Danielle_E.
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Mon, November 3, 2008
O-Town for Obama
Supporters will come together at downtown eatery to watch election results
By EARL McRAE
He's standing with his bike at Laurier and King Edward waiting to cross when I spot a familiar poster pasted to his backpack: Change We Can Believe In. A half hour earlier I'd been at the East African Restaurant on Rideau St., the unofficial headquarters in Ottawa for Barack Obama's local Canadian supporters.
Ten minutes before that I was at a house on Range Rd. where there is a sign on the lawn reading Obama 08, posters in the window reading Obama 08 and Yes We Can.
There was nobody home.
Three weeks ago, in another part of the city, Rachel Decoste, an Ottawa computer programmer, and some friends took a bus to Michigan to do volunteer work at the Obama office in Dearborn.
Ottawans for Obama.
They're here, there, everywhere in the capital.
The Barack Obama Underground.
They might not all have voted in the recent Canadian general election, but everyone of them would vote for Obama if they could. They're not only in Ottawa, but across Canada. Mostly the young, different colours, different creeds, disciples of the king of hope for wounded America and, they believe, the whole world.
ON BIG SCREEN
In Ottawa, East African Restaurant, 376 Rideau, is the primary meeting ground. Tomorrow night worshippers of the Democratic nominee will be packing the place, with 30-year-old owner Alexander Semaw, an Ethiopian-Canadian and rabid Obama supporter, providing election coverage over the TV set at the bar and the big screen that'll descend from the ceiling. There'll even be a special Obama Beer served.
"When my husband is in, he's always watching CNN on the TV," said Semaw's wife Nebiat. " It's always on CNN. He can't stay away from it. For him, it's Barack Obama all the time."
East African Restaurant had Obama posters in the window, but when a group of his fanatics recently bused to the States for one of his rallies, they took the posters with them. "I would've gone, too, but I had to work," said Semaw.
Alexander, why you so crazy for Obama?
"He gives all of us such hope. When I first saw his speech in Iowa, I remember thinking 'Who is this guy?' He was so different, so inspiring. I had never heard anything like it. No matter if you are doing the cooking, cleaning the office, mopping the floor, he talked about what it is to be the best you can be. I was so moved.
"He's intelligent, confident, he knows how to talk to people in simple terms they can understand. I have never heard such a great speaker. His message of unity, that there are no red states, no blue states, just the United States. It wasn't just a message for America, but all of us.
HOPE FOR HUMANKIND
"Here in Canada, too. Whether you're Conservative, Liberal, NDP, Bloc Quebecois, gay, lesbian, black, white, Jew, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, we are all inclusive. We are all human beings, people of the planet. We are all in that state. His is a message of hope for humankind."
Do you wish Canada had a Barack Obama?
"Absolutely. I hope one day we will. A leader who is so gracious, sincere and appealing. Who can bring us all together. As Obama says -- yes we can. Canada needs an Obama."
He paused.
"Minorities. Immigrants. We work so hard to help Canada grow. Our wildest dream is to have someone like that in Canada to show the world.
"Someone to inspire and engage the rest of the world. We have the first minority governor-general. In that way, we are an example to America. It can happen at the prime ministerial level."
You're confident Obama will win?
"When people get into the voting booth, we really don't know. But, yes. It'll be close, but I believe he will win. When he does, everyone in my restaurant will be in tears, they'll be so happy."
It has to be asked, Alexander -- do you ever fear for his life?
"God forbid. I cannot imagine the consequences should that ever happen. It'd be so devastating."
O-Town for Obama
Supporters will come together at downtown eatery to watch election results
By EARL McRAE
He's standing with his bike at Laurier and King Edward waiting to cross when I spot a familiar poster pasted to his backpack: Change We Can Believe In. A half hour earlier I'd been at the East African Restaurant on Rideau St., the unofficial headquarters in Ottawa for Barack Obama's local Canadian supporters.
Ten minutes before that I was at a house on Range Rd. where there is a sign on the lawn reading Obama 08, posters in the window reading Obama 08 and Yes We Can.
There was nobody home.
Three weeks ago, in another part of the city, Rachel Decoste, an Ottawa computer programmer, and some friends took a bus to Michigan to do volunteer work at the Obama office in Dearborn.
Ottawans for Obama.
They're here, there, everywhere in the capital.
The Barack Obama Underground.
They might not all have voted in the recent Canadian general election, but everyone of them would vote for Obama if they could. They're not only in Ottawa, but across Canada. Mostly the young, different colours, different creeds, disciples of the king of hope for wounded America and, they believe, the whole world.
ON BIG SCREEN
In Ottawa, East African Restaurant, 376 Rideau, is the primary meeting ground. Tomorrow night worshippers of the Democratic nominee will be packing the place, with 30-year-old owner Alexander Semaw, an Ethiopian-Canadian and rabid Obama supporter, providing election coverage over the TV set at the bar and the big screen that'll descend from the ceiling. There'll even be a special Obama Beer served.
"When my husband is in, he's always watching CNN on the TV," said Semaw's wife Nebiat. " It's always on CNN. He can't stay away from it. For him, it's Barack Obama all the time."
East African Restaurant had Obama posters in the window, but when a group of his fanatics recently bused to the States for one of his rallies, they took the posters with them. "I would've gone, too, but I had to work," said Semaw.
Alexander, why you so crazy for Obama?
"He gives all of us such hope. When I first saw his speech in Iowa, I remember thinking 'Who is this guy?' He was so different, so inspiring. I had never heard anything like it. No matter if you are doing the cooking, cleaning the office, mopping the floor, he talked about what it is to be the best you can be. I was so moved.
"He's intelligent, confident, he knows how to talk to people in simple terms they can understand. I have never heard such a great speaker. His message of unity, that there are no red states, no blue states, just the United States. It wasn't just a message for America, but all of us.
HOPE FOR HUMANKIND
"Here in Canada, too. Whether you're Conservative, Liberal, NDP, Bloc Quebecois, gay, lesbian, black, white, Jew, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, we are all inclusive. We are all human beings, people of the planet. We are all in that state. His is a message of hope for humankind."
Do you wish Canada had a Barack Obama?
"Absolutely. I hope one day we will. A leader who is so gracious, sincere and appealing. Who can bring us all together. As Obama says -- yes we can. Canada needs an Obama."
He paused.
"Minorities. Immigrants. We work so hard to help Canada grow. Our wildest dream is to have someone like that in Canada to show the world.
"Someone to inspire and engage the rest of the world. We have the first minority governor-general. In that way, we are an example to America. It can happen at the prime ministerial level."
You're confident Obama will win?
"When people get into the voting booth, we really don't know. But, yes. It'll be close, but I believe he will win. When he does, everyone in my restaurant will be in tears, they'll be so happy."
It has to be asked, Alexander -- do you ever fear for his life?
"God forbid. I cannot imagine the consequences should that ever happen. It'd be so devastating."
