Obama's Grandmother In Kenya Argued Over By Christians, Muslims

The Telegraph:

Barack Obama's 87-year-old step-grandmother has become the subject of a tug-of-war between Muslims and Christians in Kenya.

Read the whole story: The Telegraph

Comments

[brandnewstuff]

wow the lady is 86- and such a fuss over a church events- good grief

[lynettema]

"Mrs Obama became a national celebrity in Kenya when her grandson visited in 2006. Since President Obama's victory her modest home, with a front room full of photos of the president, has become a tourist attraction.

The Kenyan government last month declared Kogelo a protected national heritage site. "

This is so cool. To have a foreign government so proud to have a connection to the United States. How lovely for his (step)grandmother (like who really cares except her and Barack's family?). Unfortunate that the Evangelicals (I don't trust them so much myself in this country) and Muslims are so suspicious of each other. (I am Methodist. Not a "real" Christian, you know, according to the Evangelicals and religious right.)

[Ugonna]

Huff Post, I am making a copy of my below post, so there's no point in tossing it into your PC trash can and ignoring it. I will post it literally a 100 times until I wear you down.

[Ugonna]

those of you obsessed with the "step" issue need a friggin life. Some ppl consider their step sisters or parents their sisters or parents period. I believe Obama calls her grandma Sarah. You wouldn't be so obsessed with whether he knows her or his father left or whether she's step if she weren't an "unsophisticated African". I keep waiting for one of you to have the guts to admit that. Like it or not, Obama has Africa running through his veins as well as his white American side, which is why he's AFRICAN AMERICAN and black enough for you guys to claim you're proud a black guy has won. Duh!

That said, I like Sarah Obama, but this story really isn't news worthy.

[offred]

Headline should say "Stepgrandmother."

[Pema]

in america that is true, but please if they poublish my post a few down from you read the post by pema. tyty
happiness!

[Marie62866]

Made up story, This is a stepgranmother! Seriously people, Obama's father left him when he was 2. He had no relationship with him. Read his book. dreams of my father!

[chitown8]

Who cares even Obama has nothing to do with her.

[Pema]

Obamam went to see her before when he was senator, I think (I may be wrong but i think he has gone twice to see his family there) Obama also flew her over for the swearing in ceramony. And sher looked lovely and so proud. In many cultures, extended family is family, the concept of step parents isnt as strong or meaningless in some cultures. In Tibet, they marry a man and all his brothers are married to the same woman, In case something happens to to the husband, the next older brother assumes resposibilrtiies. This was certain cultures have a way to survive blood line or culturally they come together as one fasmily in order to do the very hard living in whatever country they are in, which is many countries outside the eruopean and americas.
It has keep our species alive, so she isnt simply a step mother, she is his grandmother, and deserves to be treated as such. she seems like a very fine woman. i would love to see her as second granny in the whitehouse teaching not only potus kids but all children who walk thru the doors. she would be wonderful havent you noticed the grace in which she comports herself? a true lady.

[Ugonna]

something to do or not, she's associated with the President because she's family. That makes her news worthy.

[samilli3]

Someone from the west must have something to do with this. I went to school in Kenya and in schools, everyone has the right to study whatever religion they want ..there is Christian religious education, Islamic religious education, Hindu religious education and it is a choice..You don't have to take these classes but the school system wanted people to feel that Kenya respects people's beliefs....and during national holidays like Kenya's independence day, Kenyans came together..a Christian pastor would pray, then a Muslim would pray and a Hindu would pray... religion was and has never an issue...now all of a sudden this comes up? This is bad for Kenya. with 42 tribes that practice different forms of religion and the government has done a good job at making sure Kenyan citizens feel like they have the right to practice religion freely...this is a road I'd hate to see Kenya take...Kenya is a nice place..

[Pema]

thanks for sharing your expereince. i do have a couple fo questions to ask, since i had friends living back in africa in the bad in days. were these schools open to all keynan children? did you sattend a whiteds only school? i am trying to get some timeline, and understand better the culture there.
thanks in advance,
Pema

[hoobit]

[It might be a good idea for The Telegraph (UK) to start checking copy *before* printing and/or posting online. To whit: "It was claimed that family members stopped Mrs Obama from attending the service led by an Australian evangelist, John Jeremic, because they feared the church was trying to convert her to Islam [. . . ]"

Say what?~ "the **church** was trying to convert her to **Islam**"?

When the whole *point* of the article is about the two faiths 'fighting' for Mrs. Sarah Obama, it's rather important to keep the two faiths straight in the copy. Further, if she is POTUS Obama's "step-grandmother" (which she assuredly, is), he would be her "step-grandson" - not her "grandson," as reported in the cpoy. Their credibility suffers *greatly* from slap-dash (if any, at all) proofing and editing.

Serious journalism and reporting *demands* -and depends on- attention to detail; The Telegraph, once again, fails to meet even that minimum standard. ]

[ChelseaC]

I agree. Poor journalism.

[Bafun]

the grandmother is in reality the STEP-GRANDMOTHER

[Rudyabdul]

No. Sarah Obama is the POTUS father's mother, thus his GRANDMOTHER.

[Pema]

actually she married the man who had potus father so in our american terms she would be a step, but those things are africa arent nearly inmportant. the phase, it takes a village to raise a child. came from africa , I wish we employed it more in the usa it doesnt seem like families are holding together over 50% divorce rate, over 50% of hs students dropping out....the american family needs an overhaul maybe we could lean something from cultures that managed to keep their families together.

[SoccerNana]

No, Rudy, she is not the President's father's mother.

Obama, Sr.'s mother ran off (with her infant daughter) from Obama, Sr.'s abusive father; this grandmother is Obama Sr.'s stepmother; thereby, making her the Prez's STEPgrandmother.

The Prez tells it all in his first book, "Dreams From My Father", in the section entitled 'Kenya".

[carlgt1]

god does religion suck!

[truthartbeauty]

is it anyone's business what she believes in? how pitiful and weak a religion is to have to enforce it like that.

[amdezurik]

geeze, just let her have some peace!