Barack Obama and South Africa.
Jan
20
Written by:
2009/01/20 08:50 AM
The Obama Inauguration is on. The Obama express train has left and his whirlwind of success has swept the globe like a inescapable storm. Even here in South Africa Barack Obama is a sensation
The Obama Inauguration is on. The Obama express train has left and his whirlwind of success has swept the globe like a inescapable storm.
Even here in South Africa Barack Obama is a sensation. At the moment he is the top search term on Google, especially this week with the inauguration. I sat here at my PC and tried to think how I can make use of this incredible phenomenon on my website. I mean my site is all about web development and design. What has that got to do with Barack Obama. Well other than his involvement, or at least his precedence involvement in technology, like the Silverlight streaming, Obama has absolutely nothing to do with my site.
This got me thinking then, what has Obama got to do with Africa and especially South Africa. Is it just the fact that he has a Black heritage, that he is part Black. That his grand parents are from Africa. I mean really what influence do we as South African have in the life of Obama. What influence do we have in the policies of America. The answer, absolutely nothing, zilch, nada, zero, zip, niks.
Why then are we so besotted with Obama, Sure he is a news item. But then that is all it is.The thing is, we have more important news items to be worried about than getting our lives knotted around Obama. I have heard on talk show that people are putting their life on hold. They are dropping everything to watch the Obama Inauguration. They are having Obama Parties. South African buying and wearing Obama T-shirts. I mean all you're doing is supporting the Obama cause. In turn what is he going to do for you. Take that money and buy a T-shirt against crime or something.
I mean what nonsense. Why? What is Obama going to do for you or me? Wouldn't it be better to have a party for orphaned children in South Africa, and raise money for them. What about issues here in SA, like violence, corrupt government officials etc. These are the things that affect our lives. Obama has no affect nor does he have any interest in SA other than if it benefits himself or America.
So you see just as Obama has no influence in my website, he has no interest in it. I cannot derive any benefit from him. In the same vain I cannot see any short term or long term benifit for South Africa. As expected, Osama's prime interest is the USA. If his change in the USA has knock on affect for South Africa, well then so be it. But then that would happen with any president, not only Obama.
So then what is the fascination? Please tell me, maybe I am missing something.
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