PRESIDENT Obama has come and gone and the echoes remain. He made history, and not just because he is the first man of colour to lead a nation billed as the most powerful on Earth. Whether that is so or not, its significance will be debated elsewhere. What we saw was a man who didn’t hesitate to reach out to others of whatever colour, pedigree or history. He seems always prepared to share his vision with them. In the short span of time that he set foot on Jamaican soil he showed us how he does it.

Of the few but no less important occasions during which he shared time with us, the youth “Town Hall Meeting” will go down as the event with the greatest impact. He held the interest of young adults in a way which not many “big people” know how to. True, the event might have been even more powerful, had there been time to facilitate more questions from the floor. We needed to hear the youth voices more — but that done and gone now. Let’s build on it.

The other regret is that he couldn’t have moved among some more people, ordinary by name but not by nature. We know from experience that the real heart of Jamaica lies within the man and woman pon de street, in country and in town. They might not qualify for the social pages, but you can’t beat them when it comes to good common sense, Heaven knows we need much more of that. If the opportunity had risen to include the voice of the real “roots people”, President Obama would go home taking with him what “real Jamaica” meant. He will also need to search it out in the rest of the Caribbean if the new relationship which is being envisioned will succeed. We all need to be built on reality, not fantasy.

The Caribbean and Latin American regions hope to be dealt with as real people, not the stereotype calypsonians and ever-smiling tour guides. The tide of time is eager to move us to cease being seen as mere suppliers of sand, sea and sex — Been there, done that. We all have to face up to harder realities of the times. Music will not be enough, even though the president honours us by honouring Marley. There’s much more that we will have to learn. Efforts were made to let us take charge before. Go back to the history of the 70s and let’s ask ourselves what kind of change we want now and how to achieve it.

Some of the criticisms of the Obama visit being passed around at home and in the Diaspora abroad, according to what I’ve been told, needs to be examined. What is causing some of the less than kind words coming from some places, among them the well known stops on the Diaspora trail in Canada and the US, as well as Back-a-yard. Global communication is on our doorstep, and don’t ask if we have not become addicted to it. Let’s use it well. Differences of opinion here currently include the matter of a pardon for the National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Another issue: How Caribbean people will benefit from US immigration reform. And, why isn’t there backing for Jamaica to get in on the ganja train which is gathering strength in some US states? And then, where will investment come from? Let’s take one more…How to equip the youth?

There is a bitter edge to some of what we’ve been discussing, though. There are too many knots in the thread of local politics. Nothing new there, but what of talking development? I’ve heard it said that there were people wishing that there had been failure of the visit to avoid the present Government being able to take credit for their role in facilitating the US president here.

As for the Prime Minister, she was on show for the visit. The rapport between Barack Obama and herself was headline material. Are some people really concerned that this will boost her ratings? So what? The elections will come when they will come. Let us keep focus on what lies ahead and continue to follow the path of doing the right thing. We are free to keep or we can discard. Democracy is still with us. We have individual choice. Let’s be cool.

Left with the image of Obama blessed with a rainbow over Harbour View as he waved farewell, we now get back to work. It is to be hoped that by this a review and analysis of the visit is now underway. Some folks are still awaiting a communiqué of what our guest and our leaders decided.

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LONG PASS DRAW SWEAT: I will not easily forget the journey to Cross Roads from Gordon Town via Barbican, Constant Spring Road, Sandy Gully Bridge, Washington Boulevard, into Molynes Gardens, and surrounding areas trying to find a way to Cross Roads last Wednesday. Talk about Security! Did we really need to lock it down so tight?

BUT SEE YAH!: Not pleased at all. Did you hear about the homeless man in downtown Kingston who vex so-tell. Imagine! Dem tek him off his sidewalk home, bathed him, give him clean clothes, and trim his hair. Him vex till him nearly buss. How Govament so cruel? Wha Jamaica come to, eeh? (Who mad?)

VERY IMPORTANT LADY: Fellow traveller with US president to Jamaica, but we seemed to have missed her, not knowing who she was. She is Susan Rice, member of the Obama Cabinet and US Ambassador to United Nations. Best of all, she’s one a wi. Her grandparents come from Portland. She deserved our recognition. Neither of the jobs for which she is responsible comes easy. But she’s one of us, noted for her “smarts”, as they say Up So. Big up another one of us, holding up the flag. Thank you, Ma’am. Proud a you so-tell!

DO THE RIGHT THING: Vendors at West Race Course, whose stalls were demolished, are in a better mood. The stalls have been put back and business has returned. Does this mean that something has been done also to see that proper health standards will now be maintained? Is there wash-hand water and the provision for disposal of waste at the site? Will food handlers permits be next for there and other similar roadside eating spots which are so popular? This should be required of all food stalls everywhere in the island. We should not regard it as “tekking advantage”. Let’s get real, nuh!

gloudonb@yahoo.com