I began receiving excited emails from Ugandans about Barack Obama weeks before Americans went to the polls. People were engaged, hopeful, energized at even the possibility that a Blackman [sic] could be chosen for the most powerful job on earth. Now, a week after the election, the gushing about Obama in the East African media with its giddy sense of hope continues unabated.
Calling Obama's election the "Triumph of Humanity," Jerry Okungu seemed amazed that a blackman [sic] could win the American seat of power. 'For the first time," he wrote, "America proved to the world that their system really works..." As if America hasn't worked for more than 200 years to become the most powerful nation on earth. Jerry used Obama's rhetoric and McCain's concession speech as examples of how people of differing opinions can get along - unlike many tribal factions in East Africa. And he
quoted the popular U.S. TV evangelist T.D. Jakes who quipped: "Now I can die, knowing my children will be fine," revealing the smoldering sense of resentment apparently felt and fueled by blacks worldwide. Echoing this sentiment was Rebekah Heacock on 11/5/08, a white blogger in Kampala whose page simply featured the word "Yes" and a high school photo of B.O.
A New Vision writer likened Obama's eloquence to Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King and lauded America's overcoming its racial divide - interesting because apparently the world sees the U.S. as racially divided. The writer also lauded the Obama campaign for its "grass roots support" much like Museveni's National Resistance Movement (NRM). The lessons of opportunity - that any person could be elected to such an office were voiced over and over.
Within days, we saw hopeful stories about "AIDS funding to be expanded with Obama" - where the George Bush PEPFAR program would be extended and expanded only this time, "without restrictions to ideology (abstinence and being faithful)." The article reprinted Obama's speech made on World Aids Day 12/1/06. Author Charles Wendo played up the hope and expectation but did insert all is possible "if the U.S. gets its economy working."
To all those who are euphoric about our new President-elect, I must advise take a "wait and see" attitude. This man is not a messiah; he is a Chicago politician. Half the voters in America did NOT vote for him. If he enacts all of his economic reforms and social programs, there will be few dollars left to send abroad, maybe some change. I have lived in Chicago all my life. I have seen too many good-looking, smooth-talking, big ego politicians of all races promise things they cannot deliver just to occupy the seat of power. I pray to God Obama is not another one.
The wisest comments I found were written by Paul Busharizi who said, "As a continent, we need to ask not what Obama can do for us, but what we can do for Obama, so he can help us. Whether Africa reaps a dividend from Obama’s presidency is really up to us. "
(Hat tip to NewVision/ Rastoon for the graphic.)
Comments