More on the U.S. Elections

Tuesday night it was good to be with Americans and others who shared the excitement of the presidential election. I was sorry Bry'Chell couldn't be there, but she needed her sleep more than she needed to stay up watching the election returns. Still, I do believe that these elections were/are a defining moment for the United States in particular and the larger world in general. I did have her watch Obama's acceptance speech last night on the Internet. That was one time when I wouldn't have minded having a television.

By the time I arrived Tuesday evening, the Obama buttons were already gone. The only buttons left were for McCain. I didn't take one. Although I must admit, I had much more respect for the man after his concession speech. If he had sounded like that during the campaign, I might have considered voting for him. Well, probably not, I still don't agree with his policies. Besides, I've known Obama since he was a state legislator in Illinois. He's always been somebody we could count on to work on issues that were important to us. (In this case, we and us is the Illinois Hunger Coalition.)

The other Fulbright lecturers were at the Sheraton event. Tavis and his wife were there, Ann Nelson, the pathologist working with the hospital research stuff was there. Of course, the embassy folks were present.

When I first walked in the room, I was trying to juggle the folder and stuff I had received when I arrived and get some food since I was pretty hungry, having missed supper. In the best of times, I'm not the most graceful person. So, I'm standing there, fumbling with a drink, a plate with finger food and a folder. I was trying to eat, but both my hands are full.

I'm standing by a couple of women who start talking to me. They were being friendly, trying to include me since I'm obviously alone at that point. I'm dropping things and making a mess trying to eat. The first woman introduced herself as Susan and her companion as Kim. Cool. They asked me what I was doing in Uganda. I said I was a Fulbright lecturer. Turns out Kim works for an NGO doing something interesting. Susan didn't really offer her position at first. She seemed more interested in what the two of us were doing. However, she seemed quite knowledgeable about Ugandan stuff in general. The conversation went on for a while. Finally, in response to my comment that she seemed to know a lot about Uganda, she mentioned that she was the ambassador's wife. Of course she's knowledgeable about Uganda.

Yesterday after leaving the Sheraton, I wore the sticker I was given at the election gathering. It said "I voted". Many Ugandans saw the sticker and asked me how I could vote when I wasn't in the United States. I explained about absentee ballots. They were astounded. I really didn't understand their amazement until I read an editorial in one of the local papers. The editorial observed that ballot box stuffing would be even more extensive if absentee ballots were allowed. The editorial was pretty entertaining in the way they explained how Ugandan politicians would use absentee ballots to expand the already obscene levels of corruption that are part of elections here.

I felt proud that our elections are basically clean and fair. Yes, there are occasional local situations that make me cringe and there are definitely policies that disenfranchise the poor and marginalized, but in general, elections are free and fair. You are unlikely to be killed for voting for the candidate of your choice. That's not a very high bar, but it's one that Uganda doesn't quite reach.

Many Ugandans have been following the US elections with interest. Many have told me that if the rest of the world could vote in the US election, Obama would have been elected by over 90% of the votes--their words not mine.

Some people here (not my colleagues at the university) were surprised that I supported Obama. I'm white, why would I support Obama? I tried to explain that many white people supported Obama. If that wasn't the case, he wouldn't have been elected.

People here like Obama for two reasons, first they believe that his policies will be more beneficial for the world community in general and Africa in particular. Secondly, they are pleased that his father is from Africa. The fact that someone with an African father will be president of the United States offers a recognition to all Africans that they are acknowledged as full and competent human beings. The history of colonization has made it clear to most Africans that the Western world often does not recognize their humanity and abilities. Obama's election refutes that assumption.