Dorene Namanya
9 June 2008
column
Kampala — The year 2016, a tired Barack Obama is seated at his desk in the oval office right behind the naval seal with a satisfied smile on his face, ready to hand over power.
Maybe even to Chelsea Clinton. Yes. He has done it. Become the first black president of the free world. He looks around and tries to take it all in.
He looks at the door and remembers way back in 2008 when he had first walked through it, and how nervous he was. Yes, he has come a long way. If only he can keep his eyes tightly shut, him and a million other people out there really, the dream will not go away. Because right now, all anyone can do is dream.
Here is the reality. After a drawn out contest, a first if its kind on whatever front you look at it- in one corner, a female presidential candidate and in the other blue corner, a black candidate- Obama came out victorious as the front runner for the U.S presidency on the Democratic Party ticket. The fat lady had finally sung, and what a tune she had belted out! But who is this senator she was singing for?
Barack Hussein Obama Jr. is a charismatic democrat who has swept Americans off their feet with the whole winds of 'change we can believe in' speech. He is also the first African American to win enough support for the nomination of any major American political party and was a lawyer before becoming a senator for the state of Illinois. He is very popular for his stance against the war in Iraq. Obama has a Muslim background that he has tried to distance himself from by claiming that even though his father was of Islamic background, he (his father) was a confirmed atheist by the time he met his mother. This is the man the world can't stop talking about, and the one Ugandans are about to turn into a cult figure.
The morning after he won the democratic nomination, he was all everyone was talking about. From local TV and FM stations, the taxi driver chatting enthusiastically to his conductor, the leading dailies, to even talk among women who are normally far removed from the political surroundings (although to be fair they were discussing his looks). The Obama drug was taking effect. It was as if the prices of fuel, food and the northern war peace treaty (or lack thereof) no longer seemed to matter. Ugandans had embraced Obama.
This is worrying on so many fronts. One that we almost seem more enthusiastic about than our neighbours in Kenya and he is after all their cousin. Kind of like that woman who howls, wails and threatens to kill herself at the death of her stepchild when the child's mother is weeping quietly in a corner.
Two, that Obama's election will not change the situation here. Honest, those potholes will remain. Three, that Zimbabwe is still being led by a tyrant, Ugandans are being harassed in South Africa, there is a crisis in Darfur and yet we channel our energies in the Obama campaign. Four that he is still only just a candidate.
This is probably the one topic where people are taking advantage to show off their knowledge of international politics, but all that enthusiasm is not going to pay off in the end. I hate to disappoint all of you enthusiasts, but your opinion as Ugandans matters only so much.
Reminds me of the last US presidential elections, how a certain tabloid here ran an editorial on Election Day that read, "Here at (insert tabloid name) we support John Kerry." I bet John Kerry wrote them a letter later thanking them for their support. I bet he didn't.
How viable a candidate is Obama? Although right now, he is leading in opinion polls, here are some of the things that may not work in his favour. He has Islamic roots and that is going to be his first hurdle. Unlike his opponent John McCain the republican candidate, he is not a war hero, and the presidential history of the US has shown how Americans attach importance to this little aspect.
He does not have the vote of the white working class as evidenced by his defeat by Hillary Clinton in white majority areas of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. He has a following of teenagers and the youth who have a record of low turn out when it comes to the actual voting. He is also black. Right now, the best thing he has going for him is that he is an underdog in this contest and people love a good "David conquers Goliath" story. That could get him elected. But only just.
So while we hold our breaths, let us not look at him as our salvation. If (yes, if) elected, he will probably stay as far away from Africa as possible just so he is not accused of being partisan. Let's face it. He is just another politician, whose biggest agenda right now is to be in the books of history. Let us not get ahead of ourselves now.
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I am an American and an avid Barrack Obama supporter. I think you failed to recognize the significance of Obama's accomplishments - the number of Senators that support him as well as the unique campaign he ran during the primaries. He took the Clintons by surprise, and it took all three of them (Bill, Hillary and Chelsea) to get Hillary's campaign back into the race.
Oh, bother. What's wrong with this man or any of those that think that we celebrate Obama just because we are waiting for handouts. Frankly, I would celebrate Obama's nomination even if he was a staunch Republican who voted for the war in Iraq. To Africans the matter is simple. For centuries now we have been told that we are an inferior race and that we don't have what it takes to accomplish anything. lately that message has been echoed by brainwashed Africans. Can you imagine the message that is being sent by Obama's nomination today? Can you? Show me a greater force that will imprint itself on the African mind today or yesterday?None. A step for Obama into the while house will be a giant leap for Blacks all over the world.
As an American Christian who has been to Uganda several times and have hosted Ugandans in America I need to point out that Obama is very pro- homoseaul and abortion rights. Claiming tobe a Christian ( I can not judge a man's heart but see no evidence of a transforming salvation experience) his solutions trust in big government and not in God. America's greatest has always been in limited government.
While he has a fascinating life story (I have listened to his biography on audio)a little research reveals strong connections with know communists in his background. While I myself had a socialist background growing up when I became a Christian my politics changed accordingly. I don't see that change in Barack even though he is very bright and articulate.
Whether Mr. Barack OBama becomes president of the U.S. or not, one thing all Blacks, globally, should remember is that a Black person can do almost anything if they put their mind to it. Mr. Obama should not be viewed as the salvation of the Black people, because we are intelligent enough to be our own slavation, but rather as an inspiration to the perserverance and dedication to the character of Black people. As oppressed and suppressed as Blacks have been both abroad and in the U.S. there is no true defining of us as intellectually inferior, we are able to rise from obstacles that are meant to deter and derail our success and turn us against one another. Now we have a chance to rally 'round one another in the hopes of showing the world a united stance WE ARE A FORCE TO RECOKEN WITH... I'm not saying Obama is going to solve Africa's problems or even the problems of Black Americans right here in America, but imagine how much easier it will be for Black citizens of the world to have a sense of worth, a feeling that that if that Black in a country that was built by the enslavement of Blacks can rise so high up the political ladder, so can I... it might not mean much to adults but to the children who are our future it will speak volumns, let them forever feel like they are our greatest hope and inspiration...
I'm an American currently living in Europe who stumbled across this article. I appreciate hearing an African opinion on these important events in my country.
However, the tone of this article is highly cynical. I don't believe the best mentality is that of lowered expectations and preparation for disappointment. When so many lives today are marked with hardships and difficulties, when we have suffered under the stupidity of GW Bush for 7 years, it is often very difficult to find anything for which we can feel hope and excitement. After so many years of dread and fear when looking toward the future, why should we be hesitant to feel the opposite?
It has been a long time since so many of my countrymen were so excited and moved by a presidential election. It has also been a long time since the world felt the possibilities of an American candidate. Why not dream? Why not hope? Why not consider the possibilities of the future, rather than always fearing for the worst?
I am sorry the phenomenal event that has taken place in America has escaped you, I truly am. I am sorry that you cannot appreciate that an African American has a legitimate chance for the white house when less than 40 ago there were millions fighting and dying for just the opportunity for African Americans to achieve respect and fundamental human rights. I am sorry that you cannot appreciate that for the first time since Kennedy the youth are excited about a candidate and are putting themselves into the political process. I am shocked that as a journalist you can honestly say "they don't really have a history of turning out" when the youth of this country have been a back bone to this man's campaign. As a youth who knocked on doors and worked for hours for this man because I am so inspired and believe so strongly in his candidacy I take offense to that and challenge you that the youth WILL turn out in record numbers once again. Instead of seeing the glass as half empty why not look around and just realize how incredible it is that for once in a very long time and AMERICAN presidential hopeful can bring unity to the world once again. As an American I am so tired of being enemy number one! You say he wont do anything for Ugandans or for the situation in Darfur How do you know!? He was one of the FIRST U.S. government officers to even speak out against the tragedy in Darfur. Africans have every right to be proud and hopeful for this man a true Progressive Democrat probably the first since Kennedy. I regret that you cannot feel the same hope as your brothers and sisters around the world but as an American teenager who has been inspired by a politician for the first time in my life, this is not delirium we're having, this is true, 100% unfiltered HOPE and it isn't going anywhere!!!
See all comments (17).
where is the law that requires as the US president that he should be looking after Africa? Third world countries, specially parts of africa has gotten so lazy that they just wait for the aid to come. I'm from a third world country myself, but we don't go complaining how america is not looking out for us. america is not the only country with brains. you should remember how they started off. they cleared the jungle too. we have fully functional brains too. use them! he is the president of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. not the whole world. if he can improve his country then he is a great president. if he helps other countries that's just a bonus. ppl stop expecting other countries to come bail you out. just because they're a superpower and u r a third world country doesn't mean they should spend all their resources helping you. america is not all that either. they got domestic problems too. don't forget that. and it's not america's fault if u have a tyrant for a leader. go elect someone else then. stop blaming others for ur own faults. it's time you grow up.