"Peace" is the Key Word

Given that our world has increasingly fissured along cultural and religious lines during the past 20 years, I don't think it's insignificant that the leader of the world's most powerful nation has shown through his attitude and actions that he is intent upon drawing us closer. He has emphasized the role of multilateral talks among rival nations seeking solutions that have the good of all people, not only Christian Americans, in mind. As long as the word "Muslim" remains a slur in parts of Christendom, and "Christian" the same in the Islamic world, we will have work to do. Let this award represent the overwhelming global hope for peace. It means less about Barack Obama and a lot more about the American people and our responsibility to foster that peace.

Can't we work together on this?

The "Birthplace of Cool"

Bono writes:

This is a country whose music of choice is jazz; a country that long ago invented a genre called highlife that spread across Africa — and, more recently, hiplife, which is what happens when hip-hop meets reggaetón meets rhythm and blues meets Ghanaian melody, if you’re keeping track (and you really should be). On a visit there, I met the minister for tourism and pitched the idea of marketing the country as the “birthplace of cool.” (Just think, the music of Miles, the conversation of Kofi.) He demurred ... too cool, I guess.

Quietly, modestly — but also heroically — Ghana’s going about the business of rebranding a continent. New face of America, meet the new face of Africa.

Ghana is well governed. After a close election, power changed hands peacefully. Civil society is becoming stronger. The country’s economy was growing at a good clip even before oil was found off the coast a few years ago. Though it has been a little battered by the global economic meltdown, Ghana appears to be weathering the storm. I don’t normally give investment tips — sound the alarm at Times headquarters — but here is one: buy Ghanaian.

"Yes, Africa Can!"

Friday President Obama makes his first appearance in sub-Saharan African with a visit to Ghana. The trip was announced in May and since then Ghanaians have been anxiously awaiting his arrival.



One might chalk up Obama's popularity in Ghana to race, but it's more than that. Ghana has a lengthy history of warm relations with the United States. Last summer President Bush paid Ghana a visit and was welcomed ceremoniously despite his tepid approval rating in most corners of the world.

Why did Obama select Ghana as his first stop in this part of the world? It's a stable democracy. What do Ghanaians expect from the visit? One political leader is looking for electronic voting technology.

I encourage you to watch Obama's speech. Click the One.org logo and enter your email. You will be notified when the speech is posted.