Birtherism (A Pernicious Mania) - by TPO

BIRTHERISM (A Pernicious Mania)
by TPO (Henock Gugsa)
For quite sometime now, America has been besieged on and off by a relentless, insidious, and evil preoccupation known as "birtherism." In case you have not been aware, there has been an incessant demand on Barack Obama to prove that he was actually born in the United States. This has been going on ever since he came to national political prominence when he decided to run for the presidency back in 2008. That he is a bi-racial individual with an exotic, muslim (and foreign-sounding) name was and is still, to many, a bothersome situation to say the least. Like many, I was one of those that hoped and believed this mania would wear out of its own accord and become ancient history. Alas, that is not to be the case. We have to confront this and similar issues for yet another six years at least.

Recently, I was saddened and hurt when a "friend" on FaceBook posted (copied from somewhere and pasted) the following trashy commentary... quote ...

"Let's be clear on this: OBAMA did NOT kill Bin Laden. An American soldier, who Obama just a few weeks ago was debating on whether or not to PAY, did. Obama just happened to be the one in office when our soldiers finally found Osama Bin Laden and took him out. This is NOT an Obama victory, but an AMERICAN victory!! RE-POST IF YOU AGREE!!!" End of quote.

But I could not just ignore this and not respond. My "friend" obviously agrees with this balderdash, but I must set my friend straight on his/her wrongness. The following was my response ... quote ...

"This must be a "birther" issue, right ? ... Obama is not an American; therefore this is not his victory?!
One last comment: Has anybody considered that if this mission had been a failure, the original 'Let's be clear on this: ...' writer would also be the first person to blame Obama for the failure, and it wouldn't be an American failure." End of quote.

To wrap up, I would like to leave you with a link to a wonderful analysis of this issue by James Carroll. He has posted an incisive commentary in The Boston Globe on May 2, 2011. It is titled: Birthers’ shameful racist roots.

"Jimmy and the Shrink" - by Anonymous

"Jimmy and the Shrink"
by Anonymous
One day, Jimmy went to see a psychiatrist.

"Doc," he said, "I've got trouble. Every time I get into bed, I think there's somebody under it. I'm going crazy!"

"Just put yourself in my hands for one year," said the shrink. "Come to my office three times a week, and I'll cure your fears."

"How much do you charge?"

"A hundred dollars per visit."

"I'll sleep on it," said Jimmy.

Six months later the doctor ran into Jimmy on the street.

"You never ever showed up to get your treatment for your problems. What happened?" asked the psychiatrist.

"For a hundred bucks a visit? A bartender cured me for $10."

"Is that so! How?"

"He told me to cut the legs off the bed! Ain't nobody under there now!!!"