I wrote this update a couple of weeks ago and have been indecisive about whether or not I wanted to post it. But today I mailed in my absentee ballot, so in honor of that occasion, here's "a political one..."
In my blog updates, I tend to steer clear of politics. On occasion I will make a lefty comment about social justice or inequality, but for the most part I keep my opinions to myself and rather just tell my stories. But what with the political upheaval in South Africa and the exciting American election, in addition to the apparent collapse of global economies, I feel the need to have my say. Usually I avoid political issues because, well to be completely honest, I don’t feel like I am up-to-date enough on current events, nor do I think I’m smart enough to really understand what’s going on or to share my analysis. So let that be a disclaimer that what follows is the opinion of a layperson and the observations of a young American living abroad. And if necessary, I stand to be corrected.
Let me first talk about Barack Obama. I have supported him from day one, but this is not about how I feel about Obama, because my personal opinion is not very important in the grand scheme of things. Instead I want to talk about how he is viewed from South Africa.
You would probably be shocked to know how closely South Africa (and most likely the rest of the world) is following this election. In fact, it’s a pretty safe bet that none of you can name the current president of South Africa, yet every South African can not only name the current US president, but also the presidential AND vice presidential candidates. One of the most poignant observations that I’ve made over the past year and a half or so is that Americans, for the most part, are very ignorant of what is going on in the rest of the world, whereas the rest of the world watches very closely the happenings of other countries, including America. The first thing that I am usually asked when someone finds out I’m American is “so who do you think will win the elections?” Many South Africans, in fact, know more about the elections than I do. Both the Democratic and the Republican conventions were covered daily on the evening news here. In fact, South African news reports have followed the progression of the elections from the very beginning of the primaries when Obama and Clinton were fighting it out.
One of my favorite billboards in Durban is one for satellite TV. On the bottom it says “be inspired.” Above that there are three people pictured, one of whom is our own Barack Obama. Here in South Africa, he has become the face of hope, of success, of inspiration. It’s a pretty safe bet that there is no billboard in the world that includes both the face of George Bush and the word “inspired." I think that perhaps Americans don’t realize what Barack Obama signifies to the rest of the world. Most countries do not have very favorable opinions of the US, but Obama offers the world hope for change and for a new order. He is particularly loved here, I believe, because of his own African heritage. Although he did not grow up in Kenya, his connections to Kenya and his awareness of the struggles of this part of the world are very important. Foreign policy is, after all, more than the war in Iraq.
I think my true appreciation for Barack Obama came when I saw a video clip of him and his wife Michelle visiting Kenya and publicly taking HIV tests together. While in an American context this may seem like a minor event, in an African context it is monumental. Here in South Africa, for example, there is little political leadership in responding to HIV/AIDS. What action there has been has been marked by denial and suspicion over the past two decades. This includes a South African president who publicly questioned whether or not HIV caused AIDS; a Minister of Health who rejected the use of life-saving antiretroviral drugs, promoting instead traditional vegetables; and the president of the majority political party who was accused of raping a woman with HIV without using a condom, but said he took a shower afterwards so he wouldn’t get AIDS (just so there’s no confusion… taking a shower after having sex will NOT protect you from contracting HIV).
With political leadership such as this, it is little wonder that AIDS is the leading killer in SA. So the fact that Barack Obama, an African son in his own right, would recognize the importance of getting publicly tested for HIV in Kenya, is something to be commended and taken note of. Perhaps this signifies a new type of leadership and global awareness for the American presidency and the American people.
Now onto South African politics. Things here have been a bit rocky, but certainly interesting over the last month. Jacob Zuma, the above mentioned president of the majority party (the ANC) was recently on trial for something like 170 accusations of racketeering, bribery, corruption, and money laundering. He got off on a technicality. Free, for now, from the charges, it looks as though in the April 2009 elections he will become the next president of South Africa. But first, there was a bit of a coup as he and his cronies in the ANC dethroned the current president, Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki was accused of abusing his political power and apparently had something to do with the charges brought against Zuma. I don’t understand it all, but there appears to be a growing division in the party between Zuma and the more socialist ANC members, and Mbeki and the more conservative ANC members. So in one weekend the president was removed from office and a new one was voted in shortly thereafter. This was followed by the resignation of half of the ministers, as well as the premiers of three of the nine provinces.
This has all been very interesting to observe. I’m sure this has been brewing behind the scenes for months, but publicly it took about two days. And then it was less than a week before Kgalema Motlanthe, the new president, was put into office. In addition, I am disappointed by the low standards that politicians here are held to. In my opinion, it is terrifying that Jacob Zuma, a man who was accused of rape (although he was acquitted) and who is now accused of corruption, bribery, racketeering, and money laundering, in all likelihood will become the next president of one of the most powerful and influential African countries.
The current American and South African political transitions provide an interesting juxtaposition, particularly in the context of the failing world economies. It is certainly a very exciting time for America in particular and I wait anxiously to see how the November elections unfold and then in the coming months and years to see the impacts of the election both nationally and internationally. Whether we recognize it or not, the eyes of the world will be on us as we take to the voting booths on November 4. And most of the world will be holding thumbs (a South African phrase meaning “crossing fingers”) that January 20, 2009 will bring a new order and change that we can all believe in.
Some statistics, as a reminder that we are not only American citizens, but also global citizens:
September BBC poll of 22,000 people from 22 countries across the globe
49% have negative view of American influence on the world
Obama is preferred by a 4 to 1 margin
46% think that US relations with the world would get better with Obama, 22% that relations would stay the same, and 7% that they would get worse.
20% think relations would get better under McCain, 37% that relations would stay the same, and 16% they would get worse.
When asked whether the election as US president of Barack Obama would "fundamentally change" their perception of the United States, 46% said it would while 27% said that it would not.
The US public was polled separately and the results suggest Americans also believe an Obama presidency would improve US relations with the world more than a McCain presidency, with 46% of Americans expecting relations to be improved with Obama's election and 30% with McCain's.
From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/09_september/10/poll.shtml
