(Originally posted on Blogspot on January 19, 2009)
Today, while packed efficiently in the daladala with about 20 other passengers, I heard over the radio a short Obama intro followed by a woman(Beyonce) singing that she’s “Proud to be an American…”
As the lone American on the bus I didn’t quite know how to feel listening to a famous, somewhat boastful song of how my country was better than everyone else’s (e.g., “where at least I know I’m free”). I immediately thought of all my international friends that had criticized that song for the American arrogance it represented.
But then it clicked:
1860’s: blacks are freed from slavery
1960’s: blacks are freed from “separate but unequal” laws
2009: a black man is the President of the United States of America.
It is quite the impressive turnaround–150 years to go from severe persecution to majority acceptance while still remaining the minority population.
While I may be wrong, I think that there are many people across the world who don’t believe that such a political change is remotely possible in their countries, especially absent a military coup. As such, many of those non-Americans feel proud of America.
Then I of course knew how to feel. Proud.
However, I wonder whether they will feel proud of America in four years, after Obama has failed to live up to the God-like expectations that nearly all these nations, organizations, and individuals have of him.
We will see 🙂
Oh, and I PROMISE that not all my articles will be about Obama.
Happy MLK Jr. Day.