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Kutoka http://leishacamden.blogspot.com/2008/10/not-that-it-matters.htmlMary lacked money to fly home to Norway – he saved her love
ÅSGÅRDSTRAND (VG): Mary was a newlywed and ready to move to Norway, but was stopped at the airport because she didn’t have enough money for the trip. Then a stranger turned up and paid for her.
Mary Menth Andersen was 31 years old at the time and had just married Norwegian Dag Andersen. She was looking forward to starting a new life in Åsgårdstrand in Vestfold with him. But first she had to get all of her belongings across to Norway. The date was November 2nd, 1988.
At the airport in Miami things were hectic as usual, with long lines at the check-in counters. When it was finally Mary’s turn and she had placed her luggage on the baggage line, she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness.
-You’ll have to pay a 103 dollar surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway, the man behind the counter said.
Mary had no money. Her new husband had travelled ahead of her to Norway, and she had no one else to call.
-I was completely desperate and tried to think which of my things I could manage without. But I had already made such a careful selection of my most prized possessions, says Mary.
Although she explained the situation to the man behind the counter, he showed no signs of mercy.
-I started to cry, tears were pouring down my face and I had no idea what to do. Then I heard a gentle and friendly voice behind me saying, That’s OK, I’ll pay for her.
Mary turned around to see a tall man whom she had never seen before.
-He had a gentle and kind voice that was still firm and decisive. The first thing I thought was, Who is this man?
Although this happened 20 years ago, Mary still remembers the authority that radiated from the man.
-He was nicely dressed, fashionably dressed with brown leather shoes, a cotton shirt open at the throat and khaki pants, says Mary.
She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her.
The piece of paper said ‘Barack Obama’ and his address in Kansas, which is the state where his mother comes from. Mary carried the slip of paper around in her wallet for years, before it was thrown out.
-He was my knight in shining armor, says Mary, smiling.
She paid the 103 dollars back to Obama the day after she arrived in Norway. At that time he had just finished his job as a poorly paid community worker* in Chicago, and had started his law studies at prestigious Harvard university.
In the spring of 2006 Mary’s parents had heard that Obama was considering a run for president, but that he had still not decided. They chose to write a letter in which they told him that he would receive their votes. At the same time, they thanked Obama for helping their daughter 18 years earlier.
In a letter to Mary’s parents dated May 4th, 2006 and stamped ‘United States Senate, Washington DC’, Barack Obama writes**:
‘I want to thank you for the lovely things you wrote about me and for reminding me of what happened at Miami airport. I’m happy I could help back then, and I’m delighted to hear that your daughter is happy in Norway. Please send her my best wishes. Sincerely, Barack Obama, United States senator’.
The parents sent the letter on to Mary.
This week VG met her and her husband in the café that she runs with her friend Lisbeth Tollefsrud in Åsgårdstrand.
-It’s amazing to think that the man who helped me 20 years ago may now become the next US president, says Mary delightedly.
She has already voted for Obama. She recently donated 100 dollars to his campaign.
She often tells the story from Miami airport, both when race issues are raised and when the conversation turns to the presidential elections.
-I sincerely hope the Americans will see reason and understand that Obama means change, says Mary.
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Haya tena kumekucha. Kile kiyama cha nyani na miti yote kutereza.
From BBC News.
Palin guilty of abusing her power.
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is guilty of abuse of power, according to a probe by the state legislature.
Mrs Palin was accused of sacking a senior state official, Walter Monegan, in connection with a family feud.
She allegedly fired him for refusing to sack a state trooper who was in a bitter custody battle with her sister.
The verdict of the state legislature could have a significant effect on Republicans hopes of winning the US presidential election next month.
Mrs Palin, who is John McCain's running mate, denies any improper behaviour.
"I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110 (a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act," investigator Steve Branchflower concluded in the 263-page report.
But Alaskan state Senator Gary Stevens, a Republican, said there were "some problems" with the report.
"I would encourage people to be very cautious, to look at this with a jaundiced eye," said Senator Stevens, after it was announced the report would be released.
Injustice?
The investigation into the affair began before Mr McCain selected Mrs Palin as his running mate in August.
Critics say Mrs Palin used her power as governor to settle a personal feud.
Several Republican politicians attempted to have the investigation stopped on the grounds that it was politically motivated.
The Republican vice-presidential candidate says she fired Alaska's Public Safety Commissioner, Walter Monegan, in July over a budgetary dispute.
But Mr Monegan maintains he was dismissed for resisting pressure from Mrs Palin and her husband, Todd, to fire State Trooper Mike Wooten, Mrs Palin's former brother-in-law.
Todd Palin has admitted he did publicise what he called the "injustice of a violent trooper keeping his badge".
But he said his wife then told him to drop the matter. Mrs Palin has not given evidence to the inquiry.
Mr Monegan said he simply wanted the truth to be made known.
"The governor did want me to fire [Mr Wooten], and I chose to not," he told the Associated Press news agency.
"He didn't do anything under my watch to result in termination."
Speaking last month, Mr Wooten denied being a violent person or having threatened the Palin family during his divorce battle.
"I don't go around threatening people," he told The Associated Press.
"If that's the type of person I was, I think - at least I would hope - there would be a lot more in my file saying this guy is a threat to society."
'False story'
The McCain campaign on Thursday issued its own report, written by its staff, stating that the Alaska governor was not guilty of any wrongdoing.
Sarah Palin denies any wrongdoing over the affair
"The following document will prove Walt Monegan's dismissal was a result of his insubordination and budgetary clashes with Governor Palin and her administrators," campaign officials wrote. "Trooper Wooten is a separate issue."
The 21-page report suggests that the allegations against Mrs Palin stem from a conspiracy planned by a former campaign opponent of hers, Andrew Halcro, and Mr Wooten.
"It is tragic that a false story hatched by a blogger over drinks with Trooper Wooten led the legislature to allocate over $100,000 of public money to be spent in what has become a politically-driven investigation," it concludes.
In what the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington describes as a clear attempt to deflect any potential criticism, the McCain campaign says the inquiry has been muddied by innuendo, rumour and partisan politics.
Mdau,
London.
Itabidi ajitoe! Loh! Wiki hii anapampu watu kuwa Obama ni N-word kumbe yeye ndiye mhalifu! Lakini mzungu mwenye mtoto mwenye matatizo. watamsamehe.
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