Coming back to the US humorously exciting because of the imagined change I would see. Obama is president. Before I left the US was in a headed debate over who to elect. A full year later after the decision has been made, nothing has really changed. More than anything else the debris from an obsessive population still remains.

Obamamania produced huge amounts of memorabilia. There are stores filled with the stuff and in one, The Official DC Souvenir shop there was more than 90% dedicated to Obama materials. As I walked through the store a feeling reminded me of a quote someone gave me once here in Africa. In talking generally about politics in Africa this person criticized Africans for their obsessive hero worship for their politicians. More often than not, populations will idealize the people that lead them rather than something else like an political document or ideology. I kept that thought in my mind but only after a few a little while did it start to make sense on so many levels.

Watching how much Americans have abandoned some sense of reverence for American ideals, it seems people have replaced their hope of future successes of this country with the hopes of a hero, someone to make all things right rather than that which we can work on together. Then again, maybe this is the un-insightful view of someone still unsure what’s next for my country.