Sen. Obama It was an emotional election. Between now and Sen. Obama’s first breakfast in the White House, there is an interlude.” A pause in time, a suspension of reality. It is in this magical gap that all those big abstract words – like hope and change – exist unchained and all-powerful. It is easy to dance in the streets while there is still everything to hope for. This has been a symbolic election. Sen. Obama is the symbolic opposite of George Bush: he is black and a Democrat. He represents a move towards peace with the rest of the world, after years of a war-mongering Republican President. If Mr. Bush had been a popular president, the American public might have voted very differently on Nov. 4. We hope Sen. Obama will prove to be the opposite of Bush in more than just appearances. American conservatives say they hope that Sen. Obama will curb his “liberal” tendencies. We wish he”d make them more visible. In many ways, he is a very conservative Democrat. His commitment to withdraw from Iraq doesn’t differ much from that of Pres. Bush; he wants to send more troops to fight in Afghanistan; he has approved the bombing of targets in Pakistan. He also hasn’t volunteered anything real about a change to the American health and welfare services. As the systems are now, health and welfare are the privileges of those who can afford them. Change will not come easy, nor will it come fast. But Americans have shown that they want it. And perhaps this is best mood in which to begin the 44th presidency of the United States. In Service To Their Country A total of 22 new police constables and 14 new members of the fire rescue service recently finished their training and started their duties. Each has made the decision to enter public service at a time of growth and uncertainty in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Growth is visible here. Even as the tourism industry expands, communications businesses and expanded agriculture efforts are moving forward. Even as the world economy struggles, the situation in the Federation appears far less grim. It is also a time of uncertainty. Violent crime continues to plague society and crimes against property continue at a frightening pace. It is sometimes difficult to feel safe or secure when authorities release so little information about the situation. Despite the problems, 36 men and women have opted to serve the people of St. Kitts and Nevis in jobs that demand a lot of them. It is possible they will be put in situations that endanger their own lives. It is probable they will called upon to take actions that save the lives of others. Few other callings have such high stakes for those involved. We hope these new public servants will always remember that their ultimate loyalty must be to the law and to the public, not to any political considerations. Far more importantly, we salute them for choosing to work in service to their country. Their country needs them.
