Dreams from Obama's (Kenyan) Grandmother

[RamboLiberal]

Several thousand miles and a world away, Barack Obama is campaigning to change American politics. But in the tiny farmstead where his father used to herd goats, his Kenyan relatives are praying for anything but more political upheaval. "We are spending sleepless nights praying that peace will prevail," says the 86-year-old woman whom the presidential contender calls Granny Sarah.

The Obamas' home has been spared the violence that has wracked Kenya since President Mwai Kibaki was sworn in for a controversial second term two months ago. More than 1,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands more uprooted, forced to return to their tribal homelands as waves of political violence brought decades of ethnic tension into the open.

Outside the Obama home, calves are grazing on the thick green grass that grows here in one of Kenya's most fertile regions. Plowed fields stand ready to be sown with maize. And scrawny chickens peck for grubs in the shade of mango trees. Inside, Granny Sarah's simple sitting room is plastered with black-and-white photographs of Obama Senior — the stepson she raised as her own — alongside Obama Junior's campaign posters.

Her eyes sparkle as she talks of her pride at his success and how he will make a fine President. "He is very loving and very hardworking and never had to be told what to do," she says, pointing out a photograph of a young, gangly Obama with a sack of vegetables over his shoulder during his first visit to Kenya. "Even though he is very learned, he's a very good listener and respects the opinions of others." A chicken wanders in through the open door and Granny Sarah hauls herself out of her chair to shoo it away.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1717590,00.html



Awwww!

[Submariner]

1. I notice she wears a string of pearls like Babs Bush

I'd like to see Granny Sarah cold-cock Babs and lay her out at Obama's inauguration, and then ask her from one grandmother to another, "Why didn't you mother and nurture your children properly so they would not turn out to be the despised criminal reprobates they are?"

[shireen]

2. she's a sweetie ... grandmas are very special people

My grandma (also Socialdemocrat1981's grandma!) was the best friend I ever had. We absolutely adored her!

I also think that it is extremely neat to have a future president with such close ties to Africa. She's an incredible continent in so many ways, with tremendous potential for greatness. I hope Obama's presidency will inspire the people of African nations as he has inspired us.

[bellasgrams]

3. I would be more comfortable if she was American.

[RamboLiberal]

5. Why would you be more comfortable if she was American?

I think it's great that we may have a president who is truly a man of the world.

[moc]

6. Wow. How narrow minded of you.

:eyes:

[Greyskye]

7. blink

Wow. Just... wow. :wow:




Welcome back to the 18th Century.

[shireen]

8. why? What possible reason would you have for saying something like that?

My grandmother was not American either. Do you have something against her as well?

[IndyOp]

4. I want to go to Kenya! I am more and more wishing for a simpler life -

No fantasies of idyllic, just simpler. Agrarian even.

[shireen]

9. so sad about the civil unrest there, in such a beautiful place. I'm glad his family is OK. nt