Time for change

This may be an insignificant one-club football blog that reflects the fortunes of an unfashionable second rate football club in London, but I can't let the election of Barack Obama pass without comment.

It has been looking a sure-thing for a number of weeks now and yesterday's exit polls looked conclusive enough. America has now elected a black man as it's President. This really is a remarkable event and a footnote in history irrespective of what Obama does from here. Overnight he has become the most well-known black man on earth and his election speaks volumes for the the way America continues to change. 

The impact will be felt around the world. Not only from a predictable change in Foreign Policy but also because so much of the world takes it's lead from the USA. In a small-minded British way I have never liked to accept this but it's an undeniable fact. My dislike for this stems from a personal mistrust of the "follow-the-herd" mentality but I have grown in the knowledge that it's less of a fashion thing and more of an adoption of progress. That's why this is potentially such a momentus event. I'm not saying for a second that I can see a black Prime-Minister anytime soon but the world views of a black man will be put to the test and we will see some fundamental differences which will inevitably be adopted in other countries if they prove to be a better way of doing things than before.

I'll be surprised if Obama turns out to be too radical because their Government system doesn't encourage it and Obama himself knows he has a fine line to tread between being truly inclusive and being seen to favour one minority group over another (that way likes disaster). His speech in Chicago overnight was word-perfect on this and you have to applaud him for that. He inherits a massive challenge; the Amercian economy is heading for recession and their Foreign Policy is in tatters. I am sure he will take action on the latter but will inevitably be challenged quickly around the world as America's new resolve is tested. The home economy is a bigger issue and the obvious impact on the rest of the world remains to be seen.

Irrespective of your politics, you have to say that this is an exciting time and what Obama does from here will surely be more interesting than had McCain won. He certainly talks-the-talk and it will be fascinating to see if he delivers anything like the amount of change he is promising. 

In the meantime Alan Pardew's latest delusion is that he will send our boys out at Home Park on Saturday in a frame of mind to "cope." Presumably just like he sent then out against Burnley and Barnsley to "win" (Cope = Lose).