I have noticed that few people on the Right are talking about the situation in Kenya and those few who are talking about it are shaping the conflict into a Religious War Narrative with the primary objective being to discredit Senator Obama as a US presidential candidate.
Actually it's an objective I'm not opposed to, since I disagree with just about every aspect of Obama's politics and like most others, I think that he is too much of an unknown quantity to be president. And, of course, I'm all for combating Islamism. (After all, isn't that a part of our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan?) However, I do have a few questions for those of you using Kenya's woes to take down Obama:
Had any of you even heard of the Luo before Obama stepped into the picture?
Had you heard of the Gikuyu/Kikuyu, the Luhya, the Kalenjin before a few weeks ago?
What does GEMA stand for?
When did Kenya get its independence?
Who were its colonial masters?
How many presidents has Kenya had?
What are their names?
Who were the Mau-Mau?
What are the Mungiki?
Don't look at Wikipedia.
Do you know any of this information and if so, do you know how to interpret it? Do you know how all it fits into the conflict at hand in Kenya? Or have you discarded/disregarded it because it doesn't fit into the Narrative?
Would you even give a f**k about hundreds of dead Kenyans if you couldn't find a way to spin it into a war between Islam and Christianity?
If not, stop making yourselves and the Right look like ghouls fools.
The ends don't justify the means. Friends, I've warned you about this before.
Here. Read it if you're really interested in getting insight into Kenya's problems. Otherwise, stop frontin'. The use of dead bodies in this manner is becoming...unseemly.
PREVIOUSLY:
A whole hell of a lot more research than some of you are doing
You're absolutely right that I didn't know much (okay anything) about Kenya's internal problems until recent news accounts.
But some of the points Atlas makes in her pieces about Obama's relationship with with Odinga are enough to raise eyebrows.
What about Odinga's intention to subject Kenya to Sharia law?
https://secure.wikileaks.org/leak/MOU_between_Ralia_Odinga_and_Muslims.pdf
Why is Obama saddling up to this guy?
Posted by: Nice Deb | January 09, 2008 at 08:00 AM
As I tried to tell Pamela, the Luos reached out to Obama when he was there. That's what they would do if I, being half-Luo also, and being lost to them for many years also, were to visit. That's what happens in a tribal society.
Odinga was/is the most prominent Luo in the country. Therefore it would be natural for them to associate. Pamela's notion that Obama "sidled" up to Odinga shows her inability/lack of desire to figure this out. Also, she's imputing motives in Obama's inability to tell the future.
Also in the Odinga-Muslim post, I had some questions about that document that have yet to be seriously addressed by Pamela--all I got was snark and the non-nonsensical--or by any Kenyans. I did get a lead on it an I'll post about it later.
Posted by: baldilocks | January 09, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Thanks, I look forward to seeing it.
Also, can I put you on my blogroll?
I thought you quit blogging. Did you quit for a while, or do I have you confused with someone else?
Posted by: Nice Deb | January 09, 2008 at 09:29 AM
Certainly.
I had a note up saying that I would decide whether to return on 31 Dec. I decided to do so and I'm glad I did. Thanks.
Posted by: baldilocks | January 09, 2008 at 09:46 AM
One more thing on topic: if Obama and Odinga are cousins and they hung out before all this, why is it considered "sidling up?" Obama's father is dead. It's as though he visited the high ranking person in his family.
This stuff smells to much like blaming the man for his heritage.
Posted by: baldilocks | January 09, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Hey. You got me. I was ignorant and now I'm getting an education.
If you have any good links leave them at my blog.
Right now my education is at the level of confusion. In fairness all I'm willing to do is to post links.
Re: relatives. My dad had a brother who was a stinker. He cut off all contact. If Odinga is a stinker Obama should do the same. Note I said IF. I have come to no conclusion at this time.
Posted by: M. Simon | January 09, 2008 at 12:43 PM
M. Simon,
Remember the context of the type of relationship, of Obama's bio and the timeline of events. How could Obama have cut off a relationship that was just starting for something that hadn't happened yet? If Odinga *is* a Muslim, should Obama have refused to meet with his relative and one of the most prominent religious leaders in Kenya for that reason?
This is what the critics are missing in their zeal to open up another front on Islamists.
Posted by: baldilocks | January 09, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Baldi, "sick em!" :)
Posted by: DarkStar | January 09, 2008 at 07:23 PM
This is good stuff!
Posted by: DarkStar | January 10, 2008 at 07:14 PM
When did Kenya get its independence? I believe early 70s.
Who were its colonial masters? England.
Who were the Mau-Mau? Violent insurgents in either the 50s or early 60s.
Now I want to look some of this stuff up (specially the Mau-Mau).
Posted by: DonS | January 11, 2008 at 12:20 PM
One thing to keep in mind is that there has been quite a bit of personal research on Islam since 9/11 (by lots of people looking for answers), and that the results of that research are now applied with a broad stroke to anything involving Islam. Like the current events in Kenya.
It is sad to see that even Kenya remains unstable.
Posted by: DonS | January 11, 2008 at 12:27 PM