The Etymology of Barack Obama: Is He a Blessing or Bent?

September 3, 2008 RSS Feed Print

After a half-brother of Barack Obama was found living in a shack in Kenya last month, it seems the Democratic presidential nominee has millions more Africans claiming kinship. Ethnologists now trace his tribal ancestry to Sudan.

Hawaiian, American, Kenyan, Sudanese—it's often remarked that politicians like to be everything to all people. But this passage, on the roots of his name, takes the cake: "Linguistically, 'Barack' is derived from 'Baraka' meaning 'blessing' in Arabic and Swahili, which is widely spoken in Eastern and Central Africa. Luo elders say 'Obama' does not have a solid translation in their Dholuo language but is similar to the word 'Obam' meaning 'crooked' or 'bending.'"

Given elected officials' penchant for overfamiliarity, voters now may correctly call the Democratic presidential candidate either a Blessing or Bent.

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Katty Stone

london incall escorts of AL 2:31PM July 06, 2010

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Sincerely yours

NothingToLose of AL 8:43AM February 16, 2010

IT TAKES NO GENIUS TO SEE THIS TRAITOR ACTING AS PRESIDENT HAS PUT UP ONE OF HIS FRIENDS (ANOTHER MUSLIM LIKE HIMSELF)TO DO THE SHOOTING AT FT. HOOD IN ORDER TO GAIN ABSOLUTE CONTROL OVER THE REMAINING AMERICAN MILITARY TO WARD OFF AN ATTEMPT OF ANY AMERICAN SOLDIER TO GAIN THE PRIVELEDGE OF REMOVING THIS CORRUPT TRAITOER FROM OFFICE WHEN HIS REAL PLAN BEGINS TO UNFOLD VERY SOON... ONLY THE MENTALLY DEFICIENT CAN'T PUT THIS TOGETHER.

WHAT FEW TROOPS WE HAVE LEFT IN OUR COUNTRY ARE MORE THAN OBAMA WANTS HERE, SO HE DEVISED ANOTHER TREACHEROUS PLAN (AND EXECUTED IT) TO SUBDUE THE REMAINING AMERICAN TROOPS FROM THE POSSIBILITY OF DEFENDING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHEN HE DECLARES MARTIAL LAW AND TAKES AMERICA PRISONER.

HOW STUPID ARE WE? THIS FT.HOOD EVENT ONLY HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONGRESS REFUSED TO LET HIM SEND THE MAJORITY OF THE REST OF AMERICAN TROOPS OUT OF OUR COUNTRY.

NOW OUR SOLDIERS AT HOME WILL BE GUARDED BY THE-GOV FROM EVEN HAVING A CHANCE TO SIDE WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHEN MARTIAL LAW IS INSTITUTED... WHICH IS FAR TO NEAR IN OUR FUTURE.

THIS ACTING PRESIDENT (TRAITOR ISLAMIC CROOK) AND ALL POLITICIANS WHO HAVE BACKED HIM MUST BE REMOVED NOT JUST FROM OFFICE, BUT FROM THIS COUNTRY FOREVER.

BEFORE THEY REMOVE OUR OWN COUNTRYMEN.

GUEST DUDE of LA 3:33AM November 06, 2009

Sam Dealey

Sam Dealey

Sam Dealey is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and Reader's Digest. He has written for many publications, including Time, GQ, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

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