I visited Kansas City this weekend. I did not see Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, but everywhere I went the name Barack Obama was on people’s lips – even in Kansas, one of the most conservative states in the US. On TV talkshows, in Diners over breakfast, on the news, in the New York Times and on National Public Radio, the excitement about the inauguration of Obama as 44th President of the United States took centre stage.
Well, I did have to turn the dial of my car radio past the country and western music (“the bank is coming for my house/ and my wife is gone, gone, gone…”), past charlatan preachers who told me that Jesus would save me if I only sent them a few dollars (because the scriptures said so), and Rush Limbaugh type talkshow hosts complaining about the “communist” Obama taking over while seemingly patriotic Americans were stupid enough to cheer him on.
What’s interesting from a South African point of view, is that all this excitement about Obama’s inauguration is wrapped up in a weird (but, dare I say, wonderfully uplifting) kind of non-partisan patriotism. Even Tiffany’s – the company that sells very expensive jewelery to rich people who probably voted in droves for John McCain – had an advertisement today in the New York Times of a bejewelled American flag to celebrate the inauguration. (How tacky. How American. How wonderful.)
Now, I am one of those people who think that patriotism (like “national security”) is the last refuge of scoundrels. Yet, there is something touching about a nation so caught up in the historic moment that most of its citizens would set aside their personal politics to revel in the moment.
It feels a bit like the days after the 1994 election that led up to the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa. Suddenly it was cool to wave the (then new) South African flag. Not a day went by in those first weeks and months of our shining new democracy that I did not choke up with the emotion of this momentuous change.
Sadly (but probably inevitably) those days are long gone. I am not going to cry when Jacob Zuma is inaugurated as our fourth President later this year – unless I shed tears of anger and worry. Maybe this means South Africa has become a more normal society. After all, the present mania in the USA stems from the fact that a black man was elected President – something that did not seem possible in the abnormal world of American racialised politics, bedevilled by a history of Slavery and abominal discrimination.
I am sure some ANC supporters would say the fact that some of us (black and white) fellow South Africans will not get emotional when we see Jacob Zuma doing a little Umshini wam dance at his inauguration, just goes to show that we are evil, partisan, racist colonialists who hate Zuma because he has more than one wife and because we think he is either very stupid or very blind because after all these years he still can’t find his machine gun.
But I am not sure that would be fair. After all, Barack Obama’s financial advisor is not spending 15 years in jail for bribing him and for soliciting a bribe on his behalf. Barack Obama has not been charged (but acquitted) of rape. Barack Obama does not brazenly change his political message depending on who he talks to. (Although he has sometimes changed his positions – he has just been far more clever and agile at doing it.) Barack Obama and his surrogates have not threatened judges or called them names. Barack Obama does not mention that absurd beast called “the national democratic revolution”.
And, let’s face it, Barack Obama can give brilliant speeches – yes he can – while Zuma is about as inspiring as a slightly drugged dentist talking about false teeth when he gives a speech.
Why is it that – after Mandela, to whom Obama has been repeatedly compared on TV here – we have elected such uninspiring leaders? Listening to Thabo Mbeki speak was a bit like watching black paint dry in a darkened room. And when Zuma is not singing and dancing, but reading a prepared speech, he makes Mbeki seem exciting and inspiring in comparison.
Perhaps it is because we do not elect our leaders directly that we have ended up with such duds. (In the UK, where the party elects leaders as well, they had John Major, Margareth Thatcher and now Gorden - ”funny-slack-mouth” – Brown.) A few thousand ANC hacks elect our leader every five years (or in the case of Mbeki, we do not really know who elected him because he was made ANC leader in a backroom deal).
Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I think the jury is out on the answer to that question. Uninspiring leaders can be a good thing because that means we might avoid the cult of personality that might tempt leaders to overstay their welcome. If Mbeki was truly inspiring he would have been re-elected at Polokwane en we would have been stuck with that disaster of a man. That is why I am not sure I like Cope’s proposal for the direct election of our President.
But I do miss having a leader I can be proud. I miss a leader that might inspire us to do a bit more than avoid time in jail, that will inspire us to do more than try and make money to drive bigger cars and get niftier cell phones. But maybe it is a small price to pay – having boring or corrupt leaders – in order to prevent our leaders from becoming such cult figures that they will be tempted to hang around until they have truly ruined the country.
So on Tuesday I will probably get all emotional, and for a few hours I will yearn for our own Barack Obama to emerge in South Africa. Then I will thank my lucky stars that I live in a country where our leaders are so obviously flawed that we can laugh at them, and ridicule them, and not take them that seriously at all.
Because as long as we continue laughing at them, we will not fear them. And as long as we do not fear our leaders, we will never become another Zimbabwe, another apartheid South Africa, or another Nazi Germany.
Never in the history of the USA has a president been handed such a catastrophy to correct.
But the Americans can once again be a proud nation and experience that rainbow unity that we had in 94 but sadly we floundered that miracle! I hope and wish they dont do the same!
Barack Obama is going to be a worse president than George Bush in my opinion.
Garg you are a racist,period!
Mdu, I don’t understand why you always have to cry racist when someone don’t agree with your opinion. Did Garg say anything about race? Please, leave the race card alone. It’s not healthy for you to carry this bitterness with you.
Actually I based my opinion on Obama’s economic policies. Mdu, you make it seem like people just voted for Obama because he is black because they’re afraid of being labelled racists. Please man. I believe in merit. McCain was tortured in a Vietnamese prison for his country. Obama has done nothing except help run a housing program that was part of the cause of America’s economic woes in the first place (look up A.C.O.R.N sometime and note how much federal money disappeared).
Obama is trying to channel more Federal Reserve sponsored credit to the American businesses which already sunk their entire economy because they aren’t making profit. A credit driven boom burst and caused their economic woes in the first place. Now Obama wants to do it again with bigger numbers. It reminds me a bit of Mugabe who said they’d just print more money when Zimbabwean inflation started skyrocketing. Doh!
You need only look at how Obama backtracked on his opinions during the run-up to the American elections (especially with regards to the American soldiers in Iraq). McCain stuck to his guns. I think McCain mainly lost the election due to his age – the Americans were really scared that Palin might have to take over if McCain were to get ill while in office. And let’s face it, Obama’s cult of personality and his eloquent speeches are second to none, which is why he gets away with changing his tune. McCain made the mistake of appealing to people’s faculties of reason instead of to their emotions.
I’m not a racist. Some of my best friends are white.
Garg Unzola // Jan 19, 2009 at 11:12 am
I’m not a racist. Some of my best friends are white.
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Like that.
I have always felt that too much adoration and praise tends to lead to people being blind. Obama hasn’t even been inaugurated yet and people are already praising him. Lets us wait and see.
I also have white friends.
Part of the ecstasy of the moment is the end of Bush. To see a president who is clear, intelligent, articulate, who doesn’t mangle the English language every time he speaks. Americans can be proud of the office again.
I worry that all this joy is a form of blind love, resulting in a failure to hold the president to any sort of account.
Garg and fellow bloggers, I retract my statement I guess I am having a blue Monday, I also have black and white friends.Be that as it may, Thomas is right we should not prematurely prejudge as such tendencies lead some of us ti think people are bigoted as they judge without evidence and purely on speculation.
I am not a religeous person, but I have an uneasy feeling we are to witness the ‘Antichrist’ being inaugerated to the most powerful position in the world tomorrow.
He is too good to be true, or am I just supremely cynical?
slumdweller // Jan 19, 2009 at 1:23 pm
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Sorry, your point was?
Guys I reaaly enjoy reading your opinions in this blog. they are very informative, especially when it relates to Legal matters. Keep up the good work, all of you
The ‘Antichrist’ is first to be seen as the saviour of the world before he leads it into Armageddon (world war)
Ask the Bible punchers it is their area of expertise.
My feelings are that he is being hailed as the answer to everybodies problems worldwide and he will prove to be human and falliable, just like the rest of us.
No worries Mdu, hope your day gets better.
I think we all missed the point. Obama is going to lead America into an euphoric honeymoon period that’s going to hit the harsh reality much sooner than we’d all like. Madiba also lead South Africa into a honeymoon period, despite the economy doing far worse under his leadership (it only turned around under Thabo Mbeki, and he deserves credit for that although he shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near an AIDS conference or Zimbabwe). Fact is a feeling of national unity is pleasant, even when it’s not grounded in reality. Obama has the power to make Americans feel proud of their nation due to his cult of personality. Zuma does not make us all feel proud to be South Africans.
I think Obama will live up to everyone’s expectations in serving his people, America still has the rescources to build and to make their hopes and dreams a reality, they can afford to be idealistic, SA on the other hand cannot, we have the childish ideal of an underdog becomming the hero, like the best selling American movies, an I will show everyone approach, sorry to be a stick in the mud, but the whole pê, wê wê wê wê approach doesn’t quite appeal to me. I myself would have voted for Obama and I’m sure that in America, where whites are in the majority, didn’t feel the same way then mr Obama will not have been president of the USA
It just seems sometimes that people of this country puts a higher importance to remind everyone who is in charge than to actually take charge.
Garg Unzola // Jan 19, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I agree – Zuma does not make me feel proud, however, I think the majority of the electorate will disagree with your statement. Lets be honest the ANC’s electorate does not vote for the ANC because of good policy, effective governance or reputation. They vote for the ANC because they can relate to their ‘fallen comrade’ which is always being persecuted by the white colonialists.
For me the major flaw in Zuma’s leadership is the fact that he does not use his power to influence his die-hard support base for the greater good of the country. This is largely due to the fact that he himself is not credible/reputable.
I believe in the greatness of this country and its people, but until we have a genuine revolution to moral high ground driven by proactive leadership we will continue this path of creeping mediocrity.
I hope we don’t have to go through forty more presidents before we get someone inspirational. I agree that the options are ridicule or fear and the former certainly is better than the latter. But wouldn’t it be nice if we had a third option: Contentment? I would settle for that. I don’t need the inspiration – it is a nice to have.
But how discouraging is it to watch political debates on SABC? Our “leaders” are so inarticulate and they hardly ever answer the questions posed to them. And that Johnny De Lange is a joke. He would either deny that the issue raised is an issue or he would admit there is a problem and then elaborate on why it is a problem. He did not offer solutions or even mention what the ANC policy was on the particular issue.
It would be great if our politicians could emulate the likes of Obama. In the meantime, emulating law-abiding citizens with some morals would help.
slumdweller //Jan 19, 2009 at 1:23 pm; and 3:02 pm
= “From the eternal sea [read political sphere / landscape] he rises …”, so it is said – Rev 13:1 – and the Antichrist “has seven heads and ten horns …” The most common feeling according to “Bible punchers” is that this means that Antichrist will rise from what has now become known as the European Union (how many states have joined the EU?), not the US. Anyway, dwelling on that feeling of yours can result in cynicism and, depression. Give the man a chance – I think that he might do quite well. Even though he will after his inauguration occupy the single most powerful position in the world today (which is an arguable proposition – what about the heads of state of China, Russia and England or other prospective hegemones?), he will definitely not be ruling alone (the Ministers, Secretaries and Senate will surely watch his every move as they did Bush’s); and, Bangki-Moon has just indicated that the UN will monitor his every move as well. Contrary to Garg Unzola above, I think Obama might bring about a welcome change to the US posistion (both internally and vis-a-vis the rest of the world), and he will be a better President than Bush. Tomorow is the day! Then we will see …
Obama is going to make a very good president. That means nothing for SA because Americans only see for themselves. Be that as it may, it sends a feel good message to the rest of the world. A black man been chosen president by white voters. Don’t get me wrong, he was a much better candidate than Mcain. If the campaigning had been an interview, Obama would have got the job hands down.
The remarkable thing for me is that people could look pass his colour and elect the best person for the job. The Obama presidency signals a new era in the way different race groups look at themselves.
I join the Obamamania with sympathy for the man and I hope I am not being cynical. He is a charismatic leader – very inspiring! I fear that his charisma has created high expectations from a man who will have to deal with so many things. In the long run, his admirers may be selfish in their expectations – many of them unknowingly. Yes, each group only looking at ‘what is in him for them’. The likely result being an unfair judgment of him should he fall short.
Moreover Obama does not come across as a leader who would deliberately break his promises – the one Machiavelli describes in his book ‘The Prince’.
Good luck to him though.
Becky
I think the Obama vs McCain debate highlights one of the potential shortcomings of directly electing a presidential candidate.
Note that most of the criticism and praise of both Obama and McCain centres around them as people and virtually non of it results from carefully evaluating their policies or principles.
In truth, America could’ve voted for either of them and it would not have made much of a difference to their government. They’re still planning to move into Afghanistan. Both candidates were eager to bail out the failed industries – despite it being against official Republican dogma. It’s a red t-shirt and a blue t-shirt that truly separates Republicans and Democrats.
The thing about Obama is that he symbolises hope, and a new beginning – he is black, he is a Democrat, complete changes from the last guy. Of course his approval ratings will drop, of course he will make mistakes, of course people will grumble. But he has provided America with something they were crying out for – hope, inspiration, belief that they can fix their problems.
I don’t know whether he will be a good president or not (I believe he is right for the next 4 years), but he symbolises a revival of dreams for people, and second chance, and so forth. His policies aren’t terrible (and I am, by nature, conservative, to add emphasis to that statement) – certainly no worse than the Republicans. His cabinet choices have healed wounds and unified across race, political lines, geography – you name it. He has given Americans back some dignity.
Contrast that with what we have. Positions of importance are filled with ANC cadres and their family members, regardless of competency. Misconduct and negligence, even criminal behaviour is simply dealt with by ‘redeployment’, or simply ignoring the issue and trying to divert attention. The battle to become the next president of the ANC (and thus the country) was fought between a man who believed that HIV does not cause AIDS and that ARVs are a toxic ploy by western pharmas, and another man who believes that showering after intercourse reduces HIV infection risk, and is implicated in and under investigation for serious fraud.
Not once did Obama stand up and criticise white Republicans by calling them racists, counter-revolutionaries, colonialists, neo-liberals or imperialists. Not once did Obama blame third forces, dark forces or Islamic extremists (in an American context) for America’s dire economic woes. Obama engaged in serious policy debates with McCain without once ever personally attacking him.
We have a system where the moment the DA (or any preceived ‘white’ group) criticizes the ANC, they are insulted based on their race, or the economic and colonial policies of men who are long dead and gone. Conspiracy theories are advanced as logical explanations for shortcomings in the ANC. If a black group (such as COPE) criticises the ANC, they are called ‘snakes’, ‘cowards’ and traitors. The ANC refuses point blank to engage in any political debates at all with their political opponents.
The governor of Illinois, a Democrat, is implicated in a fraud. Obama, along with the rest of the Democratic party, actually asked him to step down! Our police chief, future president and various members of parliment have been implicated in everything from fraud to organised crime – the worst that happens is suspension with full pay, indefinitely.
It is irrelevant what Obama will be like in coming months and years – at the present instant, the only thing that is important is that he has given hope back to America, and that is why he was elected. Garg, I disagree with you to an extent – the mechanism he did that with was his manifesto, not simply his pearly whites. Regardless though, when was the last time you voted for a politician who inspired you? Probably 1994, when Mandela was running – because he was the last politician we had who inspired anything other than disgust, frustration and apathy.
We are so desperate for somebody to come along and inspire us that COPE is drawing votes from all across the races, geographies and age groups. While it’s wonderful to have a party to challenge the ANC, these are still people who were in the ANC until recently – engaging in the same conduct that the ANC continues to engage in! Yet we’re so desperate for a way out of this stale pit we’re in, people are flocking to sign up.
Imagine if we had somebody who had clean hands from the start?
Finally, Obama is relevant to a very important extent in SA, and all over the world, because he proves that white people are, to a large majority (there will always be racist bigots, on all sides), more than willing to vote for a black man, if he gives them something to believe in. The fact that the majority of the whites in SA don’t vote for the ANC isn’t because they’re racist, it’s because they’re tired of being called racists, neo-liberals etc etc at the drop of a hat. Give SA another Mandela, and see what happens.
Apologies for the lengthy post – it’s something I’m passionate about
Anonymouse: There are now 27 countries (heads?) in the EU. Not sure about the number of horns, but 20 of them are members of NATO. I must admit I wasn’t familiar with the Antichrist. One never stops learning new things on this blog; that’s why I’m here. Just one question: how do we know Barack Obama isn’t Jesus come back to Earth to save humankind from itself? Of course, we’ll find out soon enough come our own election day, very soon now! If the ANC wins again we might have to wait a little longer.
Your making a big mistake Pierre. Patriotism and its cousin nationalism is essential to make a country work and work well.
Its what make you think “Not what your country can do for you, but what can do for your country” to paraphrase Kennedy, a man with whom Obama is regularly compared.
Fidel Castro knows this as well. Cuba would not have been able to hold out against all these odds if it was’nt for the immense pride the Cubans feel.
The hidden hand of the market, and rampant individualism just leads to selfishness, corruption and crime.
When Che Guevarra launched a military mission in the Congo in order to help Kabila Snr against Mobuto, he was astounded by the lack of commitment to the cause by the Congolese.
Lack of commitment and pride in the national project is a Africa wide problem.
Afrikaner Nationalism built our industrial sector, once comparable in size and output to that of China.
Africa and South Africa needs good old Garbaldi type nationalism. In case you wondered, Garibaldi was a left wing liberator. Not a right wing nut.
Actually Cuba would not have been able to hold out if it weren’t for the financial support of Russia. When the USSR tumbled down, Cuba was in deep manure. Also, the Castros are not as popular in Cuba as you may think. It’s illegal to oppose the Castros in Cuba just like it was illegal to oppose the National Party during apartheid – except you can’t legally even form an opposition party of any kind in Cuba.
Che Guevara is known as ‘the Butcher of La Cabana’ for a reason. He’s a left wing nut, and if history proves anything it’s that a left wing nut is far more dangerous than a right wing nut. You just need to tally the body count of Mao and Stalin – which are unparalleled.
Nationalism is at the root of the Israeli vs Palestinian conflict. Personally, I feel government should concern itself with the rule of law instead of with the rule of men.
‘When the USSR tumbled down, Cuba was in deep manure.’
True, but its now 20 years and counting without the USSR’s support.
There are many Cubans that absolutely hate Castro. But make no mistake. Without broad based support the regime would not have lasted as long and in the way it has.
Clara // Jan 19, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I forgot to add, Rev 13:1 does not only speak of 7 heads and 10 horns, but on each horn there is a golden crown (thus 10 crowns – how many Monarchies in the EU?). Thus, 7+10+10 = 27, which equals the no of states in the EU. (The total no horns and crowns also equal the no of NATO memers in the EU.). Uncanny huh? Nevertheless, this should not really pose any threat to believers and non-believers alike, as according to Scripture the time for the Antichrist has not yet come. There first will be a so-called ‘Rapture’. As far as either Barack Obama or Jacob Zuma being Jesus come back to earth to save human kind, there are many prophecies in Scripture that warn specifically agaist such perceptions – and I believe that the Second Coming will be much more glorious and spectacular than a mere “Say all can you see! …”: and a “God bless America! …”; or a “Nkosi Sikilel’i Afrika …”; and a “Awuleth umshini wami…”; or even a “God save the Queen! …”, coupled with a display of fireworks, fly-pasts of jets, cavalry, and whatever pleases the human (political) pomp and fancy.
Having said that all, man (including women!) is said to be a political animal or being, and as long as man-kind exists on this planet, there will be difference of socio-political opinion, righteousness alongside unrighteousness, governments and lack of government, etc, etc. In the current political climate, I think Barack Obama will be better than Bush – a new broom always sweeps cleaner. One of the things I like is that early indications are that, directly after his inauguration, his government officials will retire to the White House for a briefing on the way forward, and indications are that on Day 1 an order will be issued that Guantanamo Bay prison must be closed. Next to be discussed, Iraq and Afghanistan and, who knows, next to be Israel and Palestine, and then, South Africa and Zimbabwe? Looks like an Obama government will be more FOR than AGAINST human rights. And those signs, I like.
The Big Slipper // Jan 19, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Its more than just hope, he is the epiphany of what america was founded on the American dream and how someone from no where rised to the top and esp being a man of color. Thats exactly what its about and how he captured the hearts and minds of our nation. Im from frankfort Michigan how ever my state was rather penalized and i am a rebulican so personnaly im rather upset my vote counted 1/2 a point in the primary elections knowing this i sized up my options and the credibility of Obama and for the first time went democratic all the way.
Garg Unzola // Jan 19, 2009 at 9:49 pm
i couldnt agree more nicely done
Anonymouse // Jan 20, 2009 at 8:56 am
He might end up being better than Bush we dont know but we do trust him to do a good job. However africa will still want to wish Bush was still in…….there wont be a president in the US for a long time who will fund as much as Bush did. He might of spoken funny and rubbed people up the wrong but he did what any other president would do protect his country and you cant find fault on him on that esp after 9/11. a similar thing happened in South Africa when you went into war in Angola
“Without broad based support the regime would not have lasted as long and in the way it has.”
What about the apartheid regime?
At least Cubans can now own a home pc, since May 2008.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7381646.stm
No internet though, we don’t want dem people getting no ideas, now do we? Or worse telling stories about Cuba.
At least their the most equal society, and maybe the cost is worth it? Maybe we’ll find out when they get unban that internet thingy.
On a side note I will say my only experience with a Cuban doctor was rather hairy, when he lifted the Xrays of a children’s home kid (ice skating accident) and asked us if it we thought it was broken, my heart sank into my knees. That was after there was no doctor in the emergency ward of Helen Joseph for a couple of hours, him having stepped out for a bite to eat.
Anonymouse//Jan 20, 2009 @ 8:56 am
I so enjoyed your comment! As for your query about how many monarchies there are in the EU, I had to Google it. Turns out there are 7 (Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK), all of which are constitutional monarchies – i.e. the monarch does not influence the politics of the state. However – this is amazing – if you take all of Europe there are 12 monarchies, 10 (hey, ten!) of which are of the type where the monarch inherits the job and ‘rules’ until he/she abdicates (or dies, I presume). This according to Wiki.
Clara – Thanks. Buy now you’ll know that I try everything to keep my attention away from the books – I am actually on study leave now – and I cannot resist peeking into these blogs from time to time.
Just as I have predicted http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2456402,00.html