There are truckloads of legitimate reasons as to why we should inquire and debate legitimate issues that can affect us individually or collectively. These legitimate issues are often clouded under the cloak of sound bites, demagoguery, half-truths and the ramblings of the delusional paranoia that base their information on the blathering blogospheres.

A good example of real issues taking a back seat was the ad nauseam letter (Aug. 30, Paul Westrum) regarding President Barack Obama’s birthplace. This well-debunked myth just cannot be put to rest by the delusional birthers. One should really ignore these sorts of baseless ramblings. But the left side of my brain is getting the better of me.

According to the before-mentioned letter there were four questions regarding the validity of the president’s birth certificate.

1. The writer wanted to know why the birth certificate states, “He is African American when the term wasn’t even used at that time.”

The birth certificate is out there for all to see, and it’s only reference to race is the description of the president’s parents. His mother is listed as Caucasian and his father as African. No where on the real copy does it state African-American.

2. The writer wants to know why the birth certificate, which was issued in 1961, states that President Obama’s father’s birthplace is listed as Kenya, East Africa, when it did not exist until 1963.

While it is true that Kenya did not become a sovereign nation until 1963, it was referenced as Kenya for many years prior to its independence. Just search National Geographic historical maps from the ’40s and ’50s and they will show the area as Kenya.

3. The writer also wants to know why in 1961 the place of birth was listed as “Kapiolani Maternity and Gynecological” when according to the writer that name was not used until 1978 when the two merged.

The name was changed in 1978 but to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. This is easily verified by looking at the hospital’s website and tabbing to the history of said institution. There are also historical court records to which the hospital was involved. An example would be Kapiolani Maternity and Gynecological Hospital v. Wodehouse, which was dated 1936, just Google it.

4. The writer wants to know, “Why hasn’t this been discussed in the major media?”

The very fact that most people are aware of this birther movement will attest to the coverage it has received. Continued coverage belongs to the shoot-from-the-hip delusional blogospheres.

Shall we move onto issues that have real impact on our lives?

 

Jeff Hutchins

Minneapolis