From: Yemane Natnael (yemane_natnael@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Aug 29 2008 - 03:51:45 EDT
Obama Fever Goes Global
August 28, 2008
Hungarians say Barack for Obama
By Sophia Tesfamariam
Budapest, Hungary (RUSHPRNEWS)August 28,2008–Whilst
there is no denying that the entire country is swept up in the “Obama
Fever”, you would have to travel outside of the United States to truly
realize the international magnitude of his popularity and the
incredible support he has amongst the youth across the globe.
His message of “hope and change” resonates amongst the rich and
poor, from Africa to Asia and Europe, and he seems to be the most
recognized and admired American politician, second only to John F.
Kennedy, whose worldwide appeal endeared him to many, who went as far
as to name their newly born sons after him, and shared in the sadness
and sorrow of his untimely death.
In Eritrea, where I attended the 3rd Sawa Youth Festival held from
July 19-21, where the celebrations for the 30th Anniversary of the
National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS), as well as the
graduation of class of the 21st round of National Service were held, I
had the opportunity to meet thousands of youth from all over the world
who came to Eritrea to support Eritrea’s youth and their many
achievements.
At a Horn of Africa Youth Conference for Peace held in the Eritrean
capital from July 22-24, I once again met many young men and women from
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia and in our discussions showed
great interest in Barack Obama and his Administrations policy for the
Horn of Africa-a region devastated by incoherent policies which have
left the Horn region in chaos and turmoil. More on that Conference and
my tour of Eritrea in future articles-today, the topic is “Barack for
Obama”.
Allow me to explain.
On my return trip from Eritrea, I went through Frankfurt, Germany
and it was there that I met a young Hungarian, Gyula Cserey, who was
heading to the United States on the same transatlantic flight. He told
me that his final destination was Denver, Colorado, and the Democratic
Convention. Accompanied by two other Hungarians, he was headed for
Denver as a show of solidarity and support for the Obama team and
according to him, to “be a part of history”.
Gyula shared a little bit about his youth organization and their
activities in support of Barack Obama, illustrating Obama’s global
appeal, and making me realize that Obama was not just an American
phenomenon, but rather an international phenomenon and that his global
appeal and reach, across racial lines and economic and social classes,
is not only exciting, but also- hopeful.
I decided to engage Gyula further and find out more about his
organization, their goals and most importantly, of their interest in
Barack Obama and his effect on not just American politics, but
America’s world wide image and reputation. We talked about US
credibility and integrity in the world and the effects of US policy of
youth everywhere.
Hungary is a landlocked country located in the Pannonian Basin of
Central Europe, and is bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania,
Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Its capital is Budapest regarded as one
of the most beautiful capitals in the world. Hungary is a member of
OECD, NATO, and European Union. The official language is Hungarian
(also known as Magyar) and is one of the four official languages of the
European Union that is not of Indo-European origin.
For these young Hungarians, and for many young men and women who have
been touched by his message, it is his youthful personality, obvious
intelligence, coupled with his incredibly good looks that have enamored
them and galvanized them behind a campaign that is being watched and
followed closely, in far away places, far beyond America’s borders.
As Gyula explained, the slogan “Barack for Obama” has a special
meaning for the group and its founders. Barack in Hungarian means
apricot-as in the fruit, hence the catchy slogan. But there is more to
the group and its activities than just the fancy sloganeering-it’s a
serious campaign engaged in spreading Obama’s message of “hope and
change” through barack-or apricot.
According to the group, in an event that took place on 24 August
2008 in Tallya, a small town in the Eastern part of Hungary, said to be
the “geometrical center of Europe”, a large amount of “barack”
marmalade was made and sold to raise funds for youth activities. This
apricot marmalade was dedicated to Barack Obama and his campaign-
according to the Hungarians, the man who symbolizes hope and change,
that many disadvantaged youth across the world seek, even those in
Hungary.
Susanna Nagy, another member of the PES youth organization, in her
email message to me wrote, “We would like to show our support to Mr.
Obama with this gesture. And why him? Because he -similar to our
organization, which consists of young people and which is targeting
young people - is young as well, we find his ideas and whole attitude
of his to politics really sympathetic…of course because he believes in
democratic values and principles”. Her sentiments echoed that of the
many hundreds of youth from the Horn of Africa and beyond that I have
had the pleasure of meeting over the summer.
Matyas Gati, another member of the group, told me in an email
message that he hoped that “with the jam/marmalade and “eau de
vie”-made of apricot” that the PES group wanted to bring “a little fun
to the campaign” and help in Obama’s “victory”. In addition to the
apricot marmalade and “water for life”, the group is distributing
posters, leaflets and T-shirts bearing Obama’s image, adding to the
countless campaign paraphernalia available around the world recording
this moment in history, where the message of “hope and change” is being
spread by a euphoric and enthusiastic youthful force, coercing all of
us into paying attention, lest we miss being a part of it, while still
deep in it.
The PES campaign for Obama is just beginning and the event in Tallya
was the first of many other activities planned by the group. Attending
the Democratic Conventions in Denver shows the dedication and
commitment of the group to their cause. According to Susanna, the PES
Activists Hungary is a new youth organization with no members that are
“politicians or other officials”, but it has supporters from members of
the European Parliament, members of the Hungarian Government, and the
International Secretary.
PES Activist Hungary is connected to the youth organizations of the
Party of European Socialists. Its aim is to make the young people more
active in the field of politics - especially in bearing a relation to
the European Parliament elections next year. The PES Activist is a
Europe-wide political organization. Its non-profit status enables
“youngsters to discover and develop their senses of co-operation and
leadership”. For its own members the organization offers “experiences
in politics and leadership”, international exchange programs and the
opportunity to take part in European politics.
Susanna Nagy wrote “One of its strengths is that PES
Activist brings together youngsters and partner organizations through
the above mentioned exchange programs, conferences and virtual
tools”-something they have in common with Barack Obama. As the
Democratic Conventions in Denver get underway, amongst the millions
that have flocked to the mile high city, there are three Hungarian
youth activists who have traveled thousands of miles and across the
Atlantic to show their support for Barack Obama.
Next time: More on Barack Obama’s international fame and the high
expectations of Africa’s youth in his promise of “hope and change”, my
extensive interactions with youth groups from the Horn of Africa and
“Eritrean American’s for Obama.”
“Speaking Truth To Empower.”
news source: BLACK STAR NEWS
http://www.rushprnews.com/2008/08/28/obama-fever-goes-global/
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