Obama and Anthropologists
|
Posted By: Marta Fernandez on October 23, 2008 Nice to know that my "shero" Margaret Mead and his mom understand the cultural mores of nations. This will help him to be an even better leader than any other candidate when it comes to understanding how to manage the Multi-Cultural society of America. "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For indeed, that is the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Mead ~ Barack Obama is hip to Margaret Mead PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- No presidential candidate in history -- not the polymath Thomas Jefferson, not the orator William Jennings Bryan, not the egghead Adlai Stevenson -- has ever uttered a sentence like this: "My mother was an anthropologist [and] the Margaret Mead reference I'm always hip to." The speaker (no surprise) was Barack Obama, whose late mother, Ann Dunham, earned a master's degree in anthropology from the University of Hawaii. The Margaret Mead comment was sparked by a questioner who had announced that he was a former student of the author of "Coming of Age in Samoa." But the phrase "I'm always hip to" was pure Obama. The exchange took place during a Tuesday morning foreign policy discussion here as Obama and his leading advisors gathered at a long table featuring the banner "Judgment to Lead." The implicit political message was, of course, that Obama's wisdom in initially opposing the Iraq war is a more relevant credential than the length of his career in national office. And the roster of experts (including former national security advisor Tony Lake, former assistant secretary of state Susan Rice and Pulitzer Prize-winning Harvard professor Samantha Power) were designed to underscore the message that a significant chunk of the Democratic Party's foreign policy elite supports Obama and not Hillary Clinton. But enough of this standard-issue political analysis. Obama's response to the question posed by the disciple of Margaret Mead is far more relevant to the job of actually being president. The initial query was, in essence, why is America so consistently dense about other cultures? In a lengthy answer, Obama suggested that part of the problem is that this generation's best and brightest were working overseas for Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong and not for the government. But then the fledgling Illinois senator offered an observation about understanding non-Western cultures that transcended the particulars of the question and spoke to a larger foreign policy perspective. "You can't wait to do some of this work until there is a crisis," he said. "This is a chronic problem in Washington. It has to do with our 30-second attention span. You want to get to know a country and figure out what are the interests and who are the players. You can't parachute in. Iraq is a classic example, and Iran now may be another example, where we are entirely isolated from these countries and have no idea what's going on. We don't have good intelligence on them. And we're basically making a series of decisions in the blind. And that is dangerous for us." This is not a voting issue -- and it is quite possible that Hillary Clinton (not to mention Joe Biden) could have given an equally substantive reply to a similar question. In the hurly-burly of campaign coverage, reflective moments like this inevitably get lost. But it is worth noting that on a crisp November Tuesday, six weeks before the New Hampshire primary, Obama demonstrated that he understood the reasons why America for decades (think of the Bay of Pigs invasion) has made gravely serious national security decisions based on laughably inaccurate intelligence. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Marta Fernandez
From Queens, NY CUNY -Queens College class of 1985 Member Since July 2008 |
Comments
 |
...The initial query was, in essence, why is America so consistently dense about other cultures... I am baffled by this myself, but I hope this changes very soon to make life better for all people who enter the U.S. who want to have a piece of the American Apple Pie or the American Dream. Friday, October 24th 2008 at 1:56PM |
More From This Author
Latest Blogs
 |
JCSU Unique Courses “ LACTATION CONSULTANT TRAINING PROGRAM (CERTIFICATE)”The LCTP is a comprehensive, CAAHEP accredited Pathway 2 training program administered through the College of Business and Professional Studies Health and Human Performance Department at Johnson C. Sm ...more
How May I Help You NC • 52 Views • January 29th, 2026 |
 |
Nation’s Oldest HBCU Football Rivalry Returns in 2026 with 102nd Turkey Day ClassicThe nation’s oldest HBCU football rivalry will return to the field in November 2026 as Alabama State University and Tuskegee University face off in the 102nd Turkey Day Classic. The historic Thanksgiv ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 109 Views • January 28th, 2026 |
 |
🔋🪫🔋🪫🔋🔋🔋Gifts to recharge my BatteryREADY TO EXPERIENCE A MAYWEATHER WORKOUT? TRY IT FOR FREE
Some time is all that’s needed to get on the MAYWEATHER Fitness Treadmill
Have fun meet new friends get close to perfection https://may ...more
How May I Help You NC • 79 Views • January 27th, 2026 |
 |
Enjoy over 5,000 Free E-Cards!In HBCU communities, connection matters, and small gestures go a long way. That's why I offer 5,000 free eCards to help you stay connected and celebrate moments like thank yous, birthdays, and graduat ...more
Shykeria Lifleur • 74 Views • January 27th, 2026 |
 |
Get Patreon for World Cup DiscussionChannel: https://www.patreon.com/cw/rtwcmod ...more
How May I Help You NC • 66 Views • January 27th, 2026 |
Popular Blogs
 |
Divorce in America in 2009 – What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Join Brother Marcus and the cast and the crew of the Brother Marcus Show live this Sunday evening on February 1, 2009 @ 8:00 p.m. for another hot topic in our community! “Divorce in America in 2009 ...more
Brother Marcus! • 70,795,030 Views • January 27th, 2009 |
 |
VISINE ALERT!!!Seemingly innocent medication such as Visine eyedrops are used by people to concoct a mixture with similar effects as a date-rape drug.
When mixed with alcohol and taken orally, the eyedrops can l ...more
Siebra Muhammad • 118,072 Views • May 23rd, 2009 |
 |
"Chain Hang Low" check out the real meaning of the Lyrics!Recently there is a new artist out of Saint Louis that goes by the name JIBBS. Jibbs debut single "Chain hang low" has a history that most people are not aware of. The particular nursery rhyme that th ...more
Tyhesha Judge-Fogle • 74,331 Views • November 9th, 2006 |
 |
HBCU Marketplace Gifts: Divine 9 Premium Fraternity / Sorority Playing CardsVendor: Charles Jones
Item Price: $20.00
Price Includes Shipping: Yes - Shipping Included
Item Description:
Pantheon Series - Divine 9 - Premium Playing Cards (choose Gold Series or Silve ...more
How May I Help You NC • 61,364 Views • December 2nd, 2018 |
