The Editor, Sir:

I truly hope that our political parties here in Jamaica are taking lessons from what has been been happening in the selection of the Obama Cabinet. It seems to me that Obama is sending us a message that when you put country first then your own ego takes a back seat. When we compete for positions and we win we must never like Brutus in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar of which it was said "... Lowliness is young ambition's ladder, whereto the climber upwards turns his face; but when he once obtains the upmost round, he then unto the ladder turns his back, looks in the clouds scorning the base degrees by which he did ascend."

Bold

Obama met with his rival McCain days after the victory, has appointed experienced personalities from the 'other side' and has made his most fought rival, second only to McCain, his Secretary of State (Hillary Clinton). On the campaign trail he spoke to the people and avoided character assassination. He was bold enough to reprimand his supporters at his rallies who sought to heckle his opponent and asked for their votes not their 'boos'. He never portrayed win at any cost. Here in Jamaica where the fire of violence is so easily ignited, we have a deeper need to be more sober than Obama has conducted himself; but do we?

During the heat of the moment in his debate he could have said "you are a liar" but preferred "That's absolutely not true". He could have campaigned with " I will do so and so" but preferred the more inclusive 'Oh yes we can.' Lieberman not only crossed party lines, but he supported and thereafter joined Obama's opponent only to be left in tears when the victorious Obama allowed him to remain in his committee position.

Humility

We cannot salute Obama's victory without being prepared to learn from it. Let us freely import his humility, his intelligent approach to conflict and his resolve to put country above self. The lesson here is that politics can be conducted with class, honesty and integrity. There can be decent politicians who can go out there and not compromise the high ideal of decency and still win.

It is obvious to me that Obama spent a lot of time observing the regressive and counterproductive ways of his predecessors or old politicians. It was a calculated decision on his part that he would not walk that walk, or talk their talk. He took the high road which seemed risky and naive to many, but it has landed him in the White House with what we call in Jamaica "nuff respect".

I am, etc.,

BERT S. SAMUELS

bert.samuels@gmail.com

Attorney-at-Law

4 Duke Street

Kingston