I can't believe this was said from a native African.
Here is the one reason why everyone in the world should care that Obama
is th president Elect of the United States. Since World War II the U.S.
has been the most powerful, influential nation on the planet. For
better or for worse, the economy exploded rapidly, the state of Europe
today was 100% affected by what happened then and Africa has been on the
receiving end of shovels full of money from both the U.S., Europe, the
U.N. and the World Bank. Because of other nations meddling, there's
been a chess game at work when it comes to Africa's developing
countries. One leader is aided in wresting power from someone else more
corrupt because other nations around the globe have vested interests in
having someone 'friendly' to their ideals. That more than anything has
been the story of Africa since colonialism.
This has lead to the deaths of millions to the rise of a number of 'bad
idea to begin with' leaders all over the continent. As much as America
claims it doesn't play this game, it does. It's helped define borders
(ex. Liberia) and end wars. It's helped fight famine and slow the
spread of AIDS.
So whomever controls the most powerful and influential nation in the
world, becomes by default the most powerful person in the world. That
person can be an stubborn, intolerant, childish, ignorant, unprecedented
moron like Georgia W. Bush or it can be a progressive, inspirational,
open-minded person like Barack Obama.
When the U.S. bombed Somalia looking for Al-Quaeda in 2006-7 you're
telling me it 'didn't matter' who was in charge to make that decision?
When we started an endless war in Iraq for reasons that were blatant
lies to the American public, it 'didn't matter' who was in charge? When
our country put pressure on all our 'allies' to mirror our decisions in
all this, it 'didn't matter' who was in charge? When the American
economy tanked because of poor regulation and oversight from our
government, it 'didn't matter' that this rippled around the world
(arguably) sending the world economy into recession? And ultimately,
when George Bush and John McCain tell the American public 'Nothing is
wrong, everything is fine. We must stay the course.' it doesn't
matter? Despite the fact that most of the world disagreed with how we
were making decisions. It absolutely matters. In fact it matters so
much, it matters more than it *should*, for the sake of 'world-democracy'.
Even if you don't agree with the policies, the ideals and culture of
America, one thing is for sure: we're all connected. My interest in
what's going on in America right now is every bit as deep as my concern
for what will happen to the ANC in South Africa and the situation in
Congo. One thing affects another and, especially in Africa, history
shows us that when one area falls into a chaos, it has a way of
negatively affecting the countries around it.
People around the world often complain about how dumb, ignorant and
aggressive American people can be. I'd argue that, while one man can't
possibly change 300 million people, he can lead in a way that inspires
more to be like him. He can simply serve as a positive example.
The excitement has nothing to do with the fact that he's black and a
first generation African-American, in my opinion. That's just a
footnote among all the reasons to be excited about Obama...and this is
coming from a Black-American. I'd have been just as excited if his
ancestry were Asian whatever else if his ideals and philosophies were
the same. Hilary Clinton would have made an 'okay' leader but a few
things curbed my interest in her a) how she (negatively) ran her
campaign and b) the fact she supported the Iraq war. Again, it has
nothing to do with race or gender, it's all about the mans mentality and
what he's exemplified in his actions.
Okay, enough ranting about my country for now.
Jonathan D. Gosier
Appfrica International
P.O. Box 1420 Kampala, Uganda
http://appfrica.net - African Technology and Social Media Blog
http://appfrica.org - Incubator for East African Entrepreneurs in Software
Uganda +256.773806071
USA +1.520.318.0828 ext 145
UK +44.2032398156
Skype j.gosier
Twitter appfrica
joseph mpora wrote:
I really don't see the cause for all the excitement. I can understand
why African-Americans are excited, it's the first time the US has
picked a president from a minority (can't remember the exact
percentage but its around 20%)
For Africa, it probably bears not real significance. Obama is
American, his priority is America. I believe his dad (the Kenyan)
abandoned his family and Obama has only visited Kenya a few times.
Would we be this excited if it had been Hillary Clinton, an election
which would have been just as historic?
PS: I was routing for Obama, mostly because what he said made sense,
not because he is black (ahem, African-American)
J
On Wed, Nov 5, 2008 at 12:31 AM, Dennis M S <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Need i say more....history has been made ,now every down trodden
fellow can dream....it can only b USA
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