Safari Notes

Obama son of Ja Kogelo Four years ago, when most thought that an African-American could never be allowed to be president of America, he did it. And, now, after the longest, most expensive and most bitter election in US history, Barack Hussein Obama has again, overwhelmingly, been allowed to continue residing in the White House. Against all odds: being raised by a single mother in different countries, loosing his mother and being raised by a grandmother and most of his life being surrounded by women; and having a Muslim background and a name such as he has, he has done it! The lesson learnt here is that nothing is impossible. If one is determined, if one is focused, if one is positive and if one works hard, one can achieve any thing. Especially in America. But not in Africa . Africa which is shackled in tribalism, nepotism, cronyism and favoritism. Africa which is being kept down and undeveloped by corruption, conflicts, wars and diseases. The only way one can achieve what Obama

Of all of President Obama's five hundred plus promises that he made during his campaigning, I find two - the most important and would very much like him to keep: that of reducing suffering and poverty, not only in America, but beyond its borders too; and his pledge to "engage vigorously" on Climate Change. In his inauguration address, he repeated his commitment to both: And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it. Both of these promises if kept and brought to effect, would be most beneficial to Africa; and would certainly be Mr. Obama's greatest gift for the Continent. Africa is the poorest continent and by America doing all it can in reducing poverty and suffering beyond its borders too - Africans, very hopefully, will benefit. To reduce poverty an

It's about time. The Luo Peoples , are at last in real power. In Kenya, in the Sudan - where Luos are said to have originated from; and now in America. It has taken years, and in Africa - many have died for the Luos to realize their dream and reach where they are now. Luos, wherever they have lived, have always struggled to reach the top in education; it's in their blood and it's the way they are. They love learning and they love politics. And it's in politics where they have most, left their mark. Many times, their passion for politics has cost them enormously; as in the case of Kenya where several Luo leaders have been either assassinated - Tom Mboya and Robert Ouko being the most prominent; or brutally suppressed - like Oginga Odinga, Raila Odinga and James Orengo. In the Sudan, millions have died for the struggle in the South. In Uganda, Apolo Obote and the Luos in the North - in the sixties, early seventies and early eighties - had the political and military cl

" If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer ." So, said the next President of the US . I, we, have no doubt any more about that. And I do, for the first time truly envy Americans for how you can rise and at what you can do. And how lucky and blessed you are, to have such a democratic system and such ideals! Truly, you are a great people. And that is the reason you will continue leading the World militarily, economically and technologically; and you have just proven too, that you are above the rest of the World, morally. And now you have sent such a great statement across the globe, which will cause ripples and shock waves for a long time to come. Very hopefully, the ripples and shock waves - will be so powerful so as to bring too, the same kind of change that will, one day, allow

It is the first American presidential election that has a black, biracial American - Barack Obama - contending for the top seat; and if elected - John McCain, at 72, would be the oldest American ever to ascend to the presidency. It's the first time ever too, that candidates for both parties were born outside the Continental United States. And right now, of all American presidential elections - this one, has aroused much more interest across the World than never before, and is keenly followed and watched by millions around the World. Watched and followed by millions of people around the World, because what happens in the US - has repercussions in most parts of the Globe; and: around the World - people are very interested in Obama and are waiting to see if Americans can actually go the distance and elect some one with his kind of back ground, to lead them. Both candidates claim they are fighting for 'change'. More so - Barack Obama, who most and best symbolizes it. If Obama

He is smart. He is cool. He is poised. He envisions hope. He is a great communicator. But there are many Americans who still hate him. Some have even predicted that, should he win the presidency - he would be assassinated. Why do some hate him so much? And which do they find more loathsome: his black, African origins or his Muslim background? Most of those who hate Barack Obama do so because they are racist and they simply can't accept the idea of an African American president; even one as capable as Mr. Obama. Racism isn't an American problem only; it's worldwide. Racism is a disease, and once inflicted with it, it's hard to cure it. As for Obama's religion, many Americans have good reasons to be wary about any thing related to Muslims, due to Islams's poor image there. But what is very surprising is that there are still many Americans who believe that Obama is a practicing Muslim and that, he took the oath of office using Islam's holly book - the Koran!

That's what I wished for , a few months ago. And well, Mr. Obama has almost decided: he's deciding whether to run for President . Again I say: it's only in the United States that some one with a background as Barack's, where one can have such aspirations and dreams. He has just taken the first steps ; a few excerpts from Barack's message: "As many of you know, over the last few months I have been thinking hard about my plans for 2008. Running for the presidency is a profound decision - a decision no one should make on the basis of media hype or personal ambition alone - and so before I committed myself and my family to this race, I wanted to be sure that this was right for us and, more importantly, right for the country." "..I've spent some time thinking about how I could best advance the cause of change and progress that we so desperately need." "Politics has become so bitter and partisan, so gummed up by money and influence, that we ca

I first heard about Barack Obama early last year; with time, the more I read about him, the more I became interested, and the more I admired the man . Not only because of his Kenyan origins and he having a Muslim father and paternal family; but his whole background and life history, I have found very interesting and absorbing. Not only is he the first man of African descent to win election to the United States Senate as a Democrat , but, too - he is the fifth African American Senator ever , in the whole of the U.S. history; and is the only African American currently serving in the US Senate. Incredible. Just unbelievable! Of all places on Earth, there is only one place that allows such! Only one country, that gives one such opportunity. The United States of America! As much as I am against American policies, foreign - in particular; as much as I dislike the way the present American leadership is behaving and handling international issues; as much as I am against American corpora

"We have an obligation and a responsibility to be investing in our students and our schools. We must make sure that people who have the grades, the desire and the will, but not the money, can still get the best education possible.” "Americans want to feel good about themselves and their government............They can be called upon to sacrifice, and they can be ashamed when we fall short of our ideals, but they don't believe that the main lesson of the past five years is that America is an evil hegemony." Photo by: ideogrove