When I heard that a black man with an Arabic name was going to run against Hillary Clinton, I was most annoyed. I was thinking, like many others, George W. Bush has taken the Republican party to a level from which they certainly cannot recover, unless the Democrats select a candidate who is a total disaster.

When I heard that an African American with a strange name was contesting the democratic nomination for the presidency, I told my wife, relatives and friends, "Well thank God that he won't be the democratic nominee since he has the chance of a snowball 'in you know where' of beating Hillary Rodman Clinic for the Democratic nomination".

The odds against Mr. Obama becoming the first African American to be elected president seemed to be insurmountable. After all his race constituted only 11 percent of the national voter base. In fact, even though a much greater proportion of African Americans supported the Democratic party, that race still represented much less than 50 percent of even that restricted voter base.

Hence, it was clear that in order for an African American to win the presidency of the United States, it would be necessary for that person to be able to garner the entire vote of the black community was well as over 40 percent of the rest of American voters — who were overwhelming white.

For the above reasons, I like many others of both races, felt fairly confident that either Mr. Obama or any other African American — including black republican Colin Powell — would be able to win the Presidency of the United States.

I believed that if white America did some day elect a black to the presidency, it would have to be someone who was prepared to reflect and protect white interests on all occasions. And of course, extending my own prejudices to the obvious extreme, such a person would not be able to do very much to solve the pressing issues facing the American black minority.

I was not even impressed by the fact that Mr. Obama was a Democrat and that the American Democratic Party had been the party that historically was most likely to represent minority interests in America. I compared this fact with the history of the Republican Party who, on the other hand, have represented the interests of big business almost from the beginning of their existence.

Some readers will most likely object to the forgoing conclusion by reference to Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, who led the fight against slavery in the south.

However, those who have studied the history of America with reason rather than passion will be aware that the concern of President Lincoln was much more go keep the Southern States as a protected market for the manufactured goods of the North than it was to free the slaves.

Today, I doubt if anyone would deny that the tremendous expansion of the American economy during the 20th century would not have been possible had Lincoln not succeeded in keeping the Southern states within the confines of the United States federation.

For me, the recent political history of the United States is of interest because it illustrates that white Americans do not represent some monolithic organisation with the sole goal of dominating and exploiting blacks.

I believe that a more realistic assessment of white Americans or any other ethnic, racial or national group is that each ethnic, racial or national group consists of many subgroups some of whom are more interested in actively fighting each other than they are in fighting those outside of their ethnic, racial or national group.

The above national group consists of many subgroups some of whom are more interested in actively fighting each other than they are in fighting those outside of their ethnic, racial or national group.

The above conclusion becomes very clear whenever we review the religious, political or economic history of any ethnic, racial or national group. for instance, the persecution of the early Christians reflected one group of Jews against another.

Fast forward to the twentieth century where there were two great wars in Europe which involved whites fighting against whites over who would own what colony or dominate which particular trade route. And not to be ignored are the numerous examples of strife in Africa where groups of similar race and/or ethnicity seem intent on committing genocide.

Clearly, even these brief references to history should indicate that the expression of greed and hate have little respect for racial, ethnic or racial boundaries.

Despite the obvious conflicts that we have experienced in terms of race can we conclude that the ability of various groups to get along is improving? Can we state with confidence that the expression of negative attitudes based upon racial differences are on the decline?

Does the election of Mr. Obama with the support of white America indicate that Americans are making great strides in removing race as a criteria for selecting any candidate to the highest post in the land? Further, what does this mean for Bermuda?

While I have no intention of dealing with all the questions raised, with respect to white Americans, I do believe that they are well on the way for a considerable time towards accepting the principle that all Americans must be provided with opportunity according to the quality of their minds and not the "colour of their skins".

This has not been a result of the election of Mr. Obama, although his election can truly be said to be the pinnacle of American acceptance of the principle of equality of opportunity. However, America has long shown that it willing to elect blacks to high public office. This is obvious by the numerous elections of mayors, congressman, a few senators and governors and now the President.

But what about Bermuda? Are whites in Bermuda also willing to elect representatives solely on the basis of ability and not race? Many of my friends, including those in high places would respond with a resounding "No!"

This is a conclusion that is hard to refute when one considers the composition of the UBP which surveys show is supported by at least 95 percent of Bermuda's white population. However, it also represents at least 15 percent of Bermuda's black population. Using the same statistical sources we find that the PLP is supported by at least 75 percent of Bermuda's black population and less than five percent of Bermuda's white population.

Clearly, white Bermudians have not shown any inclination to date to support the PLP; however they also have not shown any reluctance to date to accept the political leadership of blacks in the highest political position of Premier.

This is amply illustrated by their retention of Sir John Swan as Premier for a record thirteen (13) years. Currently, the PLP has elected only one white to Parliament and has no one of that race sitting in a cabinet position.

Before the PLP acceded to power, their supporters used to ask with respect to the ruling UBP, "How can Bermuda be effectively governed by a ruling party dominated by the minority race?" Today one might well ask of the PLP, "How can Bermuda be effectively governed, if the white race, who have a strangle hold on the Bermuda economy, is not represented in the Cabinet?"

Still, even though whites are not represented in the PLP Cabinet, the ruling party has adequate access to the whites who are major players in the economy which should enable them to exercise sound judgment when dealing with the economic crisis in which we find ourselves.