What about Mom?

I can understand why he has asked his mother-in-law into the mansion. Here assistance with the children will be needed, and their need for family, living far from home, will be so needed too. But I wonder, is she the first mother-in-law in the white house? Are we going to begin hearing all the mother-in-law jokes? Regarding racial barriers, isn't Obama half white? Maybe whites need to be bragging that the new president is HALF WHITE!

Hey Joanne, I hope as you do that President Obama can make a difference in breaking down the racial barriers. It worries me a litlle to hear people talk mostly about him as the first African American President, as if that is all that matters. I hope that he is much more than that. Just like all of us, he is made up of many Nationalities. I hope the party will be over real soon so he can get to the business that desperately needs tending to. I don't care what color his skin is, I just want him to take control and fix the mess this Country is in. I know that is asking a lot but it still needs fixing. xoxoxo leenie

Very good discussion indeed. This is a civilised world, we can call ourselves civilised only if we are above the barriers of caste and religion. Humanity is above all religions, and we are all human beings first and then English or Indian or American. Internet has made the woeld so small, people know each other much better from across the globe. Did it ever happened before?We used to imagine how the people must be on the other side of the globe, but now it seems we are all alike in our basic nature, whatever part of the world a person be.

I am African American and it makes my skin crawl everytime I hear the first Black President of the USA. Why can't he just be acknowledged as the 44th President, since that is what he is. I am surprised I did not see anything or hear anything about his sister being at the inauguration, did you? I know there must be more to his mother's side of the family besides her and the grandmother. I would really be interested in hearing about them.

I don't see why it's necessary for the media to keep harping on about the 'black' aspect. President Obama is a man - we are all human beings - if we had no eyes we wouldn't be aware of anyone's colour or race, and it would cease to matter.

You aare so right, I am happy to see my family mixing up, I have black grandson and oriental nephew and am so happy to welcome them into the all white family.

You left out the years he spent in Indonesia as a child and his half Indonesian sister, but I agree with you. As I wrote in another discussion yesterday, wouldn't it be wonderful (if a little incongruous) if an African American could take the mess made by the greed of descendants of slave owners and clean it up, even if he isn't descended from slaves?

I think the racial barrier has already been broken down, it just wasn't really out in the open. I see things now that wasn't going on when I was a young lady back in the 70's and 80's. I have seen friendship between black and white children that is not accepted by the parents. Maybe now we can all get together and finish breaking this barrier and just become as one nation. Now all are not willing to accept this and that is life.