Opinion
KODI BARTH: Why Barack Obama is his father’s son
Barack's half sister, Auma Obama. Photo/FILE
Posted Saturday, October 18 2008 at 18:23
Four years later, he now sat between the graves of his grandfather and his father, under the mango tree behind his grandmother’s house.
“For a long time I sat between the two graves and wept,” he writes. “When my tears were finally spent … I felt the circle finally close. I realised that who I was, what I cared about, was no longer just a matter of intellect or obligation…
“I saw that my life in America — the black life, the white life, the sense of abandonment I’d felt as a boy, the frustration and hope in Chicago — all of it was connected with this piece of earth an ocean away ...
“The pain I felt was my father’s pain. My questions were my brother’s questions. Their struggle, my birthright.”
Sen Obama is his father’s son. It is said that Obama Sr had a driving intellect and ambition; two traits that Auma worries may drive his brother too far.
But as the Boston Globe wrote recently, if someone had said to Obama Sr: “You know, your son might be president,” he would have said: ‘Well, of course. He’s my son.’”
The writer is a lecturer of journalism at the United States International University, Nairobi. kodi@kodibarth.com
-
Submitted by HillaryioPosted October 25, 2008 02:55 AM
-
Submitted by gathoni
Obama is a role model to many, including myself.... but about the presidency, McCain could win...i´ve learned not to trust polls..but we´ll see.
Posted October 22, 2008 11:08 PM -
Submitted by CHAREE
He was what is referred to as a deadbeat dad. He never played any meaningful role in his son's life. His mother suffered too bring him up on government subsidance i.e food stamps. Yes the DNA is there but the support was missing right from the word go. That is why his book is Dream's From My Father. It is father he could only dream of!
Posted October 22, 2008 07:49 PM -
Submitted by amosmbotha
kenyans are always quick to take credit where they dont deserve while they cant fulfil their obligations. why dont we first enact the waki findings before arguing if obama is kenyan or not.
Posted October 22, 2008 03:13 PM -
Submitted by kanyonikanja
Shame on you. The man Obama is today was shaped by his western mother and grandfather. His father's total contributions amounts to one sperm and a lifetime of disappointment. We Kenyans have no claims whatsoever Obama.
Posted October 22, 2008 06:49 AM
RSS
Gathoni, given that Obama currently leads in states like North Carolina, Colorado, New Mexico, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, etc, I would be shocked to hell if he loses. Again, look at the economic situation and tell me if people are going to vote for McCain, who voted for 4 of 5 bogus budgets by Bush. Also, look at the number of newly Democratic votes and compare that to the Republicans. Yes, anything could happen, but I do think if Obama doesn't win this one, I am not sure what he will ever win.