On Madelyn Dunham.
In a presidential campaign, we the voters can have a false sense of
intimacy with people that we don't know. We fight for them, we
volunteer for them, we advocate their causes. But we don't know them.
That said, many of us, myself included, know the pain of losing a
grandparent. I know the sadness of knowing a grandmother did not live
to see your life unfold. At the precipice of the moment which could
change Barack Obama's life forever, at which he can attain heights that
you and I could only dream about, we have never had more in common with
him than today.I send my prayers to Mrs. Dunham on her ascent, and my sincere condolences to her family left behind.
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When I read this, I felt that moment of disorientation that occurs when one hears of a death, however expected, that is still a blow. The experience of that suspended tic of time, when sound is instantly muted and the heart strains to regain equilibrium.
You are right, of course, that we only feel that we know this family when, in fact, we do not. But what a sorrow for Mrs. Dunham to not "live to see the day." And what a sorrow for the inner child in Obama not to have a single formative parent with whom to share his triumph.
And the Republicans carped about Obama's flight to Hawaii last week to see his grandmother.
November 3, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sci, what a pict and post. Thanks. I echo your wishes.
November 3, 2008 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rest in eternal peace!
Thank you for raising just the person whom this country needs at this place in our history. Thank you for instilling in him a deep sense humanity and intelligent action.
Rest in eternal peace!
November 3, 2008 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aloha always Toots! You raised yourself a couple of great ones, including the next President of the United States!
November 3, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was thinking of this song a couple weeks back when he went to visit her. Alicia Keys sings the great Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free" from right after 9/11...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6dGuqniF_8
Thoughts and prayers to Obama's family...
November 3, 2008 10:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nicely said. We can only hope she knew he was SO close to getting elected she was able to let go. It helps to think that anyway.
Just as a side point, when mentioning "a false sense of intimacy with people that we don't know", you need to say "people who we don't know" (or the simpler "people we don't know"), because they are people, not things. I think the distinction matters, even if hardly anyone pays attention to language anymore.
November 3, 2008 10:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a heartfelt and beautiful tribute, scientific.
I feel a kinship to her through Barack. I feel she will be looking after him and after all of us, looking down on the country. Honestly, I can't believe it's a pure accident she died just now. She waited to vote. She waited for her grandson to campaign. And she'll be like a shining star hovering over him as people go to the polls and the vote rolls in. I'm sad in a way. But there's a happiness that she lived a good life and can "look after him" still - in a different way.
November 3, 2008 10:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
We were working in our Atlanta GOTV office when this news hit us. I must say I was already quite emotional as we all are on what is about to happen and this just hit me like a ton of bricks.
Every time I think of it I tear up a bit.
We were out on the corner with signs rallying people to vote as they went home and I talked to a number of commuters and told them of "Toot"'s death and the anguish was palpable for us all.
We are all blessed for the grandson she left us and thank God Barack got to go see her one last time.
I went to see "Daddy Ben", my Dad's father a few weeks before he died in 1971 by flying to TX without my parent's knowledge ( at 17) as they told me I could not go as he was too sick.
I know he got a great laugh and lift from my disobedience and visit 2 weeks before he died. My Dad was "mad" but told me later he was proud of me for my decision.
God bless the Obama family and to Toot for her gift to us all.
November 3, 2008 10:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
The tragic irony of this day must be overwhelming for Sen. Obama.
Thanks, Scientific, for voicing what needs to be said.
Let's show Obama our condolences by sending him our thoughts, prayers and every vote we can muster out to the polls tomorrow.
November 3, 2008 10:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lovely thoughts Sci. It's heartbreaking to know she didn't live to see November 5th. But I'm sure she couldn't be more proud of the man she helped raise regardless of what happens tomorrow. Thoughts are with the Obama at this time of great hope and sorrow.
November 3, 2008 10:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
A tribute to Madelyn Dunham:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzlucQqiECk&feature=related
Before anyone gets all squirrelly about the fact that Jolson sang this in blackface (and I hope no one does; I searched for awhile to find a version that didn't have that), let me just say this:
It was written in 1922, the year she was born.
It has her name in it.
It has an upbeat, catchy tune... and we could all use a spirit lift right now.
I'm so sorry she didn't get to go one more day, but I believe she already was convinced of what so many of us hope for. After all, she knew him far longer than any of US have.
November 4, 2008 12:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know, after Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech, I kept hearing conservatives feigning outrage over him supposedly "throwing his grandmother under a bus."
I have to say, of all the BS that's been spewed, that angered me the most. Anyone who read "Dreams From My Father" knows exactly how much Obama loves and reveres his grandmother. He didn't throw her under a bus, he held her up as an example of how fine, decent people are fallible, and how love can be a bridge over fear.
Mrs. Dunham, in your daughter and grandson, you raised a pair of fine Americans. The love you showed your family is a few hours away from changing the course of an entire nation's history for the better. Thank you.
November 4, 2008 4:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Amen.
November 4, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well done, per your usual, Scientific.
November 4, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink