obama influence in uk??

man, can anyone explain the popularity of obama to people in the UK?

At the moment I live on a pretty rough council estate south of Manchester city center. Without sounding opinionated, most people round here dont care for politics, most are unemployed or make money dealing. I would bet my last pound that not one of them turns on the news or has any idea how the world works apart from the latest reality tv show.

Why oh why then, do I see so many of these people wearing obama T-shirts?? Is it a new fashion? does obama own his own clothing chain?

Its sad to say but I saw 3 - 3!! young CHILDREN today wearing obama president t-shirts. I guess the oldest was maybe 16 - 17 the other 2 a lot younger.

I rarely dabble in politics myself these days, I lost interest years ago - but I cant get my head around UK people worshipping this guy.

What is it with this guy?

Anyone else in the UK seen this?

 

Nope.

 

He’s a departure from the status quo; a departure from the long held belief that white men were
by right the ruling class

Obama broke the mould and set into motion an extraordinary set of events which shifted the focus
from race to class warfare; something the brits are only too familiar with


Hotwater

 

hotwater, I don't think you should read THAT much into it.

 

I don’t know; I think I’m pretty close in my analysis


Hotwater

 

Perhaps if we were talking about adults and not impressionable teenagers.

 

Then he’s undoubtedly reached the level of cult figure :cheers2:


Hotwater

 

Obviously in some deprived parts of the UK.

 

I'm so confused. So, Obama did what? He was in Status Quo, right? I thought that band were English? I haven't seen kids wearing Obama Tshirts though, is it kind of like when all these kids wore Kurt Cobain Tshirts when really Nirvana were before their time?

 

I guess this is what im saying - but asking WHY?

Why are kids in the uk looking up to an american president and wearing t-shirts with his grinning face on them?

How can a man, in such sort a time - and from what ive read doesnt seem overly popular with many of his ideas - become a cult figure?

My first guess is the fact that he is black. And of the 3 children I saw wearing these clothes 2 of them were black themselves.

I understand the whole idea that its not just the white's who can rule and if thats your tickle to get excited about it then whatever. I for one guess that as 1 race (human) there are bigger and more important things to worry about than anothers skin?

Although Ive never been one for history either.

 

You're so right, there are bigger and more important things to worry about than anothers skin. And this is exactly why Obama being president is a big thing. Inaugurating a black man (mixed-race, actually) is symbloic in history- It shows that equal opportunity is truer than ever.

Also, politics is kind of 'cool' when it comes to kids these days. I've seen Che Guevara printed on Tshirts for years. It doesn't make much sense, since the majority of kids that walk around saying Che Guevara is so great don't even really know why. If someone is branded a hero, then they're rated. It's 'cool'.

 

No, skin colour shouldn't matter at all. But a few years ago there's no way a black man would have been elected as president. There's no way anyone other than a white man wouldn't been put in that position.. So now people are saying "Great, a black man in the White House, it doesn't matter anymore..."

I haven't had a lot of faith in ministers and the like previously, but I'm hoping Obama will do some good. His wife has great taste in clothes And it was fantastic when Bush got the fuck out of the office, not just for America but for the whole world.

 

There are many who believe the whole 'wow a black man in office - NOW we get change' and others who think - oh a black man in office, guess a different coloured puppet to play with. amazingly some even believe - ah well sod politics isnt his other half well dressed.

I for one shouldnt have to care who runs the US, as I do not live there and try my best (though its hard) to have nothing to do with the place.

I think I will stop these kids when I see them next and ask them who the British prime minister is - at worst I will get stabbed, maybe a fuck you, but i willing to bet they will not know.

 

also - I fail to see how bush leaving office and obama getting in office has changed anything for the rest of the world

but thats getting off topic about why people in the uk are wearing obama t-shirts

 

Perhaps I should have left 'His wife has great taste in clothes' out of this and gone for something along the lines of them being reasonably normal people and many are finding the family to be quite lovable. It's important to have someone you like at head in your country. Of course because you want them to do a good job, but also because you want to trust someone who's nice, normal and you want to like them.

It's true that you don't live in the US but they have such a huge impact on our British society. Much though you don't like it (and I'm not even sure that I do), America has an impact on our (Brits) everyday lives.

We are going off topic here though, but I was only answering your question. My intention wasn't go get onto the subject of George Bush, though if I did, I could write countless words on the effect he's had on the world and I don't even know much about it! I do have to say he started a global war though, that's an incredibly valid point.

 

Of course the US has an impact on us brits, our government turned its back on the rest of europe to become the 51st state

The idea that obama and his family are lovable is laughable. The man is a politician. Groomed from early age or wanting to rule - either way the last person I would EVER vote for is someone who wanted to rule or wanted my vote. Im sure someone must have once said something along the lines off - those who want to rule are the least deserving - and if they didnt then why not?

but as I said im a sad cynical bastard who lost faith in politics a long time ago.

I just want to see the kids wearing a gordan brown t-shirt?

in fact, fuck that.

 

Obama is more a celebrity then a president, that's why kids in the UK are wearing his face on there T's.

I could not agree more....

 

Ok, really though, I'm not trying to sell you the US president. I'm not buttering him up so you'll love him. I'm just explaining why others do. I'm responding to the things you're saying.

I wrote "many are finding the family quite lovable".. The idea that Obama is lovable is laughable TO YOU. Hell, it is to me too actually (on a personal level anyway). He's sold to the nation through propaganda and through his own seeable personality and lucky for him, people genuinely like him.

How come you can see the big impact the US has on the UK government, but you can't see how the presidency has any effect on the world?

Everyone who 'runs' wants to rule. Otherwise, why would they run? Those who want to rule are the least deserving? So, what about the other side of things and saying 'Those who don't want to rule are the most deserving'. Maybe since I don't want to be a prime minister, they could vote me in and then I could do a wonderfully shite job, since I don't want to be there in the first place.

I use the method that I'll just vote for the shit parties, just so the even shitter parties don't get my vote. This translates to: I have higher opinions of some than I have of others.

Anyway man, I'm out. I didn't know that replying to your questions would put me in a (er!) 'political' debate. That's not what I wanted.