Obama of no real use to Africa
Sep 07, 2008
EDITOR — Take away Barack Obama’s skin colour and the recent-generation African roots and I find nothing else of benefit in his campaign to Africa. That is, of course, if one does not (like me) consider the superficial feel-good sentiments in Black Africa, a benefit.
EDITOR — Take away Barack Obama’s skin colour and the recent-generation African roots and I find nothing else of benefit in his campaign to Africa. That is, of course, if one does not (like me) consider the superficial feel-good sentiments in Black Africa, a benefit.
I listened to a call-in programme on one of our local language radio stations in which a caller said: “… nsaba omusajja waffe, Obama, awangule naffe tweyagale ko …†(I pray that our Obama wins so that we can feel proud too).
Obama’s tenure, if he gets it, will be first and foremost about the US domestically.
Like a significant majority of Africans, and Ugandans in particular, I am pro-family, anti-abortion, against homosexuality, would like strong religious morals taught in schools and I support a pragmatic rather than idealistic approach to environmental issues. Given that when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold, an Obama administration would strengthen the forces around the world that do not share our values and whose pockets are quite deep.
A Democratic administration in Washington would use agencies like USAID to advocate and fund anti-African values.
It is also my observation that much of the support Obama is getting among Black Africans is simply because he is black and has nothing to do with his position on issues that are dear to them.
Ironically, many of them would give Obama a torrid time campaigning in Africa due to his mixed parentage.
Had his father been Kenyan and mother Ugandan, I believe he would not even get nominated by any political party as a presidential candidate. He would not be considered Ugandan. We all know how President Museveni’s ethnic origins have been used as a weapon against his presidency.
For the sake of Africa and Uganda’s real hopes, we should look beyond Obama’s skin colour. Our future should not be compromised by sectarian and racist perceptions.
Martin Makara,
Kira Town Council
I listened to a call-in programme on one of our local language radio stations in which a caller said: “… nsaba omusajja waffe, Obama, awangule naffe tweyagale ko …†(I pray that our Obama wins so that we can feel proud too).
Obama’s tenure, if he gets it, will be first and foremost about the US domestically.
Like a significant majority of Africans, and Ugandans in particular, I am pro-family, anti-abortion, against homosexuality, would like strong religious morals taught in schools and I support a pragmatic rather than idealistic approach to environmental issues. Given that when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold, an Obama administration would strengthen the forces around the world that do not share our values and whose pockets are quite deep.
A Democratic administration in Washington would use agencies like USAID to advocate and fund anti-African values.
It is also my observation that much of the support Obama is getting among Black Africans is simply because he is black and has nothing to do with his position on issues that are dear to them.
Ironically, many of them would give Obama a torrid time campaigning in Africa due to his mixed parentage.
Had his father been Kenyan and mother Ugandan, I believe he would not even get nominated by any political party as a presidential candidate. He would not be considered Ugandan. We all know how President Museveni’s ethnic origins have been used as a weapon against his presidency.
For the sake of Africa and Uganda’s real hopes, we should look beyond Obama’s skin colour. Our future should not be compromised by sectarian and racist perceptions.
Martin Makara,
Kira Town Council