Who is the real Barack Obama? The more you read about him, the less you know. At least the truth about who he is. There are, apparently, discrepancies surfacing now regarding stories he has shared concerning his background, specifically his childhood, and how he tried to 'fit in', as a chubby 'black' kid in Hawaii and Indonesia. In his auto-biography, he describes having heated discussions about racism, but interviews with some of his black schoolmates suggest that although they, indeed, had those discussions, Barack (or Barry, at the time) never participated. And as racially diverse as Hawaii is, Obama was not as affected by racial inequalities as he claims to have been. He has also oft described (in his book and elsewhere) a pivotal moment in his life which he believes contributed to his racial awareness:
He is 9 years old, living in Indonesia, where he and his mother moved
with her new husband, Lolo Soetoro, a few years earlier. One day while visiting his mother, who was working at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Obama passed time by looking through several issues of Life magazine. He came across an article that he later would describe as feeling like an "ambush attack." The article included photos of a black man who had destroyed his skin with powerful chemical lighteners that promised to make him white. Instead, the chemicals had peeled off much of his skin, leaving him sad and scarred, Obama recalled. "I imagine other black children, then and now, undergoing similar moments of revelation," Obama wrote of the magazine photos in "Dreams."
Trouble is, Life has never published such an article or photos. And when questioned about that particular memory, Obama (in a recent interview) said that perhaps it was a copy of Ebony. But archival research at Ebony produced no such issue, either. Granted, memories from our youth can't totally be trusted, but to fabricate something that never existed to endear yourself to a certain segment of the population seems rather disingenuous. Why are people so afraid of saying "this is who I was and this is who I am", rather than trying to bury the past or making it something it wasn't?
And does the color of our skin, or the blood that courses through our veins dictate who we are? I believe we are more than our outer appearances and/or bloodlines. Who we are, as individuals, is a direct result of how and where we were raised. And whether our next President is Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, Bi-Racial or of any other ethnic mix, they should be judged by their character NOT by what they look like.
And does the color of our skin, or the blood that courses through our veins dictate who we are? I believe we are more than our outer appearances and/or bloodlines. Who we are, as individuals, is a direct result of how and where we were raised. And whether our next President is Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, Bi-Racial or of any other ethnic mix, they should be judged by their character NOT by what they look like.
There are also questions about Obama's Islamic ties. An email making the rounds, claiming he had attended a Madrassa when he was a child proved to be false, but all his denials about ever being a Muslim (as a child) are also false, according to an article in the LA Times. The fact he was considered a Muslim when he was a child in Indonesia is of no import, what is troubling is his initial denial of the fact.
I feel particularly bad for his maternal grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who seems to be glaringly missing from the campaign trail spotlight. She is refusing to give interviews, citing poor health. I hope this isn't a ruse to keep her out of sight, because photo ops of Obama and his white grandmama might not be what the Obama camp wants, at this point in time. And the following picture is very telling. Published 8/16/06 with an article about a trip to Kenya in 2004, in the Chicago Suntimes, there's a picture (at least for now) of "Obama with his grandmother (a very black) Madelyn Dunham." I'm not sure whether it was a Sun Times gaffe or not, but it is surprising that none of Obama's people have asked for it to be removed or addressed the issue, considering the photo was supplied by the Obama family.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63WRaAeoyxOdbrtj2gLtbAPQ61Ug2_N3s4gvMjQqM5xHLE2-slglVs1NHOEoIWzZEhmaQvrVFQG-flzS2zH1x1aMm3vr6NNIS8YpE_KGv6x-5SfFvRNuIXA_6en7g1PvdX_UF/s320/20060817_20_03_22_6_h=282&w=400.jpg)
"Barack Obama with his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, in Africa in 2004. Courtesy of the Obama family"
Below is the real granny Dunham with grandpa Stanley.
12 comments:
Don't you know that politicians will appeal to anyone to get elected? If people were honest and 'just themselves' they wouldn't get elected, would they? You stupid cunt.
It's that simple.
Lament - It is no harm to be an ass, if one is content to bray and not kick. ~ Mark Twain
Barrak would do better to embrace his American identity. A true mutt. Our mixed heritage in America is a strength, he just thinks that if he doesn't look black enough, he won't get the black vote. Unfortunately, as with most capaigning politicians, he has forgotten that he will have to sleep in the bed he has made.
We'll know everything about him if he is nominated for the democratic ticket, and he'll need a lot more than the black vote to win the whole country.
Lamebent, how old are you? I mean seriously, are you about 16? I hope so for your sake, if so, there remains hope that you may one day mature. Your behavior is going beyond childish & ignorant and is starting to take on stalker like overtones.
By the way- great post Incognito!
What's sad is that lament had me with him until those last few words. Short of three words his post makes a lot of sense.
It is my understanding that Barry Obama probably could have a lot of things to offer to both sides of the aisle. It is a shame that he is like all the rest and says only what he wants us to believe. I don't and I won't. MUD
I apologise for Lambent's last three words. I am his other half, and far more polite.
Well, Papa J, we'll know everything about all the politicians when they are nominated. And it *is* so obvious he's going for the black vote.
To undergo such scrutiny, one really has to want to be prez very badly. And it is a shame he doesn't run as a regular mutt, as you put it, because he *will* need more than the black vote to win.
Thanks BCF! :-)
And, yes, MUD, Lambent's point is an obvious given, at least the first part of his comment. Of course, people will say whatever it is they think others want to hear and that will garner them the most votes. That's why so many Dems, who formerly supported the Iraq War, have jumped on the 'withdrawal" bandwagon, because they believe they won't win
if they still tout that line.
However, I think people would love someone who could be honest about themselves and has no baggage to hide.
Well, Troika/Lambent/Purist..I see you resurrected your blog. I'm beginning to think you have M.P.D. As I have mentioned before, I don't mind differing opinions, but you cross the line when you become vulgar and crude. Save that verbage for your blog. I'd be happy to dialogue with you, but I won't dignify a response to anything I deem verbally offensive. My sandbox, my rules. Your sandbox, your rules. I had entertained the thought of deleting your comments, but that would be hypocritical, considering I believe in free speech. I do reserve that option, however. Apology accepted.
I had entertained the thought of deleting your comments, but that would be hypocritical, considering I believe in free speech.
I disagree that deleting vulgarity like that is a denial of free speech. Nor would it be hypocritical. I had to delete one guys comments once because all he did was blast unrelated nonsense. It was not different than deleting the spam for porn and viagra.
yeah, you are probablty right, AICS. I will, next time.
Great find!
I appreciate the tone of this piece as well as the content. Very nice site incognito :)
Thank you Chad and Mike Jackson!
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