Collins Report

By Cindra Crisman

“Hope & Change” has become a political slogan joke in America, though not yet so in my country Indonesia. As Obama’s Presidency unfolds, Indonesians may learn, as the Americans have, how the joke was formulated through the comedy that Obama himself staged as his way of governing. Consequently, for Obama’s supporters, the slogan has become a burden of proof.

People everywhere fall into catchy wordings that don’t last in the political world.
Michael Jackson’s song “Black or White” is an example of the public’s entrapment by words. The nuance of “Hope & Change “is likened to that of “Black or White”; it is simple and to the point. No need for Shakespearean English mastery to nod your head and shake your body in understanding the words.

If politics and governance can be staged by dancing and singing, and excellence is judged by how hysterical the audience is; then the “Hope & Change” hysteria falls into that grading. Imagine the crowd; steaming in the spirit of “Hope” and teeming into the ecstasy of “Change.”

No need to define this “Hope & Change”, because there is none. As it was with hysterical dancing and singing of “Black or White”; the feeling of the moment is what counts.

Meanwhile, the burden of realizing the promises of “Hope & Change” has becoming a horrid task for Obama’s supporters to wear.

Their opponents have succeeded in comically portraying “Hope & Change” into the public’s negative opinion. The widened ridiculous perception of the slogan has cheered these people into joyous a vindictive mood, crediting their solid conviction in the nothingness of “Hope & Change.”

It solidifies and simplifies the opposition movement in revealing the absurdity of intoxicated hysterics in entitling the supremacy of “Hope & Change”. This is the time that one may as well dance and sing “Black or White” to momentously end political hysteria of any sort.

“Hope & Change” proved hysteria never works well in politics, while in entertainment, it lives on. “Black or White” was the tribute song to Michael Jackson in Indonesia played on the day of his passing; saluting the man’s accomplishment and his musical talents.

In the meantime, “Hope & Change” has blundered into a satire, with no triumphant moment to celebrate. Obama’s Presidency rests on his materializing the “Hope & Change”, but his erring in erratic judgments and decisions in so little time has evaporated the mighty spirits he once offered to the public. No doubt, Obama and his supporters will have to find a meaningful slogan for their 2012 campaign, to override the hysterical joke of “Hope & Change.”
About Cindra Crisman:
This is not the real name of the author who lives in New England with his/her family. The identity of the author is withheld to protect the author’s business interests.

This day in history November 8

1932 Socialism in America has its first big victory with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt who went on to violate the unwritten rule of presidents serving only two consecutive terms by being reelected in 1940 and again in 1944.

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