Obama To Boycott Racism Conference?

By Franklin Sone Bayen

Did you hear the US will be boycotting an international conference to address issues of racism in the world?

Take note, that boycott is taken by an administration over which Barack Obama presides, where the last decisions are taken by him, the son of a man from Africa, the continent that suffered the most from racial discrimination and other human crimes related to racial discrimination, including the trans-Atlantic slave trade, racial segregation in the US, and Apartheid in South Africa.

Obama himself testified he was object of some not-so-veiled racial prejudice from his own white grandmother who so loved him, yet could not hide her reservations about black people.

There are of course convincing arguments motivating this decision by Obama's administration, including their disapproval of the outright condemnation of Israel as a racist state because of its occupation of Palestine.

I'm personally more tolerant than many Africans of Israel's occupation of Palestine, which I consider strategic for Israel's survival until the necessary guarantees are laid out. Yet I'm hesitant to give any US administration a blank cheque to snub the rest of the world the way they did by walking out with Israel from the Durban (South Africa) conference in 2001.

Well, that should have been expected. That was the administration of George Bush Jr, the arrogant war-monger, who would throw his airs of superiority at anyone's face without any qualms.

But here now we have our own Obama. Can there be any better reminder than this excerpt from The Washington Post? "U.N. officials have urged the Obama administration to participate in the April conference on racism, saying that the election of the first African American president presents the United States with an opportunity to inspire other minorities and to highlight U.S. progress in the years since slavery was abolished and blacks were granted civil rights." (Saturday, February 28, 2009; Page A06) or http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022702826.html

Has Obama read it?

Whatever the case, Obama knows the reality of racism and knows how it hurts. And whatever the case, although there may be a multitude of white technocrats at the State Department, reasoning white as they advise Obama on issues, are we not given to understand that the final decision comes down to our brother's Oval Office desk? That it takes him to decide, boycott or not.

So, if boycott the US will, even under Obama like under Bush, I warn you to begin to see reality beyond our election victory euphoria, that Obama is, after all, president of the United States of AMERICA.

Yes, millions of Americans proved they have turned a page from their racist past, they embraced Obama for who he is, not for what he is. They voted for him as president not based on the colour of his skin, but on the content of his character.

Yet, it is still Uncle Sam's country, especially within power circles; still very much Yankeeland. Obama may now hold executive powers, but there is more to it than meets the eye ruling a country like the US for someone like Obama. He doesn't always carry sway because there are still strong lobbies, breathing down his neck as he signs executive orders.

Strangely enough, Obama is proving to be up to the challenge with lobbyists as The Associated Press reports: "Obama challenges lobbyists to legislative duel" over his resolve to fulfil his campaign promises on healthcare reforms. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090228/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_lobbyists)

Obama, where are your muscles over racism?

That's still the way of the world. That's Africa for you. That's how it goes for the Blackman until we change it. Totally.

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Indeed Africa needs to be saved. But by who? Those who destroyed (are destroying) it? Those who conspired to allow it to be destroyed? Those who are waiting for the means to save it? Or those who simply have the will to save it?

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Your African friend,

Sone Bayen