From the Anglican Journal
Kenyan church leaders have hailed the election on Nov. 4 of Sen. Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America, saying it is a positive turn for Africa that can help steer good governance on the continent.“I want congratulate Obama. I think his winning will bring hope and healing to the whole world,” said Anglican Bishop Joseph Wasonga. “His election has shown that America is truly democratic.”
I though the bringing of “hope and healing for the whole world” is something that Jesus does; I wonder, is Obama aware of the standard that has been set for him? Sorry – Him. Well, come January, I’m expecting my back-ache to go away.
At least Obama, McCain and the rest of the population of the United States can heave a big collective sigh of relief: Kenyan Bishop Joseph Wasonga has declared the election democratic. It’s tempting to wonder what Joe the bishop would have pronounced had McCain won: the election was rigged, probably. And the good bishop should know; this is how the last Kenyan election went:
From Here
Kenya descended into violence and chaos following December 2007’s presidential election. Preliminary results had opposition candidate Raila Odinga, of the Orange Democratic Movement, defeating incumbent Kibaki, 57% to 39%. In the days after the election, however, Odinga’s lead dwindled and Kenya’s electoral commission declared Kibaki the winner, 46% to 44%. International observers said the vote was rigged. Odinga, a champion of the poor, had promised to eliminate corruption and tribalism. After the announcement of the official results, violence broke out among members of the Luo and Kikuyu tribes. Odinga is Luo, and Kibaki is Kikuyu. The fighting between the tribes intensified in January 2008, with more than 800 people dying in violence across the country. Odinga refused Kibaki’s invitation to discuss the political crisis after Kibaki appointed his cabinet, which did not include any members of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Party. Parliament, however, elected Kenneth Marende, of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement, speaker over an ally of Kibaki. The deployment of the Kenyan military did little to stem the brutal ethnic fighting. In late January, Melitus Mugabe Were, a member of Parliament who has worked to mend the ethnic strife in Kenya and help the poor, was dragged from his car and shot. Members of the opposition said the killing was a political assassination.
Perhaps what Joe the bishop really meant to say was that he is glad Obama won; and everyone is entitled to be glad about anything they like, however daft.
I read your blog everyday and enjoy it immensely. Nine days out of ten I agree with every word. But i think you had an off moment with this one. The Bishop’s point is quite clear. Obama’s election demonstrates that America can and will elect a black man as President. That was certainly not a foregone conclusion before last night. This is clearly what the Bishop meant with regard to the democracy of the US. Similarly, it seems quite obvious that the “hope and healing” the Bishop is referencing is the hope and healing of a world in which Africa and other parts of the third world are not forgotten by the West. I think given the fact that Mr. Obama has strong roots to Kenya himself, that is a more than fair expectation of this President, In fact, Obama has made such goals a pillar of his foreign policy platform.
I don’t think any of what the Bishop had to say was a shot at McCain per se. To think otherwise seems rather insecure and oddly partisan.
I read your blog everyday and enjoy it immensely.
Thanks Sean – btw, I can recommend a good counsellor who might be able to cure that.
To continue my off moment:
Perhaps that is what the bishop is getting at, but – as many do when writing about Obama – he puts it in such messianic language, and he does say “His election has shown that America is truly democratic.” which seems pretty clear. While electing an African American has symbolic significance, I don’t think it is a sign of a functioning democracy, whose requirement is merely one person, one vote.
We will have to see how Obama actually performs but, as things stand today, the Bush administration has sent more aid to Africa than any that preceded it.
Incidentally, if a white man were elected president of Kenya and a US bishop declared it a sign of democracy in Kenya, there would probably be howls of outrage from all and sundry.
Your last point is very true! We have certainly not seen the end of double standards with this election.