Her name was Stanley. - Democratic Underground

hisownpetard

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Sat Mar-22-08 06:19 PM
Original message

Her name was Stanley.

Stanley Anne Dunham - the mother of Barack Obama, to whom I would like to say, simply, 'Thank you."

It struck me recently, after listening to Obama's speech on race, that this is a man who's entire being seems to be steeped
in fairness - a character trait which is almost non-existent in most people we call 'politicians.' I believe that this trait was passed on
to him by example through his mother who, unfortunately, is not here to witness how well he learned that lesson.

I base this on the fact that Obama said, when writing his first book, he would give the draft of each chapter to his mother to read.
Although she never commented on any statements he made pertaining to her, she did try to explain to him, concerning some statements he
made about his father, that he wasn't being quite as fair as he could be and asked him to correct what he wrote.

This, mind you, about a man who chose to advance his education by accepting a scholarship to Harvard, leaving his wife to raise their 2-year-old
son on her own and basically disappearing from his son's life, not seeing his child again until he was ten.

Barack has said that, afterwords, he regretted that he didn't focus his books more on the parent that stayed than the one who didn't.
But, somehow, I think his mother would be fine with that.

Perhaps this background is the reason why Obama seems to approach every problem evenly, not in the heavy-handed way we've become used to in this
country but in a way that is all-inclusive, allowing everyone a voice and a say in the matter, however divergent their opinions may be.

I believe this is why he was able to understand the frame of reference of Rev. Wright and people of his generation regarding problems of race.
Obama doesn't agree with the more incendiary things that Wright has said, but he doesn't come down with an iron fist against the people who do think that way,
any more than he would have disowned his white grandmother who occasionally made remarks that made him "cringe."

This background, steeped in tolerance for diametrically opposed views, has enabled Barack Obama to be seen by thousands upon thousands of Americans
as a viable agent of change at a time when this country has been beaten to a pulp for years by people in power who are capable of getting a good night's sleep
even as Americans and Iraqis are getting killed without cause. People who, when confronted with a question about the fact that 2/3 of all Americans do not
approve of the way the war is being handled can smirk and say, "So?" People who thrive on political dirty tricks, stolen elections, endless lies and distortions,
and other egregious offenses that go on and on and on. We all know the list by heart.

I believe, in my heart, that Sen. Obama would be incapable of committing this sort of act against America. His character would not permit him to.
And for that, I say 'thank you' - to him, for sure, and to the woman who showed him how to live a life that honors one's ideals by honoring others.

I cannot wait to vote for him for President of the United States of America.