Riding the O-BA-MA Wave into the Heartland --AFRICA!

So, with less than a week to go until the election, I thought I’d reflect on this phenomenon of O-BA-MA in Africa. Since we’re not able to join our friends back home campaigning, phone banking, and attending rallies, we’ve had to resort to a bumper sticker and button campaign. Both our cars are carrying Obama bumper stickers, and for the past few weeks, I am rarely seen without an “Obama YES WE CAN” button. The reaction has been amazing. When we go shopping or out to dinner, the car-park attendants inevitably see the bumper sticker and say, “O-BA-MA, YES!” This often is followed by a spirited conversation about how the world needs a change, and how O-BA-MA will not just be good for America, but for the world as well.

What’s really nice about this, is that its such a great conversation starter with folks who are otherwise, pretty invisible –the car-park guys. Wherever you go in South Africa, there are guys in fluorescent green vests, ready to help you park your car, and then keep watch over it while you are off doing your shopping, eating, coffee-ing, or whatever. Then, when you come back, you give them some money (anywhere between 2 and 10 Rand, or 20 cents - $1) for their effort. These guys are everywhere, but you rarely see anyone talking with them. Rather, just a little eye contact as you walk back to your car indicates that you’re ready to offer up some money. Then, after the eye contact, they come over and you put the coins in their hand, which they then usually bring to their heart, saying: “thank you sir” or “thank you captain” or “thank you boss.”

What’s nice, is that with the O-BA-MA sticker, we now have something to talk about; something that doesn’t just put the car-park guys in the typical subservient role of thanking you for your spare change. Its amazing what I’ve learned. Many of the guys have come to South Africa from neighboring countries, like Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, or Angola. Many are well-educated and have degrees. (Just the other day, Naomi met a guy from the DRC who has a business degree!) And most have a pretty sophisticated understanding of global politics and the power and influence of America (which is what most folks call the U.S.ofA.). And it is not always very complimentary. But, when they just say “O-BA-MA” with a variety of southern African lilts, a big smile comes across their face, and their eyes twinkle. There's hope in their voice. There's dignity in their smile. There's possiblity in their eyes. It is so cool! (It’s actually just the opposite of what it looks like when they say “BUSH” –usually accompanied by a sneer, and the shaking of the head, as if to say, “that SoB…”)

So, just as the bumper sticker has been a great ice breaker with the car park guys, wearing the button has sparked many a great conversation in town and on campus. Students see the button and say, "you for O-BA-MA?" And that is the beginning of a wonderfully engaging, hope-filled conversation. What a way to connect with people! There’s so much racial baggage and tension in this society, that wearing the O-BA-MA button has been a great distinguishing marker for me. I've hoped that it has been shorthand to express who I am and what I care about. Maybe I’ve even grown a bit dependent on it, knowing that the button can help distinguish me from the rest of the whiteys walking around town. Hope I don't get too lazy, and too comfortable riding the O-BA-MA wave, and stop putting in the work that is required to merit wearing the button!

Boy, it will be so nice to once again be proud of our leadership. To know that they are in touch with the pulse of the world –and not listening to the voices in their own heads! To know that they have a sense of the complex world that we live in, and a vision for the type of collaborative leadership that we are so desperately in need of.

So everybody, get out and vote for GLOBAL CHANGE! O-BA-MA! And don’t forget that big smile and the eye twinkle.

Blog ya later.

Seth./.

p.s. We were invited over to the United States Consulate Generale's house on 5 November starting at 5:00 am to watch the election returns. We're definitely going. The invitation said: "come join us for this history-making occassion." Let's hope we will be making the right kind of history! O-BA-MA (twinkle, twinkle)...