World hoping for Obama victory

By The Daily Progress

Published: October 2, 2008

My international responsibilities at the University of Virginia have me traveling overseas, where I often encounter negative opinions about America. (My wife and I are sometimes tempted to paste Canadian flags to our luggage.) A July encounter in Africa lifted the unease we sometimes feel as Americans abroad.

When we stopped for gas in a remote Kenyan village, our jeep was approached by three young men. One asked, “Are you from America?”

When I somewhat nervously answered “yes,” he continued, “Will Obama win?”

I said, “I hope so.”

He then proclaimed, “We pray for Obama at my mosque. My entire Muslim village is praying for him. So is the Christian village down the road.”

The group then proceeded to ask some very informed questions about American policy and Barack Obama. Astounded by the depth of their knowledge, we asked where they got their news. Smiling, they replied, “CNN! And, Al Jazeera.”

We drove off to a farewell of smiles, thumbs up and salutes.

A more poignant exchange occurred later on safari. Riding with us and another couple, a park ranger asked who we might vote for in the coming primaries. When we said Obama, he asked in surprise, “Will four white people really vote for a black man?” Our fellow travelers said America has grown up and that we choose who will do the best for America.

When outside America, it is very clear who will “do the best” for us as a global power that has lost world respect. The sentiments we experienced in Kenya were echoed in Nigeria, Egypt, Spain, France, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile, where we have encountered not only villagers of limited means, but bankers, politicians, academics and wealthy business people.

Perhaps a feisty frontierswoman can claim to possess worldly insight because she can see Russia from Alaska. But the entire world can see us — even from remote villages — often with contempt rather than hope. Only Barack can turn that around.

Jay Bourgeois
Albemarle County