Obama, half Kenyan, urges peace

I was wondering why I hadn't heard anything about Obama's opinions or feelings on the violence that has ensued over the past few weeks in Kenya. When the reigning President was re-electing by what seemed an impossible margin (more votes than seemed were possible in the country), the opposition revolted. It has been a free for all war, and I continued to find myself wondering why I hadn't heard anything in the news about what Obama thought about his father's country being in a state of civil war.

Well, it simply turns out that I hadn't gone looking for such news. In a search on Google News, I came across an Associated Press article from January 8th reporting that while campaigning in New Hampshire, Obama was also on the phone with the Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga, trying to encourage a peaceful approach to their goal, while also trying to contact the tentatively re-elected President Mwai Kibaki.

"What I urged was that all the leaders there, regardless of their position on the election (to) tell their supporters to stand down, to desist with the violence and resolve in a peaceful way in accordance with Kenyan law," Obama said. He said Odinga "gave me some encouraging signs that he would be willing to have such a meeting." (Associated Press)

Kenya apparently is quite proud of Obama's heritage, having gone so far as to create a beer in his honor, called Senator, though Newsweek reports that most residents simply ask for a cold "Obama" these days.