Comments on: Barack Obama’s Dreams from my Father http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/ A posting every day; an interesting idea every three months... Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:00:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Charles Picavet http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/comment-page-1/#comment-98170 Charles Picavet Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:58:08 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/#comment-98170 I am listening to the audio book, read by Obama himself. I would highly recommend it. I think he's a very skilled writer (I'm sure not all those speeches were written by spin doctors), who has a personal history worth making public. Because he is also very honest (or at least he appears to be) about all nuances in his own feelings and thoughts, the story doesn't get overly sensational or cliche. However, having it read by Obama is a real bonus. He has a pleasant voice and it adds to the feeling of being allowed in his very personal sphere. Furthermore, he occasionally does the voices of the people he has written about, which is sometimes hilarious. I'm Dutch, but if I were American, I would have definitely voted for this guy! I am listening to the audio book, read by Obama himself. I would highly recommend it. I think he’s a very skilled writer (I’m sure not all those speeches were written by spin doctors), who has a personal history worth making public. Because he is also very honest (or at least he appears to be) about all nuances in his own feelings and thoughts, the story doesn’t get overly sensational or cliche. However, having it read by Obama is a real bonus. He has a pleasant voice and it adds to the feeling of being allowed in his very personal sphere. Furthermore, he occasionally does the voices of the people he has written about, which is sometimes hilarious. I’m Dutch, but if I were American, I would have definitely voted for this guy!

]]> By: starfruit08 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/comment-page-1/#comment-81696 starfruit08 Sat, 24 May 2008 07:40:52 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/#comment-81696 I happen to be half way through "Dreams from my Father," at the moment. I must agree with R-chan, that the preface added to the 2004 edition, was very helpful in preparing me to grasp the historical context of this book. The book's main theme is, the inner journey to achieving identity _more specifically racial identity _a normal part of human development. The version of Barak this book depicts, is very young, starting at age six. So, he is understandably tentative and not to be confused with his current 47 year old version. However, I find his story fascinating. He was raised in a white household. As a baby, the faces he mirrored were different than his own, which, if anything, explains his lengthy struggle with racial identity. Those of us who raised adopted kids of different ethnic backgrounds than our own, know a thing or two about that type of struggle. Curiously, before I started to read this book, I was under the impression that Barak had been raised mostly abroad. However, now I know that, this is not so. Barak was in Indonesia for only 4 years _ from age 6 to 10. I personally think that his experience abroad is a plus for him. Contrast Obama with our current culturally deprived administration and George W. Bush miss calculation in Iraq. Imagine, how things might turn out had Bush known that what motivates an American will not necessarily motivate an Iraqi. I happen to be half way through “Dreams from my Father,” at the moment. I must agree with R-chan, that the preface added to the 2004 edition, was very helpful in preparing me to grasp the historical context of this book.

The book’s main theme is, the inner journey to achieving identity _more specifically racial identity _a normal part of human development.

The version of Barak this book depicts, is very young, starting at age six. So, he is understandably tentative and not to be confused with his current 47 year old version.

However, I find his story fascinating. He was raised in a white household. As a baby, the faces he mirrored were different than his own, which, if anything, explains his lengthy struggle with racial identity. Those of us who raised adopted kids of different ethnic backgrounds than our own, know a thing or two about that type of struggle.

Curiously, before I started to read this book, I was under the impression that Barak had been raised mostly abroad. However, now I know that, this is not so.

Barak was in Indonesia for only 4 years _ from age 6 to 10. I personally think that his experience abroad is a plus for him. Contrast Obama with our current culturally deprived administration and George W. Bush miss calculation in Iraq. Imagine, how things might turn out had Bush known that what motivates an American will not necessarily motivate an Iraqi.

]]> By: R-chan http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/comment-page-1/#comment-81438 R-chan Sat, 17 May 2008 02:37:43 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/#comment-81438 In response to the original blog: I have recently read _Dreams from my Father_. If you want to get a more up-to-date account of his position on national issues, please read _ The Audacity of Hope_. _Dreams from my Father_ is a different kind of book. It was written in a different period of his life, possibly before he ever saw himself running for president. It was written before 9/11, which was a completely different political world. He wrote the book after he was elected the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review and was therefore expected to write a book about his opinion on racial issues. The book started out as focusing on race and the law, but quickly changed into a book about his personal memoirs dealing with race. "The preface to the 2004 edition" is very helpful in explaining the circumstances in which _Dreams from my Father_ was written. In response to the original blog: I have recently read _Dreams from my Father_. If you want to get a more up-to-date account of his position on national issues, please read _ The Audacity of Hope_. _Dreams from my Father_ is a different kind of book. It was written in a different period of his life, possibly before he ever saw himself running for president. It was written before 9/11, which was a completely different political world. He wrote the book after he was elected the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review and was therefore expected to write a book about his opinion on racial issues. The book started out as focusing on race and the law, but quickly changed into a book about his personal memoirs dealing with race. “The preface to the 2004 edition” is very helpful in explaining the circumstances in which _Dreams from my Father_ was written.

]]> By: B Johnson http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/comment-page-1/#comment-81307 B Johnson Tue, 13 May 2008 13:37:24 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/#comment-81307 Barack Obama is an intelligent man and he is what we need. I am so sick of Hilary Clinton-Her campaining has sunk to an all time low- her attacks are pitful-a Black man is on the verge of winning the most coveted position that has always been occupied by whites, and she is threatend and intimitaded, but just to hard-headed to admit. He will be the president of the United States! This Jeremiah Wright issue is so blown out of proportion- Barack is not responsible for the comments Wright makes, and it is sickening how the media tries to cement these two together. John Mcain is too old to be running for president- I don't care if he was in the army or not Barack Obama is an intelligent man and he is what we need. I am so sick of Hilary Clinton-Her campaining has sunk to an all time low- her attacks are pitful-a Black man is on the verge of winning the most coveted position that has always been occupied by whites, and she is threatend and intimitaded, but just to hard-headed to admit. He will be the president of the United States! This Jeremiah Wright issue is so blown out of proportion- Barack is not responsible for the comments Wright makes, and it is sickening how the media tries to cement these two together. John Mcain is too old to be running for president- I don’t care if he was in the army or not

]]> By: bill http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/comment-page-1/#comment-81299 bill Tue, 13 May 2008 03:31:25 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/#comment-81299 If we made it through 8 years of George "W" Bush, we can make it through whatever Obama, Hillary, or Mccain can hand us. Either way it is a giant step forward. We'll get through it. I truthfully can't blame it all on "W", but his administration is the worst ever. It will be good to have a president that doesn't come across as stupid, or tries to be funny with it. It's like we have been living a Chevy Chase movie. If we made it through 8 years of George “W” Bush, we can make it through whatever Obama, Hillary, or Mccain can hand us. Either way it is a giant step forward. We’ll get through it.
I truthfully can’t blame it all on “W”, but his administration is the worst ever.
It will be good to have a president that doesn’t come across as stupid, or tries to be funny with it.
It’s like we have been living a Chevy Chase movie.

]]> By: Leo http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/comment-page-1/#comment-75749 Leo Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:36:50 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/#comment-75749 There is something else about Barak Obama that nobody is mentioning here. Imagine how smart and tough one should be to come from a single parent family, being man of color, and yet accomplishing so much at such a young age. I saw a very summarizing bumper sticker recently - "republicans or democrats - same shit, different piles". I personally don't feel about Barak Obama that he is "same shit". I think that he has better chance than others to inspire and unite all races, religions, majorities and minorities in making all of us feeling different about ourselves. We, as a country, should be embarrased that our president is 50/50 electied, with skillful manipulation of the system. I hope and think that Barak Obama is not this case. There is something else about Barak Obama that nobody is mentioning here. Imagine how smart and tough one should be to come from a single parent family, being man of color, and yet accomplishing so much at such a young age. I saw a very summarizing bumper sticker recently – “republicans or democrats – same shit, different piles”. I personally don’t feel about Barak Obama that he is “same shit”. I think that he has better chance than others to inspire and unite all races, religions, majorities and minorities in making all of us feeling different about ourselves. We, as a country, should be embarrased that our president is 50/50 electied, with skillful manipulation of the system. I hope and think that Barak Obama is not this case.

]]> By: Ray Fraser http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/comment-page-1/#comment-71903 Ray Fraser Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:48:28 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/#comment-71903 Responding to Mary's "Any sources on this subject?". Claim: Illinois senator Barack Obama is a "radical Muslim" who "will not recite the Pledge of Allegiance." Status: False. http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/22/obama.madrassa/" rel="nofollow">CNN debunks false report about Obama</a> Responding to Mary’s “Any sources on this subject?”.

Claim: Illinois senator Barack Obama is a “radical Muslim” who “will not recite the Pledge of Allegiance.”
Status: False. http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp

CNN debunks false report about Obama

]]> By: Mary Mooney http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/comment-page-1/#comment-71827 Mary Mooney Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:53:49 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/#comment-71827 I want to know if his religion is Muslum and if he practices his religion to the fullest. What people are saying is that the Muslum religion believes that all people who do not believe in the Muslum religion must die. And the very people that plowed into our twin towers in NY were law abiding citizens living next door to us. I love the guy, but this kind of disturbs me. Any sources on this subject? I want to know if his religion is Muslum and if he practices his religion to the fullest. What people are saying is that the Muslum religion believes that all people who do not believe in the Muslum religion must die. And the very people that plowed into our twin towers in NY were law abiding citizens living next door to us. I love the guy, but this kind of disturbs me. Any sources on this subject?

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/comment-page-1/#comment-43036 Mark Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:22:56 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/#comment-43036 Obama is a world-class politician who, while coming across as being a sincerely nice guy, never seems to make a stand on any controversial issues without leaving himself a convenient exit ramp. This is a facinating time in our country's history and it will high drama come next spring/summer for both parties. For what it's worth, I had an epiphany yesterday as I sat in my living room and gazed at the water (I live on Smith Mountain Lake in southern Virginia). Obama will not get the Democatic nomination, Hillary Clinton will. And in the end, women will simply not vote for her. Obama is a world-class politician who, while coming across as being a sincerely nice guy, never seems to make a stand on any controversial issues without leaving himself a convenient exit ramp.
This is a facinating time in our country’s history and it will high drama come next spring/summer for both parties.
For what it’s worth, I had an epiphany yesterday as I sat in my living room and gazed at the water (I live on Smith Mountain Lake in southern Virginia).
Obama will not get the Democatic nomination, Hillary Clinton will.
And in the end, women will simply not vote for her.

]]> By: Peter Gottlieb http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/comment-page-1/#comment-42983 Peter Gottlieb Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:38:00 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/09/26/barack-obamas-dreams-from-my-father/#comment-42983 B Reyes: The reality of the electoral process is that it is pointless, and sometimes even counterproductive, to vote for a candidate who is in such a minority position. I wonder if the Founding Fathers anticipated the kind of situation we have now? I do agree with your comment on the divisive labels. Such labels seem more designed to create imaginary enemies than to describe any real characteristics any more. Peter B Reyes:

The reality of the electoral process is that it is pointless, and sometimes even counterproductive, to vote for a candidate who is in such a minority position. I wonder if the Founding Fathers anticipated the kind of situation we have now?

I do agree with your comment on the divisive labels. Such labels seem more designed to create imaginary enemies than to describe any real characteristics any more.

Peter

]]>