Ruminations

I think I do try to accept the fact that logic is a perception. But it is galling to know how deeply we as human beings differ in what we think is logical.

I think George W Bush and Osama bin Laden are birds of a feather. That is what I think, and I know that can be infuriating to some, but, well, I can have the freedom to say something like that, cant I? Though certainly not in Uganda about the President!

Ssempa and I cannot see eye to eye. He believes I am too evil because I am gay, I believe he is too evil because he is a hypocrite. And we are trying to hurt each other. Big deal, he is trying to hurt me, I am doing my best to dodge the bullets.

Still a matter of perception.

I asked before, what did the children do?

I have just been reading another senseless act of carnage, and again I asked myself, what did the children do? This time it is between Palestinians and Israelis. Again the most accurate answer is that the children were from the wrong ethnic group.

Yet it is interesting.

The Kenyan outrage seems to have led to some remorse, on both sides, if I can believe what is going on there. But in Israel and Gaza…

It is a fact that we can teach ourselves to hate, and to be cruel, and to wink at the most cruel things that can happen. Love is an ideal and a perception. No absolutes there. Love and loving can be learnt. Do not bash my home grown philosophy. It is in a pot, still brewing, and I do not know where it is leading me!

Anyway, I think, again maybe controversially, that the situation in Gaza and Israel is one of the worst examples of man’s inhumanity to fellow man. Because of a difference in the skin colour, or birth, or lineage. Because one is a Jew, and another an Arab, or something like that. And I do not play favourites. Both Jew and Arab have done despicable things to each other. Yet that situation is a deadlock that has continued for decades, and is not about to be resolved.

Deep thinking is always convoluted.

Anyway, why is man, woman cruel to one another?

I don’t know, and I don’t know whether I will ever discover in this short life of mine. Doesn’t stop me from asking the question. Why is it automatic that the other guy or gal is in the wrong, and wrong enough to be killed etc? What did the children do?

I have been accused of serious thoughts, so I promise that the next post should be on the light side.

Though I am still wondering, why are we so cruel to one another?

GayUganda

American Election; (My) African Perspective

I am following the American election year with a lot of interest. It is like a bigger than life reality show.

I bet many people are following it too. The cast is fantastic. A former first lady, wife of one of the ‘randiest’ presidents. (Sniff. Americans and sex. From reputation, our president is randier. But it never makes the papers! Bad form). Who will forget when Clinton came to visit Uganda and all people wanted to talk about whether he did or did not? Do it, you know...

The return of Clinton is pure magic.

Now, he is coming back to support the woman that he spurned for another (they kissed and made up, and lived happily till…) And he is making waves.

And the half-black man, Obama?

I know. Internationally I am treading on the edge of political correctness. Speaking as an African, I must confess that we tend to be more ‘ethnic’ minded than most. What is happening in Kenya is a case in point.

Obama is ours, because he is half black. And of course he is African. Drop the American part. And he is Kenyan, and he is Luo. Sieve through everything. Every African American is an African. To hell with political correctness.

For me, in Africa, it gives me a chance to take sides in this huge reality show. Issues? What issues?

Err, are there any other players in this real life drama? 3 is a good number, isn’t it?
And they are really making waves for our entertainment.

Will Hillary win? My sister recently told me that she supports her. Reason, she is a woman. But that woman can play dirty. She has managed to soil Obama. He was looking too clean at one time. Too charismatic for his own good. I am more confortable with someone less, err, squeaky clean.

Can Obama win? Will he win? Funny. I think at one time, long before the elections started, I was one of the people that were very definite about the chances of a black man becoming president of America. I was a very authoritative authority. Sad. All my calculations have been upset. I wont tell you what I thought.

I should have remembered. A woman trounced a football star to become president of Liberia. And Liberia is in Africa. Yes, I should have remembered that.

When will these delicious political dramas return to the continent? Here elections are run with the inevitability of the triumph of the incumbent’s party.

And what is in it for me as an African?

Dunno. Real life drama. It ends sometime late in the year. Of course it is going to give us so many talking points and idle arguments. The election of the most powerful man (or woman) on earth. I am not a part of the cast. Just a very interested part of the audience, in common with most other people, world over.

Err, I had forgotten. Bush was particularly happy to fund people like Ssempa. I remember being incessed at that. Where is that free floating anger and pain? Seemed to be a constant companion, once upon a time.

I am interested in what happens on the other side of the mighty Atlantic. Wish I was a voter… do it the Ugandan way. Not the Kenyan. It is stupid to be caught, say supercilious Ugandans. There is an unwritten law. ‘Though shalt not be caught in the wrong.’
Or stealing votes, for that matter.

Have a good evening.

GayUganda