Obama's Elf

Thanks Timotab!

Barack Hussein Obama, 44th President of the United States of America

After eight years of war, hatred, scare-tactics and fear, finally, someone has dared to stand up and ask people to hope. To believe. In a future, in people, in a better world. We create the world we live in, we only have the one, and too often the good in the world, and the people in it, is clouded over by hatred and fear.

Following one of the greatest campaigns, and one of the most resented presidents in history, Barack Obama was elected two and a half months ago. It truly is an historic event. A lot of people have very high expectations, all I can do is hope they know that one person cannot change the world. But he, or she, can inspire people to change. We've created the world we live in today, and now we need to create the world we wish to live in. The world we hope for.

Perhaps one reason why the world is, and has been, so involved, so excited about the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States, is that we see him as one of us. At the same time, many Americans' view is that he's not really one of them. I think we see, not only the hope and the inspiration, but a man who sees the world as one and a whole, and not just how it can be exploited.


He cannot change the world. But he can change views, opinions; people.
And as people, we create our world.

Polls

Results from the poll prior to (and after since I didn't get it off sooner) the election of a new American president.

I noticed that before the election, most votes came for Obama, whereas after he had been elected, most people voted None. I wonder why...

Obama is the new Muzungu

People always shout "Muzungu!" after us when we walk outside. Muzungu means white person and it's not meant in a bad way although it does make you very self conscious since everybody is always looking at you. Plus, imagine standing on the street in whatever city you live in and shout "black person! black person!" every time you see a person of a different skin colour. Would that work?

People are just less politically correct here. They say it as it is, and I have to say I prefer it this way. It's a little "ehh... what did you just say?" at first when someone says something you'd never say out loud at home, but I really like the honesty. They manage to do it in a good way that's just honest but never rude - most people other people seem to see honesty as an excuse to be rude.


As for Obama - after he won the election last week people have started shouting "Obama" at us instead of "mzungu". I don't know why. Some girls had guys shout "Hey, Obamas wife" which doesn't make much sense either...

People at campus are selling photos of Obama, laying hundreds of them out on the ground. Photos work a little differently here, few people have cameras so it's a little special to have a photo of yourself and your friends. A friend in one of my classes gave me six photos last week; four of himself, one of the Main Building on campus and one of Obama.


This is a little funny and a lot strange...

A vote for change

The collective sigh of relief issued from the world this night was only rivaled by the cheers.


The hostel is throwing a party for "Our Barack Obama" this evening. People were shouting "Obama! Obama!" all night and when the victory was a fact, the shouts and cheers were loud enough to wake those who dared sleep.

It is a historic election, it would be no matter what the outcome was. I won't comment much on what this means for policies within the US, but outside this is potentially huge. That Barack Obama won this election signals to the rest of the world that the US is willing to change, and to take a chance to do so.


We don't like the position the US has had in the world the past decade, and Americans have now proved they don't like it much either. My hope for the next president is that fear and cynicism will be replaced by hope for the future. It's not about the man, it's about his opinions, policies and views of society.

Much can be said about the guy himself, all I'll say is although it might be true he is inexperienced in politics and might have a lot to learn, he seems to mean what he says, and say what he means. He seems to have a very different outlook from Bush and McCain and I hope and believe this will prove to be a good thing - both within the US and as far as relations with the outside world goes.


The world wants to like the US again. We want this superpower to be nice again and we hope the most powerful man in the world, starting in February, will have a broader perspective than the current one. Obama talks of us and we, not you and me.

And listening to his speech from Chicago, I hadn't realized how great it would feel to hear a man who will have such an important position in the world express opinions I completely agree with. He won't be able to do all he wants, but just the fact that he wants to try and do the right thing, in what I believe is the right way, is a good start.


So from a European in Africa - America, you did good!

Election Day 08

Americans have started voting, and the world is watching.

Ugandans are all over this election - I've seen "Barack Obama Club" t-shirts, bumper stickers and the papers have had the American colours on their front pages the past days.

Yesterday a guy came to the lecture shouting "Pray for McCain!" and another shouted back "No, pray for Obama!"


I wish I had a tv or a computer and didn't have to go running to internet cafes all the time. Last time, four years ago, I was up all night watching, and I really wish I could do the same now.

It looks like Obama can do this (I'd say more but I'm afraid to jinx it!) but you never know how the Republicans will do until it's over.

I'm hoping for no surprises this year, just a smooth running election with a historical outcome.

Go Obama!

Dear Americans

An American flag? Here? What happened??

One week left and I'd just like to urge all Americans to vote.



Americans might find it strange to see the world so preoccupied with what is their election, but the past century Americans have made it their business to make the world their business - thereby making the election of their President something which concerns the entire globe.

Whereas taxation and local governance is important for the average American, being able to hope for a little peace, less scare tactics, someone who sees foreigners as fellow inhabitants of our planet, and not just potential enemies and terrorists - a little hope and a lot of change, that is what the world is hoping for.


We want and need an America we can like again.

Vote Obama!