My usually reasonable friend is convinced that Obama is actually an Arab

[rox63]

Although she has some conservative leanings, as well as a few liberal ones, she says that she's "seen his geneology", and it proves he is an Arab. :crazy:

I asked her if she's seen the pictures of Obama's father, and did she notice that he is is a very dark-skinned African. It didn't seem to make a difference with her. The weird thing is, she has no problem with him "being an Arab", because she has several friends who are Arabic, including a former fiance. And this is a person with a graduate degree in Anthropology.
:wtf:

Have other folks seen this sort of mass hysteria anywhere outside of Freeperland?

[geckosfeet]

1. Oh nose. An edumacated monkey.

One must remember that bUsh himself has an advanced degree from hAhvAhd biznis school.

[rox63]

3. Her degrees are legitimate

She was just a dissertation short of a PhD. And she almost married a man who is half Iranian, and remains friends with him and his family. So she has no problems with folks of Arabic heritage. I just think it's weird that she can't seem to admit that really he's half-African, not half-Arabic. She should really know better.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Oops--if her former bf was Iranian, HE wasn't Arab either!

The Iranians I know are very careful to make the distinction. They are Persians, not Arabs, and are very quick to point this out. Cyrus the Great was not an Arab, after all, nor was Zoroaster.

[rox63]

17. That was my mistake - she knows he's Persian

But she also speaks fondly of her Arabic college roommate, who now lives in the UAE.

[No Elephants]

24. The Arabs are just as quick to point out that Iranians are not Arabs. Sure

test if you are unsure: Talk about the Gulf. Arabs will refer to it as the Arabian Gulf, Iranians as the Persian Gulf. And if you are a cartographer working for either of those groups, make sure you label that body of water in a way that does not irritate your employer.

[hlthe2b]

19. HELLO?.... Iranians are PERSIANS, NOT Arabs

:shrug:

Why would you think she could make a distinction between Africans, Arabs, Muslims (from throughout the world), when she obviously doesn't know that Iranians are not Arabs.... Her degrees may be legitimate, but her education level is clearly wanting.

[geckosfeet]

42. Perhaps she subscribes to the theory that Africans descend from

peoples who originally inhabited the present day middle east.

[No Elephants]

2. Arabic is the official language of Islam, much as Latin was once the official language of the

Catholic Church. Therefore many people confuse Islam and Arab.

Barack is an Arab name (or Hebrew, but it's closer to the Arabic word for "blessings" than it is to the Hebrew one.) I had read somewhere that it is African, but, if it is, it came from Arabic or Hebrew. An ancestor of Barack--his granddad I think, converted to Islam.

But, you can google his geneology. It's all over the Internet. Several geneologists have prepared their own. The Kenyan side is, understandably, onsiderably less detailed than his Kansas side because of the lack of records there. But, it's fun.

Among other things, you'll learn he's distant kin to Harry Truman and Dick Cheney and had an Irish ancestor from Moneygall. Enjoy.

P.S. You might also google what Colin Powell said on, I think, Meet the Press about the rumor that Barack is of Arab descent. It was beautiful, including a story about a fallen Arab American Muslim troop.

[rox63]

5. I heard what Powell said

And I agree with his sentiments on the subject. It was a touching story.

[Hawkeye-X]

32. Barack is Hebrew for "lightning bolt"

And it can also infer to "blessings" as well.

[thunder rising]

4. I don't have a problem with "your friend" being a moran ... but then I didn't write the post.

[rox63]

6. She is supportive of Obama, and hopes he can get us out of this mess

But she's really stuck on this Arab thing. I just find it odd.

[Vinca]

7. I'd love to see her version of the Obama family tree if you happen to have it.

It would be interesting to see how she bypasses Barack Sr.

[rox63]

8. She lives half-way across the country, so I haven't seen it myself

I just found out about this theory of hers when we talked on the phone a few days ago.

[Sancho]

9. Here's a link...

http://genealogy.about.com/od/aframertrees/p/barack_obama.htm

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. Good pedigree - easy to read

I've done genealogical research for 30 years, and this pedigree (family tree) form is easy to read and is the most informative way to get out information. Bookmarking to check on it later. Thanks!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. Ask her to define "Arab"

Perhaps what she is thinking is that Obama is Muslim and is getting her terms mixed up. I know, I know, he's Christian--but at least that accusation makes sense, since his father was Muslim.

[Blarch]

11. she is an idiot.

[kikiek]

20. I'm in the same camp as you are. I don't care what degrees she has she is an idiot. Also I question

the assertion that she is usually reasonable. Obviously not. I put it under the category of people you think you know but don't really.

[hlthe2b]

22. Bush* has degrees too, but is so embarrassingly ignorant...

and incurious as to have remained stunted at the kindergarten level. The friend of the OP strikes me similarly.

[Yotun]

14. If your friend told you her Iranian near fiance was an Arab, she has some serious revising to do...

[Shiver]

15. One of my co-workers recently used an issue of The Globe

(current headline, 'OBAMA ELECTION ILLEGAL!' ) to try and convince me that Obama is a Muslim. He's also taken many an opportunity to repeat far right-wing claims (Wright, Rezko, Ayers, swearing in on the Koran, etc). He didn't like McCain either, and I honestly don't know who he voted for or if he even voted at all.

Granted, he's proven himself an idiot many times over before this, so I really should not have been surprised.

[Thrill]

16. Just tell her Fine, believe what you want to believe

I've run out of patience with people who talk this constant nonsense about Obama. I just tell them to kiss my ass now.

[No Elephants]

21. Probably the wisest coarse (misspelled intentionally).

[LiberalFighter]

18. Where in the genealogy does she find him to be half Arab?

I sure as hell don't find it.

Parent

2. Barack Hussein Obama Sr.

Grandparents

4. Hussein Onyango Obama

5. Akumu (second wife to Hussein Onyango)

Great Grandparents

8. Obama

9. Nyaoke

Great Great Grandparents
10.

11.

[hlthe2b]

25. The friend apparently equates Arab = Muslim= African = Islam=

Iranian = Persian (!) :eyes:

If she didn't even know Iranians were Persian, not Arab, though having been romantically linked to someone of Iranian origin (and despite her "major" degrees in Anthropology :eyes:) I don't know why the OP could possibly be surprised.

Good Lord.... The war on education goes on...

[Babette]

30. I have a co-worker who believes Obama is an Arab.

His justification was reading somewhere that Obama's father claimed to be of Arab descent. I would doubt that it meant he actually was. He may have been Islamic, or not. When I was in Kenya for my study abroad we ran into some interesting issues. Many of the people there, especially from near the coast, were ashamed to think of themselves as African. They could be the darkest, most stereotypical African looking person you've ever seen, and they would insist that they were Arab. They were "better than" the African people. While shopping in Mombassa one of my classmates bought a scarf and decided to wear it around her head. People had been ignoring us completely, but suddenly descended on her, telling her she was so beautiful she "looked like an Arab." I think many people may claim to be Arabs who aren't because of racism and prejudice.

[blogslut]

23. Africa and Asia are two different continents

Show her a map.

[Ozma]

26. LOL n/t

[No Elephants]

27. I have to agree with prior posters. It probably would not do any good. Degrees or not, maroon comes

to mind.

[hlthe2b]

28. Or just ask her which one she can see from her house...

:evilgrin:

[Mass]

35. There are Arabs in North Africa, descendants of the Arabs that invaded there.

Arab is an ethnic group, not where you live.

[blogslut]

39. You are correct

But I bet you a nickle that the OP's friend isn't able to discern the distinction between Arabs as an ethnic group and Arabs who live in Saudi Arabia. :)

[nsd]

36. Isn't the Arabian peninsula part of Africa?

Not to mention Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco?

[blogslut]

37. According to Wikipedia...

Saudi Arabia is considered part of Western Asia.

[Clio the Leo]

29. Does she pronounce it like "A-rab"?

As I always imagine those who think he is would say it.

[firedupdem]

31. you ask

"Have other folks seen this sort of mass hysteria anywhere outside of Freeperland?"

ha! what a fucking joke....

[jberryhill]

33. Yes, I've seen it posted here... by you, as a matter of fact

Your friend is an idiot.

That someone with a degree in Anthropology believes that such terms as "half African" have any utility makes me ask whether your friend has been studying this "Anthropology" at Bob Jones University.

So, do you also have a friend who believes in Bigfoot? If so, what would you like done about it?

[Mass]

34. Probably confused between Arab and Muslim.

It is often said that being Muslim is transmitted by the father, just as being Jewish is transmitted by the mother, so some people may say he is Muslim because his father came from a Muslim background (not that they are necessarily well informed or that it should matter). This said, I do not see how somebody with this type of background could tell a black man from Kenya is an arab.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

38. Your friend is absolutely correct

Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!!
Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!!
Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!!
Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!!
Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!!
Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!!
Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!! Hussein!!!


:hide:

:rofl:

As long as your friend has no problem with him being an Arab ...

:hi:

[yardwork]

40. There's nothing wrong with being an Arab. Still, Obama is not an Arab.

[wyldwolf]

41. well, he does exhibit all the classic arab traits

Born in Hawaii
White mother
Christian

I mean... come on!