Laila Lalami

My knowledge of Kenya probably begins and ends with the novels of Ngugi, which is why I haven’t written about the growing conflict in the country at all. It’s been heartbreaking watching the violence spread while Mwai Kibaki persists on saying he won the (rigged) elections and Raila Odinga claims he‘s the rightful winner. More than a thousand Kenyans have died (as many as during the invasion of Lebanon in 2006) and both Kibaki and Odinga are tacitly condoning the violence by doing nothing to stop it.

In Ofeibea Quist-Arcton’s report for NPR, the novelist Binyavanga Wainaina echoes this sentiment. Kibaki and Odinga, he says, “are dancing on a stage with matches and gasoline” despite the vast, public pleas for them to stop the violence, despite their own agreement on Friday to a preliminary plan, despite the intervention of foreign mediators.

A recent World Bank reports finds that the Arab World is falling behind other regions in terms of education. And the worst performers? Read this:

The region had not seen the increasing literacy and school enrollment witnessed in Asia and Latin America, they said.

Djibouti, Yemen, Iraq and Morocco were ranked the worst educational reformers.

Iraq had to contend with a U.S. military invasion. What, exactly, is Morocco’s excuse?

The primary reason for my choice is that Obama opposed the Iraq war back in 2002. I remember that year as a time when the majority of our politicians and our talking heads were falling over themselves trying to sound “tough on Iraq.” They led the country into a disastrous war that will affect the region and the rest of the world for generations. Obama didn’t have to say he was against the war, but he did. And that shows judgment.

In addition, Obama has said he would be willing to talk to the leaders of Iran without preconditions, while Hillary Clinton was agitating to have the Revolutionary Guard declared a terrorist organization. We know very well what happens when leaders use pre-conditions for talks (Ireland, Israel, etc.) and it’s time for a different approach with Iran.

In terms of domestic policy, Hillary Clinton’s proposals on health care are more precise, but I am under no illusions about her ability to turn them into actual legislation. The future president will have to work with Congress on health care reform, and I think Obama is much more likely to get the bipartisan support he needs to get legislation passed. The same holds true for the economy, and pretty much every other issue.

Lastly, this nation needs a fundamental change. When was the last time you saw so many voters overcome by emotion at a rally? Obama has that rare capacity to inspire. So: If you’re undecided, please consider voting for Barack Obama tomorrow.

(Photo by: Annie Leibovitz)

Even little kids support Obama: