obama nation

[DanaC]

*nods*

I watched it again on youtube today. He said exactly what America and the world have been waiting to hear I think; unity, hope and strength.

Everyone's talking about it here. I cannot tell you how much this elevates your nation in our eyes. I had my ICQ running whilst I was studying last night, with the TV on as well. A good friend and ex-neighbour of mine was messaging me, just awestruck that you'd done it. The nervousness of the first polls closing, and the ardent hope was absolutely shared by people all over the world. My friend, a northern lad not much given to sentimentality, told me he had tears streaming down his face as we realised it was going to be an Obama victory on the night.

As a sidebar to this: the subject of my research last night was an 18th century journal, written by the wife of a naval officer who accompanied him on his travels. In one entry she describes them going aboard a slave carrying ship. There had been an outbreak of disease, with the captain, some crew and slaves affected. In order to stop the spread of the disease, the sick slaves were thrown overboard.

I read her description (she describes it as an inhuman act) of this event, one hour before I saw the son of a black man, married to a descendant of both slaves and slave owners, address the American nation, and the world, as President Elect of the USA.

Bloody hell. Just bloody hell.

[Beest]

Originally Posted by BigV

Very classy performance by McCain. He was very gracious. **THAT** is the McCain that might have won the election.

The booing was low f*ckin class. Embarrassing.

I think he will continue to be an asset to the country in the Senate.

I think that's the footnote to his campaign, McCain, a standup guy, the GOP, not so much.

[Shawnee123]

That was awesome, DanaC.

[Beest]

Originally Posted by wolf

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

I think this goes for Obama too, there's the worst of times coming up in the next 1 -2 years, and he just volunteered to preside over it.

[Cloud]

Originally Posted by DanaC

married to a descendant of both slaves and slave owners

is this accurate?

[DanaC]

It's how he described his wife in his acceptance speech. he said she has both slaves and slave owners in her ancestry. Unless I have misheard that.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by DanaC

It's how he described his wife in his acceptance speech. he said she has both slaves and slave owners in her ancestry. Unless I have misheard that.

All American Blacks whose ancestry in America goes back to the days of slavery are presumed to have the blood of both a mammy and a massa or massa's boy in their genetic mix somewhere. Of course, there's no documentation. Or maybe she took one of those National Geographic sponsored DNA screenings to see how much of herself she should be proud of and how much she should revile.

[DanaC]

Or maybe she took one of those National Geographic sponsored DNA screenings to see how much of herself she should be proud of and how much she should revile

You make a huge assumption about how she'd view those parts of her ancestry that were slave owners. I have within me the blood of a conquered people and the blood of their conquerors. I have English, Indian, South-African (and most likely African) ancestry (there's some Irish and Jewish in there too). I would love to know more details of that, and I would not revile those who lived under different rules and a different cultural view of the world.

[Pie]

Originally Posted by DanaC

I would not revile those who lived under different rules and a different cultural view of the world.

<devil's>But if they're no better (and no worse) than any other peoples, why bother knowing? What difference would it make?</advocate>

[warch]

Or maybe she took one of those National Geographic sponsored DNA screenings to see how much of herself she should be proud of and how much she should revile.

Hmm. The multiple broadcasts that fascinated me on PBS, using dna plus historical records to trace families of black Americans were quite moving and hardly the racist affair you flippantly describe. I was struck by how intertwined and complicated the shared history, and how the connections served to challenge simplistic notions of race.

[Sundae]

I would love to have my DNA traced. Nothing to do with hating what has happened in the past. People are people are people. I doubt there's been a society that doesn't have murder and mayhem somewhere in its history.

I have Irish blood in my veins, should I cut myself to let some of the English blood out because of the Potato Famine? If I found I had Norman blood, should I rail against the Conquest?

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

If I found I had Norman blood, should I rail against the Conquest?

It WOULD be interesting if you did...but, nah. Don't do it.

[warch]

Rail against the Conquest

I smell a band name....

[Pie]

On a more serious note, what does it mean to have this blood or that blood in your veins? Aside from certain genetic diseases or predispositions, what is the importance?

I am genetically Indian, brown skin and all, raised in the vast maw that is American culture. Which is more important? What claim should my Indian heritage have? If the answer is "none", then why should anyone care about things that may or may not exist in their own pedigree?

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Pie

On a more serious note, what does it mean to have this blood or that blood in your veins? Aside from certain genetic diseases or predispositions, what is the importance?

I am genetically Indian, brown skin and all, raised in the vast maw that is American culture. Which is more important? What claim should my Indian heritage have? If the answer is "none", then why should anyone care about things that may or may not exist in their own pedigree?

Because where we are from, is the very story of our existence. What does it matter? Look at the story it tells us. That's worth knowing. No less than it is worth knowing the thoughts and actions of great statesmen.