Obama in Kenya

[Sparkly]

This article struck me as sort of warm and sad at the same time...

NYANGOMA-KOGELO, Kenya (AFP) - Thousands of singing and dancing villagers thronged the dusty streets of rural, western Kenya to greet US Senator Barack Obama as he visited his father's birthplace.

Rapturous with excitement, locals perched on trees and roofs to glimpse the rising American political star, the only African-American senator and potential Democratic Party presidential nominee on a triumphant return to his roots.

Led (by) his paternal 82-year-old grandmother Sarah Obama, a group of elderly women ululated and gyrated to traditional tunes and children waved paper US flags as the senator's motorcade rolled into this impoverished village.

(snip)

Dampening the mood of local who had perhaps prepared a wish-list, Obama told reporters: "I got a set of responsibility as a senator of Illinois and not senator of Kogelo. The best I can do is to work out partnerships with my government back in America to help you."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060826/wl_afp/usafricakenyaobama_060826173812;_ylt=Aqju8FqE0F4rihknPIJN7d.s0NUE;

It also says Obama took an AIDs test to encourage others to do the same, and criticized government corruption.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[Sparkly]

2. Enjoy your stay.

:eyes:

[JackBeck]

3. No, he took an HIV test to try and put a positive face on testing.

In Africa, it is still taboo to get an HIV test, let alone take HIV meds.

What in this article, let alone the OP, lead you to believe that Obamma was HIV positive?

[left is right]

7. I thought this was the most compassionate action

I have seen in a long while.

[rfranklin]

4. Merely a way to encourage others to take the test and think about...

maybe not spreading the virus.

[Blue-Jay]

6. Idjit.

[Protagoras]

5. I know what you mean

Maybe seeing the real human side of "foreign policy" will do something to revitalize Obama. I hope he can start to see his global responsibilities in terms that go beyond the next election or partisan politics.

I'm rather cynical about Obama of late but maybe the hope of the people of Kenya will spark something in him. World travel and reconnecting with the past can do that.

I'm glad he was willing to lead by demonstration with the AIDS test...I just hope he's willing to do as much action and criticism at home when he returns.