour and gender are not definitive. I am troubled by the CONSTRUCTION of Obama as “the hero” who will be a kind benevolent face of US imperialism. When he begins dismantling the US military industrial complex and really seeks democracy in the ME and rids himself of his racism towards Palestinians and Arabs, then I may see him differently. Obama’s conservatism, heterosexuality, Christianity, neo-liberalism, and belief in militarism place him clearly in the ideology of the White Man. <BR/><BR/>In this context, as representative of neoliberal, war-merchant, war mongering Man, I find troubling Obama's use of Martin Luther King to construct his own personality and to get himself into power. MLK became increasingly radicalized towards the end of his life and was a staunch vocal opponent of war and American warmongering. Some have written that MLK died because he was no longer just “sticking to the Negro issue” but was getting dangerous in his anti-war discourse. Interesting to me is why Obama didn’t pick Malcolm X to ride on his coattails into office. Of course not. He chose ASPECTS of MLK that reduce this anti-war man to a Christian conservative just wanting “balance” between African Americans and white America.northshorewomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07390144327668656601noreply@blogger.com