Americans will troop to the polls tomorrow (Tuesday) to cast their votes in a presidential election that has picked a murky trail.
Whether by coincidence or fate, I had been in the United States on two occasions when its democratic institution was on overheating.
This brings to remembrance the impeachment of President Richard Nixon over the Watergate scandal and the 2000 election of President Bush over Al Gore.
The campaigns which had just ended pitted the two dominant parties, the Democrats and the Republicans.
They were fuelled by strong mind boggling rhetorics, unproven accusations and claims that border on the unthinkable.
At some point, it was as if they were footage from some desert state in Africa.
That’s why most Americans are about to return to their normal bathe that some other newscasts will return to the television screens and the pages of newspapers.
Thousands of slogans were plastered at shopping malls and buildings during the campaign.
Some read champions keep playing until they get it right, pessimists complain about the wind, the optimists expect it to change while realists adjust the sail. One poster advised – keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others.
It was confusing as to which group these messages were directed at.
But as Christian clerics would say, when tangled by the near impossible, ‘all will be well.’
Who would win or who would lose have left even top betting firms nervous and holding tight to their purses.
If Democrats stick to promise, there is little to worry if they miss the political boat which so far seems unlikely.
It’s the Republican posture or more directly picking on the words of Donald Trump that remains worrisome to most Americans. There is need to calm nerves to keep America together as it faces other issues beyond its borders as the top notch country in the world.
Both Clinton and Trump have thrown a lifeline to voters who are fed up with campaign rhetorics and ready to miss out at the polls.
With occurrences as to chin of the century old Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi by unknown attackers, black worshippers were left in a daze in the community.
A comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing ever grows there. By the look of things, as the year speeds to an end, it seems that it will leave us with what Accountants call, CARRY FORARD.
Carry forward in this sense means forwarding many of the world Political unsolved problems toned year
Africa is in the midst of it all? South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, South Africa, Burundi and the Gambia where there are coming elections.
Africa Notebook – Thought for the week.
At a time when Christian clerics leave their call off soul winning for politics and politicians valve also stolen their hearts with money, only a handful of genuine men of God are standing.
By Rod Mac-Johnson
Monday November 07, 2016
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