"homeland"(Kenya) prior to the declaration of his intention to vie for
Presidency. That visit was overtly political, unnecessary(he became a
Senator without throwing up his Africanness)..."
Before his presidential victory, some Africans had a very ambivalent
attitude to Brother Obama , with much, psychologizing and
philosophising around the politics of his "mixed" race side by side
with his Aamericaness – and then the question of colour and the
African identity theme: as the Landlady asked the student Wole
Soyinka:
" 'You mean - like plain or milk chocolate?'
During the presidential campaign there were some faint-hearted, uncle
tom African Negroes who wondered often and aloud, saying things like "
He is not an African !", "He is not a real African" and other such
distant sentiments, ad nauseum, as if he was contesting for the
presidency of the United States of AfriKa.
Even after his victory,they did not even want to grant him the
biological 50% and his first-ness of his position in the White House,
– O no , they were then among the first to croon that
" He was not the First African/ Black Present!!!!"
That 's what black means: African.
Here is my favourite cowboy picture of Brother Obama : here, he looks
as if he is taking some advice and instructions from the elders and
all dressed for Jihad with a white turban on his head (his speech at
Cairo University and in Accra, came later):
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/02/26/obama_270208_narrowweb__300x512,0.jpg
On Aug 24, 4:32 pm, "Anunoby, Ogugua" <Anuno...@lincolnu.edu> wrote:
> "I have not forgotten Obama's highly publicized visit to his
> "homeland"(Kenya) prior to the declaration of his intention to vie for
> Presidency. That visit was overtly political, unnecessary(he became a
> Senator without throwing up his Africanness)..."
>
> cao
>
> What about Mr. Obama's higher profile and more highly publicized visits to Israel, and Western Europe? Mr. Obama was reported to have addressed over 200,000 people at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. Do the visits mean that Mr. Obama was "cultivated and nurtured by the Obama strategists" as an Israeli or an European President? Were these visits "overtly political and unnecessary" too? If one visit is, why not the others?
> It is traditional for prospective American presidential candidates to travel abroad as part of their success strategy. John McCain made high profile and well publicized visits to Israel (with Senator Lieberman), Western Europe, and the Republic of Georgia. It is now standard practice for prospective U.S.A. presidential candidates to write one or more books and have televised debates.
> It is common knowledge that Mr. Obama was abandoned by his father at the early formative years of his life and he holds no bitterness about this unconscionable abandonment? Is it not honorable and commendable that Mr. Obama publicly acknowledged and continues to acknowledge his African heritage? Many Americans believe that Mr. Obama's visit to Africa would and did hurt his campaign. Well-meaning people should rightly be very proud of this great act of courage by Mr. Obama.
> It cannot and should not be Mr. Obama's fault that some people misread and misrepresent well intentioned, unpretentious, and transparent ordinary events? Mr. Obama is well appreciated all over the world, by a majority of people who know how to know and what to know. He is an impressive President of the United States of America (U.S.A.). Has anyone noticed that there has been no scandals or indeed report of scandals in his past and present life as is usually the case with American presidents? The man is exemplary in many respects.
> Mr. Obama is without question well versed in the politics of the U.S.A. and the world. He knows that good leaders transform their societies by build great futures for them. He knows not to pay too much attention to "the present and now" people who for the most part, are oblivious of the complications and sophistications of U.S.A. and international politics.
> Good politics is about today; great politics is about tomorrow.
>
> oa
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Chidi Anthony Opara
> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 2:36 AM
> To: USA Africa Dialogue Series
> Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - News Release: President Obama On "Ending The War In Iraq"
>
> The presumption that Barack Obama would be an "African President" was
> cultivated and nurtured by the Obama strategists prior to and during
> the race for the White House. It was a winning strategy at that time,
> albeit a wrong one. It was like "hey, here comes an African, whose
> people were oppressed, so let him become President as a compensation".
> The strategy worked but subsequently became an albatross.
>
> I have not forgotten Obama's highly publicized visit to his
> "homeland"(Kenya) prior to the declaration of his intention to vie for
> Presidency. That visit was overtly political, unnecessary(he became a
> Senator without throwing up his Africanness) and supported the
> perception of Obama as a potential "African President".
>
> The reality however, is that Barack Obama is the President of the
> United States of America, not an "African President", whatever that
> designation means.
>
> Chidi Anthony Opara
>
> http://www.chidiopararesume.blogspot.com
>
> On Aug 23, 9:40 pm, "Anunoby, Ogugua" <Anuno...@lincolnu.edu> wrote:
> > WF
>
> > Once again, you are entitled to your own opinion but not to your own facts.
> > If you are saying that having taken the oath of office as President of the United States of America, Mr. Obama should have immediately pull his country's military forces out of Iraq and Afghanistan, I must ask you get better educated on the realities of government, war, and international affairs and relations. Things take time to do if they are to be done well. Important, complicated, and strategic decisions take even longer to implement. Have you in good conscience imagined for a minute, the implications for all Iraqis, of immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq starting January 21, 2009? Mr. Obama was sworn in as President January 20, 2010. Ditto Afghanistan. Do you know how long it took Gorbachev's U.S.S.R. (a dictatorship) to pull out of Afghanistan?
> > Once again I must remind you that politics, especially in a democracy (however imperfect), is the art of the possible.
> > Everywhere, open-minded people that pay attention, recognize that Mr. Obama is committed (in the ordinary meaning of the word committed) to pulling all U.S forces out of Iraq and Afghanistan. They recognize that this is more simply said than done. They recognize also that he has the U.S. Congress and internal (including intra and inter-party) opposition to deal with too. The know that the United States of America is a democracy and not a dictatorship. They know that government process in a democracy is slow for obvious reasons. That you neither believe nor trust Mr. Obama does not change the fact of his commitment and his situation. People who really know and understand history, government, and politics, give Mr. Obama some credit for the considerable foreign policy successes that he has had in a short time as U.S. President. Mr. Obama is trying hard to change America's view of the world and international relations from inside, which view is a possible reason for that country's international posture, politics, policies, and some misadventures. He is trying his best to change how America sees itself and others which unfortunately, causes that country to "wrongly" conceptualize and define its national interests at times.
> > Mr. Obama neither created nor helped to create the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that you seem to be blaming him for not ending immediately he became president. He in fact voted against the war as a Senator knowing full well, that vote may have huge consequences for his political career. Mr. Obama is consistently criticized by many of his fellow citizens, for withdrawing or wanting to withdraw his country's forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. Many in his country for this reason, say that Mr. Obama is not a true American. Some say that Mr. Obama is siding with Islam and Muslims when he should be on America's "side". These false allegations neither matter to you nor cause you to rethink your position. It does not matter to you that the Afghan government is on record as saying that it expects U.S. forces to remain in Afghanistan for another ten to twelve years. You cannot care for the Iraqis and Afghanis better or more than they care about themselves and their country.
> > It is time you acknowledge that you may be wrong to describe anyone that disagrees with you as being sentimental. If you will not work with all the facts, you may be the one that is sentimental.
> > It is not necessary or indeed helpful to Mr. Obama that any member of this forum holds brief for him. The man can defend himself where and when it really matters. He enjoys enough understanding and goodwill in Middle Eastern countries and other parts of the world to not bother about unjustified and unwarranted criticism.
>
> > oa
>
> > From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Wassa Fatti
> > Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 5:18 AM
> > To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
> > Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - News Release: President Obama On "Ending The War In Irag"
>
> > OA,
> > I am among the few Africans who doubted Obama's sincerity from the day one. For me, Obama is a dangerous political opportunist in the service of US imperialism. I care less about his colour or race, because that is one factor why many Blacks or Africans supported him: to see a Black skin in the White House.I have never been part of that sentiment and will never be. As far as I am concerned, Obama is as dangerous as George Bush. So need to wake up rather than asking me about "the credible and veritable evidence for the sweeping claims." How many Igraqists died since Obama entered White House? How many Afghan women and children died from US drone attacks since Obama entered the White House? Has Obama closed the American inhuman prison camp in Cuba as he promised in his election campaign? Why is he more bold in attacking and imposing sanctions against Iran and very quiet about the rampant and barbaric attacks of Israel against defenceless and dispossessed Palestinians? The list can go and on with regard to credible evidence. Let me put it to you one more time: that Obama is a dangerous political opportunist. I hope you get that.
>
> > WF
> > ________________________________
> > From: Anuno...@lincolnu.edu
> > To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
> > Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:18:05 -0500
> > Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - News Release: President Obama On "Ending The War In Irag"
> > WF,
>
> > Do you need to be reminded that while you are entitled to your own opinion, you are not entitled to your own facts. Where is the credible and verifiable evidence for the sweeping claims that you make?
> > Mr. Obama was elected President of his (Obama's) country (the United States of America) to uphold and defend his country's constitution, protect his fellow citizens, and defend and advance the interests of his country everywhere and every time. The man is doing his best under very tough circumstances that have been created by determined and inflexible opponents. The man is trying hard to reposition his country in the global sphere after decades of miscalculations,
>
> ...
>
> read more »- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
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