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I think we are closer to being link minded here than we think
Here is the article again. So how would you try to keep in touch with someone who it is really next to impossible to keep in touch with? if the half-sibling was in a position where it was easy to keep in touch with, then that would be different. But this guy is clearly not someone who is going to able to keep in touch with someone half a world away.
I don't think Obama not being close to his half-brother is really a negative for Obama. It is just the way things go some times. I know I have had a hard time keeping in touch with my friends and family who live in driving distance of me. Half a world away while being busy running for President... Yeah, that is not going to be an easy relationship to build on.
posted by
kooka_lives
on October 10, 2008 at 11:46 AM
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Re: But Janes, this is not about familial love really. It is about respect.
Kooka, I don't see a link for the article you reference, although I will look a second time.
Regarding respect, I'm totally w/ you on this. Plain charity can be detrimental, but at the same time, if I were in Obama's shoes, I would do everything possible to have a relationship w/ my step brother, and if the timing was right, offer a micro loan. I don't believe I've said anything about forcing charity on a person. From that perspective, D'Souza would be better served not just giving money, but offering a micro loan and respecting his decision should he refuse to accept.
In stating what I said in a previous comment, perhaps I did not make clear enough that I would do everything possible to have a relationship w/ my sibling and then, if the timing and situation was right, offer to help in some way. I very much agree with you that the whole thing needs to be done with respect for the individual person and his or her individuality.
Imagine the cultural learning experience Obama's girls could enjoy by getting to know their uncle and his country and culture. What a great relationship that could be!!! I think the family is missing out by not having any contact.
posted by
JanesOpinion
on October 10, 2008 at 10:48 AM
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But Janes, this is not about familial love really. It is about respect.
Did you read the article I linked to? The one that talked about how Obama and his half-brother have only met ONCE in their adult life.
Do you really think the brother (They guy who is saying he wants to make it on his own) even talked to Obama about how poor he was? Sorry, but that is really not the kind of conversation you have in such a situation. And it really would be next to impossible for them to keep in touch well to even try to get to know each other.
They don't really know each at all, and the brother has more or less said he doesn't want hand outs and is not about ask Obama for anything. So even if Obama knew, which there is a fair chance Obama really did not know how bad of shape his half-brother was in, if he truly respected his half-brother he would back off.
So the whole idea this Dinesh D'Souza has about forcing the half-brother to become a charity case that he has made it clear he does not want to be, is about as insulting towards the guy as it gets. And I do know what I am talking about. My sister has tried to treat me like a charity case many times now, since her husband worked really hard and got himself a good job that pays a lot and puts them at a higher income level than my wife and I are at. It has been greatly insulting the way she has treated us, the same way you seem to be suggesting that Obama treat his half-brother.
If the half-brother asks Obama for some help, that would be different. In the end it would be a great insult for Obama to go and FORCE his brother to take welfare from him. I really would be like Obama giving a lot of money to stranger on the street, of more like forcing the stranger to take money he has not asked for.
D'Souza is just playing to the lowest level of the political game as a distraction to the bigger picture. And I would hope that if the half-brother were to get nay money from D'Souza's group, that he would not keep it for himself but spread it around to others in need and keep his integrity intact by making it on his own. I have no doubt hat he will be insulted by any money he is given due to such childish political games.
posted by
kooka_lives
on October 9, 2008 at 3:55 PM
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Re: Janes, And here I thought conservatives did not believe in welfare.
Kooka, good grief. I'm talking about familial love and concern. If I PERSONALLY had a half sib a continent away, I would at least try to get to know that person. If I PERSONALLY knew that my half sib was struggling, I would at the very least offer to help. And by help I mean a micro loan, a gift, whatever -- if that person wanted it. Whatever it would take to get them out of poverty with dignity. I think it would be important to get into their space, get to know them. . . and then offer to help in some way if they desire.
You're comparing apples to oranges by comparing Obama's brother to "every homeless person." There's no comparison! I'm talking about a family relationship. Evidently my life perspective is that family connections is incredibly vital. You obviously don't feel that way. I think it would have been great had Obama reached out to his bro by offering a micro loan so that he can go to school, become a mechanic, and have a better way to support himself. And then done it without drum rolls and excessive publicity.
posted by
JanesOpinion
on October 6, 2008 at 7:14 PM
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Janes, And here I thought conservatives did not believe in welfare.
Are you saying you would insult you half-sibling by giving them money they did not ask for? There really is a level of insult in that.
Also, would you go out and give every homeless person you see one the streets few hundred bucks as you came in contact with them? Those are total strangers and are just as much a part of your family as any unknown half-sibling out there. Just because they are blood related, really does not mean they are any real part of your life. And trust me on this one, I know from real experience. Over a decade ago my father (Xeno_x) found his biological mother. I met her only a few times and she meant nothing to me at all. Her death did not effect me in the least. While we may have been biologically related, she really meant nothing to me because we had no bond. Now my step-father's mother is beyond a doubt my grandmother even though we have no blood connection at all, and her death will hurt me.
Just being a blood relative really does not make one any more significant than any other person out there. Now I would agree with you if Obama actually was close to this guy and had a real relationship, but they are practically strangers and Obama might as well just hand out a few thousand dollars to every homeless person he comes in brief contact with if he is going to give this half-brother (Who has openly said he does not want anything from Obama) money. It is in true essence the same thing.
posted by
kooka_lives
on October 5, 2008 at 7:58 PM
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Re: Janes, the brother even admits Obama is really a stranger to him
Huh. Kooka, perhaps it's a male female thing. I'd for sure want to get to know my half sib living a continet or two away. And as I've said before, if I knew that my half sibling was struggling, living in poverty, I'd bend over backwards to help him or her out.
Thanks for the visit!
posted by
JanesOpinion
on October 5, 2008 at 6:29 PM
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Janes, the brother even admits Obama is really a stranger to him
Here are his own words on the issue, "We have only met twice, once when I was five or six, and again in 2006," he said. " I cannot say that we are close, he probably does not even think about me. I am not going to start pestering him, I don't want to look to him for help, I want to achieve things for myself."
Would you ask for help from a relative who is more or less a stranger to you? it is fairly clear that this is not because Barack Obama is 'totally careless'. He does not really know this guy and just because they are blood relatives does not really mean he needs to go and give the guy money, especially if the guy is not asking for it and would rather make it on his own.
Now Barak's brother also has this to say, "Of course, if I was in the US I would vote for him, I think everyone should. But I am a bit biased," he joked. So there does not seem to be any bad blood between these two.
This whole issue is a nothing issue and really does not show Obama in a negative light. That part is just full propaganda. If anything it is an insult towards the brother the way Dinesh D'Souza is turning him into some kind of charity case that he clearly does NOT wish to become.
Here is the article I found my information in by the way.
As for me personally, I think I would be a lot like Obama is a long lost half-brother who I have only meet twice was out there. The guy is not really family in the true sense and he has not asked for anything.
posted by
kooka_lives
on October 5, 2008 at 1:15 PM
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Re: Jane,
Yeah, NY in Sicily, and weren't some libs accusing Palin of causing her own child to have Down's Syndrome, because she probably neglected to take prenatals? And was therefore irresponsible? Please. And they're the ones who always like to say "judge not, lest you be judged."
Yup, you're right. MSM is falling over itself in support of the golden boy. so much for journalistic objectivity!!
posted by
JanesOpinion
on September 24, 2008 at 7:35 PM
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Re: Janes, this is just one of those sad little conservative distractions
Kooka, I agree there may be more important matters to be discussed. But at the same time, I think it also goes to show the lack of regard Obama has for human life. If you found out that you had a half brother in a foreign country who was struggling to survive, wouldn't you want to help that person out in some small way? Or are you totally careless too? But seriously, I guess I should not have too high an expectation of Obama. He has voted in favor of infanticide following botched abortions. . . why care about a half brother living on $1/month?
posted by
JanesOpinion
on September 24, 2008 at 7:33 PM
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Jane,
It's the same ol', same ol', double standard: MSM trashes McCain for (OMG!!!!) owning more than one house and Sarah Palin for (shock horror!) having a Down Syndrome child (which the filthy vulgar liberals attributed to her eldest daughter, who is pregnant with her own child anyway - double scandal!) While the whole brother Goerge story may or may not be a hoax, it does however prove one thing: MSM has put the gloden child on a pedestal..
posted by
NewYorker_in_Sicily
on September 24, 2008 at 8:49 AM
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Janes, this is just one of those sad little conservative distractions
Which seem to be the main focus of many republicans in this election. Mousehop has it right there.
This is a half-brother Obama really does not know at all. There is nothing between them outside of the fact they share a father. They don't really know each other. Obama has no relationship with this guy at all. Should he now hunt down every possible blood relative he has over there to make sure they are not poor? Who know what other half-siblings or cousins and such he might have who are living in the same conditions? Family is more than just blood after all. And something like this could cause a lot of real problems. If Obama did go and start giving his half-brother money (Which would more or less be a welfare kind of thing after all) how many other 'relative's' do you think would pop up asking for money?
Now we have this Dinesh D'Souza going and raising money for the half-brother, which to me seems unfair to focus so much on just one person over there, instead of taking that $1,000 and using it to help dozens of people. There are most likely children who need the money more than the half-brother does after all.
It is clear that the ONLY reasons to make a big deal over this is to distract from the reality that McCain has nothing to offer and is going to lose because of it. Hell if anything the fact that D'Souza is focusing on giving money JUST to the half-brother shows a greater lack of compassion because it is clear the ONLY reasons he is doing this is for political reasons and not because he cares. It is just part of the sad games that the republicans are playing right now.
posted by
kooka_lives
on September 24, 2008 at 8:31 AM
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Justi
It has already been proven 100% that Obama is NOT a cousin to Raila Odinga. Read it all here. This is the kind of thing that you keep on doing that bothers me. it is spreading misinformation. Just because you dislike Obama just because he is a Democrat, does not mean that everything you are told about him is true.
posted by
kooka_lives
on September 24, 2008 at 8:18 AM
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Hey, I am inclined to agree with mousehop's comments....
posted by
Straightforward
on September 24, 2008 at 8:12 AM
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Re:
sam, you're selling your house and moving? Moving a long distance or just across town???
I hope all goes well. don't worry about projects -- sounds like you're very busy!!!
posted by
JanesOpinion
on September 23, 2008 at 8:07 PM
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Re: Janes
Justi, it's sad, isn't it? I think of the children my family has "sponsored" over there, and the prayers and love and communication with complete strangers who have gradually become friends. It's his (Obama's) loss for lack of relationship with a family member such as this.
Thanks for stopping by!
posted by
JanesOpinion
on September 23, 2008 at 8:06 PM
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Re: Hardly fascinating
Uhhh, excuse me, mousehop, but there are millions of Africans who don't have anything close to the "bootstrap" opportunities here in America. They're stuck in poverty with no apparent change in sight.
Political gimmick or not, we're talking family here. All Barack had to do was send him a little supplemental income a few times a year in a filial attempt to reach out to his own kin. Instead, he treats him like a total stranger. Trust me, if I discovered that I had a half sibling in Africa living on $1/month and struggling to survive, you can bet I'd be helping that person in any way possible. Obama's response is so calloused it is appalling.
posted by
JanesOpinion
on September 23, 2008 at 8:03 PM
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I think it is shameful on Obama's part! A Christian man would have helped a long time ago. And it would not have been documented because he would be taking care of family as it should be. My oh My! How have you been. I am up to my neck in getting my house 'staged' for sale. I have not forgotten our project! sam
posted by
sam444
on September 23, 2008 at 6:57 PM
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Janes
I am going to go ahead and address this post rather than mousehop as he is always 180 degrees off. This is an excellent article and I have seen and wondered why nobody had addressed this before. Why has nobody looked into his close relationship with his cousin in Kenya and all that death and corruption? Why?
posted by
Justi
on September 23, 2008 at 6:48 PM
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Hardly fascinating
A cheap political gimmick, and attempted distraction from the issues facing the country. Why should Obama drop his work to take care of the son of a man who abandoned him (Barrack) in childhood? Why would he deserve Barrack's compassion more than the unemployed in Detroit? The author states he's doing this just to embarrass Obama, because he puts more importance on blood relationship than, say, fellow citizenship or the good of a greater number. Sure, Obama can afford, financially, to give George some money, but why give in to the distraction? He has more important work on his mind.
And, to take a more typical conservative view of things, if George is that poor, he must not be doing much about his own welfare. Why doesn't he get out and find his own work? Millions of people in Africa do.
posted by
mousehop
on September 23, 2008 at 8:13 AM
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