McCain? Il est qui?

As I was walking around my town, just soaking up the Togolese, exhaust saturated air, I was approached by one of the younger people of my town. Probably no older than 21. He and I discussed how I was American and how things were different in both our backwards world. He asked if I liked hip hop. 50 cent and Akon to be specific. I asked if he knew or understood the meaning of some of his lyrics, and when he said no, I began to disillusion him from what he thought American culture was. Hey it's my job. I'm sensibilizing Togo. He then asked if I was voting for Obama.

Shoot, some people here think that he's already the president.

Me, being one of the few "conservatives" (more central than ascribing to any party) in a predominately "liberal" government agency, let alone being on the continent where the democratic candidate claims descendants, I said, "Bien sur!" ( of course!). I then asked him if he's heard of McCain. The response was , " McCain? Il est qui? Il est le Blanc n'est ce pas?" (McCain? Who's he? He's the white man right?). I then concurred and explained that he was in fact the candidate of the opposing party, the Republicans. This was approximately 2 months ago. Today, the day of the election, was an amazing sight. When my fellow volunteers and I were walking around, they chanted,

"OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA!"

And of course, we chanted with them, not to offend. Well, most of us chanted because we genuinely loved Obama. We then continued to go to Al Sultan, a Lebanese restaurant and saw that even the Lebanese were captivated by the U.S. Presidential election. Whenever a news flash came across their television screen regarding the elections, silence fell upon the entire restaurant, and the hummus went cold. Obama must win. It wasn't said, but rather felt.

Whether or not one's political leanings is "left" or "right", we can not deny the rhetoric that these marketers have pushed on us regarding the "suaveness", "savvy" and the "forward thinking" of Obama.

"It's time for a change." And according to them, he's the only one who can provide it.

He, himself, never needed the assistance, as he was and is fully capable of captivating an audience. Regardless, we can not deny the infatuation of the nation, and more importantly the infatuation/biasedness of the media.

Even in Africa, people revere him as a demi-god, and hope for Africa itself.

I have to admit, I, though leaning ever so slightly to the right, had fallen under the spell of what is "OBAMA." Despite his view on abortion, despite his socialist views, I like him. I genuinely like him. This is why I'm happy that I never will have a chance to vote. This is why I'm glad that here, in Togo, I won't be able to choose a person based upon me "liking him." Because, honestly, I would have felt horrible for voting for Obama, when I know I don't agree with the most important issue that lies in my heart, and I would have felt guilty for not choosing the only African American that ever had a shot for the Presidency.

Either way, Obama is the president here in Togo, and it'll be difficult to explain why he lost, if he doubtfully does.

Either way, who ever wins, history has been and will be made.