If Obama Wins We’ll Crack Open the Champagne

About a thousand Americans in Limburg/The Netherlands can send their votes for the historic election campaign between the Democrat, Barack Obama and the Republican, McCain.

Name: Grace Green (35)

Profession: administrative servant

Origin; Maastricht

Grace has not much to do with America. Only once did she visit her father’s hometown, Memphis, Tennessee. The young woman was born in Maastricht, the child of a white Dutch mother and the dark American jazz musician Charles Green. Her dark skin gives her the warm southern sentiment. Her black frizzy hair gives away her voting behavior. “Yes, Obama. But not only because he is dark. He has good ideas; for example health insurance for everyone. Barack Obama wants to do something for all Americans. He wants to change things. The economic crisis will probably overcome his skin colour. But America is very strange on that level. White people say that they support Obama’s program but you don’t know if they actually will vote for him in the ballot. I can remember going on a vacation about 20 years ago. A white girlfriend didn’t want to come over to swim at my uncle’s house because it was located in a dark neighborhood.” Because of this segregation, Grace’s father distanced himself from the land that discriminated and humiliated him.

For the first time Charles Green will send his vote for his preferred candidate -Obama- but he is still suspicious. “The elections are a circus with animals, lion tamers and the public. What a show. Popularity is all that counts. I have a feeling that the real issues are not as important to the voters as are race, color, or the beliefs of the candidates.”

Charles and Grace hope that their vote can crush the last glass ceiling for blacks. “If South Africa, a country that groaned under apartheid could have a black president, why would America not be ready for it? After eight years of ignorance and deceit it’s time for change,” says the jazz musician. Grace is looking forward to the 4th of November. “I have a strange feeling in my belly. I want to get rid of it as soon as possible. If Obama wins I will go to my father, who now lives in Amstelveen. The champagne will pop. Obama can reconcile black and white. I can feel it.”