LAT: Obama-inspired hope goes only so far in Kenya

[ellisonz]

Obama-inspired hope goes only so far in Kenya
By Edmund Sanders
December 31, 2008

Reporting from Kobama, Kenya -- He's from the same family that produced President-elect Barack Obama. He shares many of the same hopes and dreams. He's even got the same name.

This Barack Obama, 26, a cousin who was named after the president-elect's Kenyan father, was elated when someone with African roots rose to the world's most powerful job.

"I felt I could do anything," said the lanky student, whose buddies now call him "the President" after his famous U.S. relative. "I felt anything is possible."

There is no question the U.S. president-elect's victory has encouraged countless Africans to reach for new heights. But as the euphoria over his election begins to fade here, young Africans are beginning to see his inspirational story as bittersweet.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-hope31-2008dec31,0,6422632.story

[pitohui]

1. "in kenya you can work hard and still have nothing," well, it's the same in america

i don't know what to tell 'em, 1 chance in 1000 of making it is better than no chance, but most people in the usa ALSO get ahead by who they know and who they blow

obama is unfortunately the exception that proves the rule

he's a good start but only a start

[Miss Chybil]

2. Everything is a start.

Unless you're dead. Then some people might call that a finish. Others might call it a start for worms.