Obama's speech in Ghana on Africa - afterthought...

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/07/11/obamas-speech-in-ghana-on-african-development/

I am not sure how many people have had a chance to read Obama's speech, but I have and wow! I must admit I began reading it thinking, 'what new thing could he possibly say about Africa?' But as is now well-known, Obama has a natural talent when it comes to making beautiful coherent speeches. I cannot say it any other way.

What was most striking about his speech?

1) That he recognized that the future of Africa lay in the hands of Africans, particularly, and this is most important, on its young people. I particularly liked the line,

'Africa does not need strong men. It needs strong institutions'. Think I will adopt it in my emails and things. Mantra, like.

I so badly hope all these male egos are listening, instead of turning our countries into political hell-holes. I especially hope the message is sliding down to Kibaki, Odinga and all those 'strong' men who think we need them, and who caused the troubles we found ourselves in, in 2007 in Kenya. Especially now that everyone is trying to swindle their way out of prosecution by the International court at the Hague. I still cannot believe they can be so self-centered.

But back to the important speech. As I read, I felt hailed by Obama. He recognized that some of us were struggling against all odds, to contribute towards the building of firm structures that would see Africa soar one day, even though we no longer believed in our politicians and their two-pence politics. He acknowledged that some of us were still willing citizens of collapsed states. I believe that was a bid deal. In his words, freedom is my inheritance. I thought of all the damage already done by the big word tribalism in Kenya, for instance, as I read the speech. I thought of the suspicion that grew out of this word, and how I no longer felt free in my own skin. I also thought of how people killed and burnt in the name of tribe. where is our sense of dignity?


2) Another important issue that Obama raises is the idea of an African partnership. I mean, how cool is that, conceptually? A world where we will no longer be thought of as the unwanted distant poor relation, but as equals. Mmmm. what a beautiful world that would be.

Of course I have a bit of a problem figuring out how this second point would play itself out, especially in our very capitalist world. First, isn't the logic of capitalism built on the idea of hierarchy between the rich and the poor? If Africa joined the ranks of other superpowers one day, who would be the poor relation?

3) The point about the climate change was also especially important. Would have been awesome if he had mentioned Wangari Maadhai though, for everything she has fought for all these years. I mean, I remember planting a tree because of her when I was younger...but let's not digress. Sometimes I wonder how much of our current problems we would be able to solve if we took better care of our environment. All this madness about paving way for civilization has caused such havoc in Africa, once beautiful and green.

4) Obama also spoke of the health situation in Africa, prompting me to think about the state of Africa and its diseases. Statistically, we are lagging behind. Imagine a world where the structures worked so well, that all those malaria deaths would just be a thing of the past. yeah, if only leaders did not feel it was compulsory to slice 20% of moneys earned from the taxpayer etc.

5) Aid- I saw he also mentioned something crucial about our continued dependency taking us back to the point of a partnership with the west as an alternative. I thought about it some more. I think Africa has become comfortable in its status of beggerliness. I mean, leaders shamelessly beg for aid, so they can slice off 20%, and send their children off to some Western countries to 'get the best' of that world. That way, even if their countries are being called shameless, their own futures have been taken care of. Puts a bit of a question mark on what we call the African Middle class or is it 'upper' class, if such a thing even exists? Me thinks this is a roundabout form of money-laundering, this investment of people's (taxpayers' money) on one's children. Of course I am speaking of politicians and in many ways government officials.

Let me stop shooting my mouth like this. I might actually say things I really do not want to say just yet.

I hail Obama, and thank him for his wonderful speech. As always, I think it touches any right-thinking African. Now, if only we could implement his ideas.....

and please, oh please, stop fighting each other, and just damn grow up!