Language No Barrier to “Obamania”

Dear Editor,

I enjoyed reading your news story on President Obama’s inauguration headlined, “Gala for Obama” [Volume 9 Number 456, January 25, 2009].
 

I quote, “Emebet Wodaje, 58, and a mother of nine, attentively watched Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony last Tuesday evening, January 20, 2009, on CNN regardless of the fact that she does not understand English.”
 

It really made me laugh out loud; the same was true for my mother. She told me on the phone that she enjoyed every minute of it despite her not understanding a word of English.

 Alem Mezenge
United Kingdom

Putting GDP into Proper Economics Perspective
 

Dear Editors,

Another February is down on us, and another round of summits by heads of state of the African Union (AU). As usual, there are plenty of topics to discuss since, after all, this is Africa where there seems to be no shortage of problems.

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Be Honest About Ethiopia

Dear Editors,
 

One of your readers, Wondirad Seifu, wrote a note published in the “Letters to the Editor” column of this newspaper headlined, “Economic Growth Seems Overstated”, [Volume 9 Number 458, February 8, 2009] and challenged the accuracy of the inflated figure in Gross Domestic Products (GDP) reported in the January 25, 2009, issue of Fortune. He also tried to straighten the inflated figures and elaborated on the concept of GDP. Unfortunately, he did not succeed on both fronts.

K. G.

Sacramento, California

Dagmawi L.

Obama Not Answer to Africa’s Woes

Dear Editor,

Like many of my Ethiopian compatriots, I am very happy about Barack Obama’s election as the 44th president of the United States of America. I am happy not because of his African origin, but because .  he stands for a genuine political convictions and a democratic vision.
 

However, my happiness is short-lived; I do not share the optimism that his election will have a significant impact on Africa.
 

To begin with, Africa’s problems are basically structural and unique. For the most part, they necessitate indigenous, home-grown solutions largely choreographed by the countries in the region. Take the case of Somalia, the Sudan or the Congo, for instance.

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