Obama the Healer

Washington Post by David Ignatius | Dec. 14, 2008 (Opinion)
The Next President and a Post-Colonial Worldview

Barack Obama wrote in "Dreams From My Father" of his days as a student at Occidental College, groping for his political identity: "We smoked cigarettes and wore leather jackets. At night, in the dorms, we discussed neocolonialism, Frantz Fanon, Eurocentrism and patriarchy."

That's one of the passages from his autobiography that has fueled conspiracy theories among right-wing bloggers. They speak of Obama as if he's a tool of Third World ... Full Story »

Posted by Leo Romero

More Info

Tags Help
Subjects: U.S., Politics, Religion
Topics: Foreign Policy, National Security, Obama Administration, Islam
Editorial Help
Posted by: Posted by Leo Romero - Dec 13, 2008 - 8:07 PM PST
Reviewed by: Leo Romero (review), James Staley (review), Patricia Blochowiak (review), Peter L. Combs (review)
Edit Lock: This story can be edited
Edited by: Leo Romero - Dec 13, 2008 - 8:07 PM PST
Related Comments: Obama Administration (3)

Reviews

Show All Comments
Show All | Notes | Comments | Quotes | Links
James Staley
4.5
 by James Staley - Dec. 14, 2008

This thoughtful, insightful opinion piece pus a global face on the "change" Obama promised to bring. His perceptive juxtaposition of Fanon's historical anti-colonial rage and the worldwide anti-American that currently exists is as spot on as his juxtaposition of Obama's past and promising future.

For all his analytical genius and pragmatic brilliance, Obama's greatest promise resides in exceptional moral leadership. Mr. Ignatius is right: Obama should review the suffering and moral outrage in Fanon's The Wretched Earth. I'd add Kant on human dignity, Plato on Socrates, and the Gospel authors on Jesus.

See Full Review » (12 answers)
Peter L. Combs
2.6
 by Peter L. Combs - Dec. 15, 2008

Mr. Ignatius adds himself to the already burdensome chorus of symbolic expectational achievements for the young Mr. Obama. The argument that Mr. Obama is a Post Colonial Man is a silly one and is intellectually lame and minimizes the lives of those who have lived under a colonial regime.

Mr. Obama has enough on his plate with the general economy, the war on terrorism and US Health Care. Mr. Ignatius's attempt to divine a possible path for our new President by dragging in what he feels is our perceived appearance of Colonialism and Fanon's view from the 1960's is thin at best. So far Barrack has done a very good job re-appointing an experienced staff, lets see how they all get along. He can be the Dali-bama in a year or two, his first duty is to the USA.

See Full Review » (12 answers)
Patricia Blochowiak
4.5
 by Patricia Blochowiak - Dec. 14, 2008
See Full Review » (11 answers)
Leo Romero
3.0
 by Leo Romero - Dec. 13, 2008
Leo posted this story.
See Full Review » (1 answer)

Comments on this story Help (BETA)

Sort by: Oldest | Newest Hide All Replies
NT Rating | My Rating

Ratings

3.8

Good
from 4 reviews (40% confidence)
Quality
3.8
Information
3.3
Insight
4.0
Style
3.7
Context
4.0
Depth
4.0
Enterprise
3.7
Expertise
2.5
Originality
4.3
Relevance
4.0
Responsibility
5.0
Popularity
3.6
Recommendation
4.3
Credibility
3.5
# Reviews
2.0
# Views
5.0
# Likes
1.0
# Emails
1.0
More
How our ratings work »
(See these related stories.)

Links Help

No links yet. Please review this story to add some!