IT is a rare human being who can, for a few precious moments, hold humanity in his hands and move mankind forward to a new era.

We witnessed such a moment last week when Barack Obama made his amazing acceptance speech.
That oration was history-making in its own right; what made it a world first was the colour of his skin and what that meant for America and humankind.

When Obama was a child, black Americans in the southern states could not drink from the same water fountain as whites. Yet just 40 years after slain civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther-King made an equally earth-shattering speech as he proclaimed his dream of a united America, a record election turn-out voted for change. Moreover, Obama is a first-generation American who, through hard work, focus and ambition has achieved the nation’s dream. Only he went miles better from being born the son of an immigrant father to become the most powerful man in the world.

The oration is over; now he must deliver the goods. Our destiny is in his hands for the next four years.
Ironically, Jersey’s ethnic communities must wait until next year before they have legal protection from all forms of discrimination. The new law, agreed in principle in 2002 and approved by a disconcertingly narrow margin of 26-19 less than two months ago, is pending enactment.

The American presidential election – all 21 months of it – was fascinating. Nowhere else in the world is the ideal of democracy better understood or put to the test so thoroughly and so transparently. At times it was cheesy and, to more reserved nationalities, toe-curlingly embarrassing as well-educated, articulate career politicians running for the top job on the planet swore undying love for their families and country – and more than a passing admiration for Joe the plumber.

The American nation does most things well, yet can on occasions act with selfish indifference, but when it comes to flag waving, heart-on-the-sleeve patriotism, love of family and God, nobody does it better. Such public shows of emotion, love ’em or hate ’em (I fall bang in the heart of the former) are an anathema on this side of the pond. But what is wrong with telling the world how you feel before a flag-waving crowd of tens of thousands as the tickertape and balloons fall all around?

It could only happen in America, and a damn good job, many people say, but we really can learn a thing or two from the past 21 months. As Obama told ‘his fellow Americans’ – ‘Yes we can!’

How different the scenes in our little corner of the world on that same day as the parishes set their own elections in process – with a mere 21 days’ notice. What a painfully short time and such an inadequate process to choose the people who will run our lives for the next three years.

Earlier this year, when the American primaries were in full swing and the Clintons were confident of a return to Pennsylvania Avenue, I urged the candidates considering standing in Jersey’s elections to introduce some American razzmatazz to the hustings and polling day. Regrettably, the Senatorials followed the same tired process, and apart from the JEP’s efforts to work up frenzy, and the introduction of a comedy character in the The Fly, the whole process was lacklustre and boring.

History – and that includes last week, as fresh as it may be – shows us that when an election is exciting, when it gives the public a real opportunity to use the most precious gift of universal suffrage to effect change – the right to vote, not restricted by race, gender, belief or social status – then people sense that the time is right to effect real change and they exercise their franchise in droves. In Obama’s words: ‘Yes we can!’ And last week, Americans certainly did.

As amazing as the scenes at American polling stations were, they pale in significance to those in South Africa in 1994 when, for the first time, the black majority was given the vote. The polls stayed open for days longer than planned as queues continued to grow. The image that sticks in my mind is of a very old man who proclaimed after exercising his franchise for the very first time: ‘Today, I am human!’

I make no apology about being passionate about the democratic system, as enshrined in American culture since Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address (‘Government of the people, by the people, for the people’). It is worth fighting for and dying for.

If the new Jersey States do anything worthwhile over the next three years, it should put the interests of democracy above States Members’ meal tickets. This Island is crying out for a single election day, not a collection of electoral insurance policies for those rejected in one ballot to seek solace in another.

On the same day as America rose like a phoenix from the ashes of the Twin Towers to show us that democracy is worth preserving, no matter what the price, three candidates in the Deputies’ elections failed to attend their nomination meetings. Two were sitting Members, Deputies Guy de Faye and Jacqui Huet, who really should have known better, and one was election hopeful Graham Truscott , who decided not to cut short a holiday. Experienced politicians or not, all three demonstrated a lack of respect for the democratic process, their constituents and the privileges that being a Member of the States of Jersey confers.

There is also something wrong with the present system that it is not compulsory for candidates to be present at their nomination meetings. And what possessed civil servants and politicians to make other arrangements on such an important date, no matter where and how seemingly important the event? Those who forget the power of the ballot could live to regret their actions. If a candidate is so indifferent to the democratic process, is he or she worthy of our trust?

More importantly, will they vote for the people and in the interests of the people when they so blatantly chose to snub the people? Obama’s message is as true of Jersey as it was in America. It’s time for change.