From way back when I heard the crowd – after a primary result earlier this year on the East Coast somewhere – shouting back to potential Candidate at the time, now President Elect Barack Obama ---“yes we can” – I became convinced that I was looking at and listening to a changed T/V crowd of U.S. Citizens and history in the making. I suppose that because to Millions of U.S. Citizens the mere thought of an African-American – as Obama most definitely and un-doubtedly is – becoming the 44th President of the U..S.A. seemed so remote and far fetched, when the result was announced on Tuesday night tears flowed un-controllably on as many faces in joyous dis-belief that it was a reality. And when the Republican Candidate Senator McCain, who lost to the President Elect, addressed his local crowd in his home state of Arizona – to concede the defeat and congratulate the new commander-in-chief to be – he was so gracious and sincere with his choice of words of praise and good wishes to the new President, that it invoked even more tears from his listeners. As I listened to the losing Senator and observed his mannerisms as he spoke about the winner – I could not helping wishing that our politicians in these Islands could have been listening as well. When you recall the behaviour patterns and the language of the losers in our so-called democratic system – after having listened to Sen. McCain, it makes one wonder whether the term “democratic” means the same thing in both systems of Government in the U.S.A. and in Grenada. It is as though the U.S. model is to attract patriots to come forward, and offer their services for the good and welfare of the people and Country. And once that offer has been accepted and acted upon as Servants of the people for what ever period of service; and the people then decide to change the servants, and employ another group as their new servants, the outgoing group are just grateful for having been given the honour to be of service to their people and Country. But in our neck of the woods – once that successful group get their hands on the reins of power with control and authority, then it is as though they get a legacy in a Will, and no one should ever challenge them to try and replace them as new servants. So no matter what manner of chaos and open confusion they inflict on the people – as the servants of the very people who employed them – those people should never change them, and worse yet, no other group of patriots should ever try to replace them as the new servants. Why can’t our political losers say, and feel, and behave like Sen. Mc Cain, when he said ---“It’s natural, tonight, to feel some dis-appointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our Country moving again”. “I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my President”. Those words sound so Stateman-like, and so very responsible when dealing with the business of the people – that I can never understand why those who profess to be acting in the people’s interest, for the benefit of the Country as a whole, cannot behave likewise. But be all the foregoing as they may – this very significant bench-mark in U.S. history could have very wide-ranging effects on the political way ahead Worldwide. Although the change has been brought about by the Americans themselves – within their own Country and between their traditional two-part Democratic system of Government – it is so profound and deep-rooted that the effects therefrom are destined to impact on people and systems across the globe. I can almost see this wind of change, that devastated the age-old bigotry and racially in-human prejudices that have dominated the U.S.A for centuries – as on all fours with the beginning of the decline of Communism in Soviet Russia, after the intervention by U.S. Forces in Grenada under the Commander-in-chief direction of the late Ronald Reagan in October, 1983. The only difference, as I perceive it, is that this Commander-in-chief to be - could be using far more peaceful and persuasive means of across the table dialogue and understanding, to bring about Global changes and solutions – in those long-standing situations, where Killing each other’s nationals, and taking unfair economic and other punitive measures to gain apparent dominance have not achieved the desired goals. The President Elect is in my humble opinion, not only intellectually capable and well qualified to pursue that very different course of higher diplomatic States-man-ship, but having emerged from the historical background from whence he came- he is very ably suited to put his own experiences and development into practice, to achieve any conflict resolution without sacrificing lives. The road ahead is not going to be easy and smooth and straight. The doubting Thomases are not going to disappear during the transition period, before he takes over the reins as Commander-in-chief. Those who lived with poor decisions and gross mis-management for years, and even suffered as a result – they would be expecting miracles and instant solutions overnight. What others failed to do in eight long years will be expected in the first hundred days. But this supremely historical and humanitarian change of the customary ethnic leaders – must have had its roots and vision from a source greater then mere mortal men and women, and He will provide. However, and whatever, and whenever, it takes place to bring about a different world order, for all races to be able to live in greater peace and harmony – as a result of that deep rooted change in the U.S. system of Government – the people of this planet earth must be better off in terms of their quality of life as equal human beings. Notwithstanding all the foregoing, however, no one should take it for granted, that the mere fact of making history by this quite astonishing breakthrough after all those centuries of deep-seated racial prejudice – then everything else will change accordingly. To be lulled into such complacency could be the un-doing of the gains made thus far, and could re-bound to set things back somewhat. Serious and concentrated efforts must be made to demonstrate that there are tremendous merits in the historical change, and the new Leaders are worthy of the people’s trust. Arrogance, and bravado and cockiness, should have no place in the patterns of behaviour of the new Trustees of the people’s confidence. Humility and steadfast observance of the promises and pledges made – must be the order of business at all times. All the above are just as relevant in our situation here in the Spice Isles, and it would be far more beneficial to try and influence the doubters and detractors – in an effort to change their outlook and their negative attitudes, than to persist in scoring shallow points and increasing tension. The danger in spending too much time looking for cracks and depressions, when there is so very much to be done to make the change meaningful and lasting – is that as the months go by into years, there will be nothing positive to hold up and display as the justification for the change so many desired and voted for. What seems to be the obvious tactic in our case here at home – is that those in opposition are deliberately digging up and manufacturing sham issues, to get those in control and authority to turn away from their positive and needy programmes, and waste their time and energy in trying to answer and deal with those pretensive issues. To fall prey to that cheap line of propaganda politrics, would be gross negligence of the duties and responsibilities they swore to uphold and perform. On the other hand, and just as important in the scheme of things that make up sound public relations, and keeping the necessary political machine well oiled and functioning – the people must be kept fully informed of what is happening, why it is on-going, and the reasoning for choosing programs ABC before those of XYZ. In other words – politics and Government must go hand in hand, all the way through to the next period when those in control will be seeking another term in office, to complete the programmes they have started. Time must be found to talk to the people through the media and the press. There should be no such thing as “always too busy” because of meetings and work load. Good organisation and competent performance of one’s duties and responsibilities – must be built and maintained around proper planning, regular delegation of routine jobs to department heads and staff, and sound communication methods within the various departments. The people, whose business those in control were chosen to organize and operate, must know what is really happening and why – to be able to agree and support. Bringing about change in the political arena, and replacing one regime with another – is not simply to change individuals and the name of the party in Power. The change must be far more fundamental and deep-rooted, to get to the very bottom of the wrong things that made the people’s lives hell – and change those wrongs to get the people as nearer to heaven as is possible. Taking people into one’s confidence at every stage of any operation, must be the best way to get their support and understanding, if and when something should go wrong. And make no mistake about it – things will go wrong for one reason or another, and not the least of which will be the deliberate action of those who want things to go wrong. There is no doubt – that the change around we got here at home was meaningful and significant, but we have to work at it to get the desired benefits. Whereas the historical change in the U.S.A. is unlimited, and it will have profound effects not only within its boundaries and among its people – but World wide among nations and different races.. How that historical landmark will impact on the people in the global village – only time and the good Lord’s Blessings will tell. (The views/opinions expressed in the above article are those of the writer and not necassarily those of the Inside Grenada Staff) By Lloyd Noel Inside Grenada News