KAILUA, Hawaii — Even at the end of his long journey to win the White House, one question about Barack Obama came up again and again: How did he appear to stay even-tempered and levelheaded while traveling such a grueling road?At least part of the answer can be found here on the island of Oahu.
As Mr. Obama walks along the beaches while on vacation, returning to the place of his birth and his adolescence, he is relaxing after the most trying year of his life and recharging for the responsibilities that await. In both cases, friends say, he is doing it with an unexcitable steadiness that is a product of his Hawaiian upbringing.
The mood of Mr. Obama, to many observers here in Hawaii, embodies the Aloha Spirit, a peaceful state of mind and a friendly attitude of acceptance of a variety of ideas and cultures. More than simply a laid-back vibe, many Hawaiians believe in a divine and spiritual power that provides a sustaining life energy.
“When Obama gets on television, the national pulse goes down about 10 points,” said Representative Neil Abercrombie, Democrat of Hawaii, who was close friends with Mr. Obama’s parents. “He has this incredibly calming effect. There’s no question in my mind it comes from Hawaii.”
I imagine none of this is good for the pulse rate of Ed Lasky, who was asking way back in March 2007:
Are we ... to be concerned that Congressman Neil Abercrombie - who has one of the worst anti-Israel records and refused to support Israel efforts to defend itself from Hezbollah, was close friends with Barack's father and has been a lifelong friend and supporter of Barack's? People are often judged by the company they keep and the quarters from which they receive support....
Not so much, Ed, as it turns out. Not as much as we would have hoped.
Oh, and dear readers, be sure to follow that link in Ed's question. It will take you to Neil Abercrombie, D-Hezbollah at Front Page Magazine 2006 ... which brings us almost directly back to today at BtB. Funny how that works.
*According to Wikipedia, Aloha has a meaning similar to Namaste, Peace, Salaam, and... Shalom. Only not really, as shalom "can refer to either peace between two entities ... or to the well-being, welfare or safety of an individual or a group of individuals."
Only in Jewish thought can such (potentially) mutually-exclusive meanings be embraced as paradox.
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