OHbama's
The days seem so long ago when at the start of the economic
troubles in which we now live London watched the American elections. So many
people spoke of their hopes at that time, hopes of a new politics and a new
economic beginning. Obama was wildly popular on this side of the pond and
everybody was wishing his campaign well.
For many people it was the idea of a break with the previous
Bush years. Also there had been fairly general condemnation of the Iraq war and
President Bush had been held responsible. Still the vote was eagerly awaited
and when Obama won the city was jubilant. From all across the political
spectrum people had supported Obama, the idea of the first black president in
particular emphasizing the new age of racial tolerance was a powerful one.
The country watched in belated anticipation as the election
results poured in. When it became clear that Obama had won there was general
rejoicing! In the area of London in which I live he was wildly popular and
people were talking about it everywhere. In the markets, on the buses and in
the pubs it was one of the main topics of conversation
In this atmosphere I met an American who had set up a new
stall in the nearby market. He had set up a stall to sell memorabilia of
Obama’s victory. When I first met him he wore a badge saying he had attended
the inauguration. On his stall he sold fridge magnets and photographs of the
queen standing with the Obama. In the atmosphere of that time they sold like
hotcakes and people were snapping them up all over the place. He had come into
the situation that the country was euphoric about what was seen as a great new
development. The conservative party promoted this as the idea of change and
many of their grandees were courting controversy by backing a Democrat party
contender.
I met the man who established the stall several times. First
he had a commercial winner and his products were just flying off the stall. All
round people were buying them. However you cannot live for so long on one idea
and eventually the novelty wore off. My friend diversified and started selling
Jamaican food and CDs. The food part became increasingly difficult particularly
in regard to Britain’s rather extensive and onerous food hygiene regulations.
In a while the food stopped and all he concentrated on was soul music and
reggae music CD’s along with a smattering of soft drink labels from the
Caribbean and tee shirts of Jamaica
Previously he had used the slogan for his store which he
called “Ohbama’s” “better than your mama’s”. This seemed to strike a chord for
a while and with the new terms he seemed to prosper to some extent. I would
often meet him on my travels and he seemed to work well with the changing
fashions. His business of music CDs seemed to go well and he was selling a lot
of music, even to the extent of employing an assistant. He seemed a steady
presence on the street.
And then a year ago he was gone. The sign disappeared! The
shop stood vacant for a wile and then suddenly a new shop appeared selling Naan
bread. In the atmosphere of this part of London the shop seems to do well.
Every Saturday they churn out Naan bread. But of my friend there is no sign.
Now the US elections are seen from a distance. There is not
the same enthusiasm as there was before and it is seen as a distant side issue.
Londoners are intent on getting on with their lives and the pull of domestic
worries is greater still. The election generally at present seems to excite
little comment among ordinary people. The papers mention it mostly in the vein
that it will be a shoo in for Obama. However on the streets the same passions
are not excited and it seems a distant story of little relevance to ordinary
people>
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