Inauguration Slip?
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
January 20, 2009 12:53pm CST
I watched the inauguration along with millions of other TV viewers and thought it was extremely well planned and Obama was flawless in all aspects of the historical occasion. However I do not see why in the first few words of prayer, led by Rick Warren, he had to say that Obama is the son of an immigrant. He is NOT because his father Obama, Sr. was never an immigrant to the USA. He came to the US on a student visa.
Why did Warren have to say something that was not correct? I think it was enough of an unforgettable event to be the first African/American president without adding "son of an immigrant". Surely this prayer would have been reviewed by Obama's staff before being given?
Even Obama changed an ad during his campaign removing the word immigrant
Obama radio, updated, and without 'immigrant' father
The Obama campaign sends over a corrected script to its new Spanish-language radio ad, which doesn't label is father an "immigrant," as the original script did.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0708/Obama_radio_updated_and_without_immigrant_father.html
I was an immigrant when I first came to the States and I know the huge difference between a student visa and immigrant visa. Why was this slip allowed.?
Definition of Non-Immigrant Visa:
Non-immigrant visas are issued to the citizens of other countries coming to the United States temporarily. To be precise, aliens traveling to the United States for a temporary intention are categorized under U.S. law as non-immigrants (or temporary visitors). The law requires that these people provide confirmation that they don’t plan to immigrate to the United States.A non-immigrant visa permits an alien to travel to the U.S. port-of-entry (e.g. airport) and request consent of the Department of Homeland Security immigration inspector to enter the United States.
A nonimmigrant visa holder’s stay in USA must be for a limited period of time and restricted to the activity or reason for which his or her visa was issued. As these visas are temporary, the applicants must show:The financial resource of support while in the United States
Intent to return to the home country.
There are several non-immigrant visa categories available. The type of visa required is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your journey. For example, there are special visas for vocational students, religious workers, musicians, athletes, performers, and many more.
http://www.immspec.com/non-immigrant-visas.htm
5 people like this
12 responses
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
20 Jan 09
That was very perceptive and observant of you! I hadn't actually took notice to that but now that I've read your post, you're absolutely right, he DID say Obama was the son of an immigrant. Thank you for posting some information which I wasn't really aware of.
It is interesting that Warren would have said that. I wonder if the prayer had been pre-approved and that part somehow overlooked or if he'd changed it at the last minute. If there are others who were as observant as you were maybe we'll find out!
Annie
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I am proud of both of you. I was not criticising Obama but the people who are supposed to check everything before it is attributed to the president. I agree with your comment angierkitty there is no need for embellishment
1 person likes this
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Very intresting that you were able to spot that. I had no idea but I do remember it being said. I feel if it was not true than it should have been corrected I feel. I was happy that I was able to see it I watched most of it and it is a part of history now. Even though it just happend two hours ago. I feel what you are trying to say here and hope you reach others through this discussion as well. Happy mylotting to you and have a great day, whiteheather39 
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
20 Jan 09
I feel that far too much is being made of these labels - 'black', 'immigrant' ... whatever.
Obama is Barack Obama, an American Citizen who has every right to run for and be elected as a representative of his county, state or country. His skin colour is unusual and his family tree is not (as far as I know) connected with slavery (which does actually make him a rather different kind of 'black' American than many others).
America is made up of many races from many countries. The only people who can really claim to be true, pure blood Americans are those you may find (if you are lucky) hounded and cornered into tiny enclaves that are now called 'Reserves' and who, in California, at least, are given the 'poor brother' right to run casinos on their meagre allotments.
Obama is NOT 'black' ... he is an American citizen who has proved his worth and whose ancestry is Kenyan and European (I totally despise this 'Caucasian' labelling - since when did all white-skinned people come from the Caucasus? A very outdated assumption, I dare to say!)
Forget the 'blackness' for heaven's sake ... it is just not applicable! Forget the 'son of an immigrant' business, too ... MOST Americans are 'sons [or daughters] of immigrants' (and many are, perforce, sons or daughters of visitors who never intended or thought to settle in America).
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
20 Jan 09
I meant to add ... Be proud of your citizenship and honor that of others whose right it is to be citizens. Ancestry is also to be honoured and respected, too. If I were an American and had Italian, English, Irish, Scottish, Swedish, German, Chinese, Kenyan, Dutch, Native American or whatever ancestry, I would be proud that all of those mingled to become one nation, regardless of race color or creed.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
20 Jan 09
You have no idea just what it takes to become an immigrant to the USA compared to the ease of getting student visa. It was an unnecessary and untrue addition to Obama's background.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
21 Jan 09
Actually, I do, whiteheather. I have many reasons for wanting to come to live in the States (and did some research) but, as a British citizen, I know that unless I have been accepted to study there or have a job or can otherwise can prove that I shall not be a burden on the Federal purse, there is no way that I can be more than a guest for 90 days out of any year.
Up until 20 or 30 years ago, I believe, it was possible to arrive in the States without a penny in your pocket and, provided you had the skills that somebody wanted, to get a job and eventually become a citizen. That may still be possible now but I believe that it's a whole lot harder than it was. There are ways of flying under the radar, of course, and there are plenty who are doing that, which is one reason why it has become much harder in the last few years.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
21 Jan 09
mistakes happen, people make them, people are only human, I am sure he was told about it afterward. There are been many mistakes me in public speeches and they will continue as long as their are humans delivering them.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
21 Jan 09
On such historic occasions speeches and IMO this includes prayers are written and checked for any mistakes before being broadcast. This was obviously not checked properly. It was too much of a statement to be considered a slip of the tongue.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
22 Jan 09
every published speech is supposed to be checked over, all the time, the presidents have so on have writers,
but there have been many errors,
Kennedy when going to Germany wanted to say I am a berlinger he said I am a doughnut,
I had a list of all the mistakes made over time but I don't have it anymore, so I can't remember the other mistakes, in major speeches
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
21 Jan 09
[/b]You said "in order to settle there"!!!! Did you read the whole topic? You are so wrong it certainly does matter what type of visa...for a student visa [b]The law requires that these people provide confirmation that they DON'T plan to immigrate to the United States.
If you ever decide to immigrate to the States you had better know what kind of visa you need!!!
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Just in case you think I am lying here is the OFFICAL link:
http://www.immspec.com/non-immigrant-visas.htm
@dorothyDauphinee (534)
• United States
20 Jan 09
why be so picky on this historic day why not just let it go that someone screwed up i am thrilled today that we were able to observe history being made and ask that we give the man at least a chance we have tollerated much the last eight years aND I FOR ONE INTEND TO GIVE CHANGE A CHANCE!
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
20 Jan 09
dorothyDauphinee I am most certainly giving Obama a chance. However I think the people who surround him and check everything before it is approved as gospel(?)coming from a reverent should be much more picky. What does it say for the decisions Obama is faced with in the future if he cannot trust his advisers to be picky before he makes a serious mistake or allows outright lights to be attached to his name!
@dorothyDauphinee (534)
• United States
20 Jan 09
alas i usually agree with you but on this we part ways my friend as a life long democrat we both have our opinions so my friend i must agree to disagree love you anyway DOT
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I can certainly see how you would have caught that one, Whiteheather but I have to admit it would have gone right past me. I guess you would expect something like this to be letter perfect. But people get nervous and make mistakes. If I ever had to stand in front of that many people, I'd just consider myself lucky to remember my own name. I don't know how any of them do it. I sometimes wonder if there is some secret tranquilizer that's even better than valium that only very famous people can use for very public occassions.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I do not think Rick Warren can use the excuse that he was nervous. He makes his living being a well known preacher used to speaking in front of large crowds.
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I caught that as well and recognized it as being incorrect. Too many people - including those involved in the ceremony have gotten caught up in the "first African-American President" hype and are blowing it out of proportion.
@tjades (3590)
• Jamaica
21 Jan 09
I as not listening keenly at that point but I do remember vaguely some such reference being made about the president elect and I passingly ondered if that was really necessary.
While the joy and pride of the black race can be understood I do believe that age and experience saturated with wisdom need to take charge so that this achievement is not marred by runaay emotins.
Many genuine tears of joy and wonder will continue to flow for some time to come but they should also serve as tears of advancement rather than a medium used to get us stuck in history.
