Islam an unknown factor in Obama bid

[BeyondGeography]

Baltimore Sun article on Obama's childhood years in Indonesia. The passages on Obama and Islam are fairly interesting but here's what I liked best:

<Obama was taller and better dressed than most kids in classes where shoes and socks were still luxuries, so he stood out from the start. As an African-American, and the only foreigner, he suffered racial taunts and teasing but never turned to violence.

<In Dreams From My Father, Obama describes coming home one day with an egg-sized lump on the side of his head because he had challenged an older boy. The boy hit Obama with a rock, so his stepfather brought out two pairs of boxing gloves and sparred with him. "You want to keep moving, but always stay low - don't give them a target," he coached Obama.

<Instead of using his fists, Obama gained respect - and friends - by using his imposing stature to protect weaker children against the strong, Dharmawan said.

<Obama's Indonesian teachers all said he was a leader at a young age. Fermina Katarina Sinaga, Obama's third-grade teacher, didn't have to quiet her pupils before class because Obama did it for her.

<"When the kids lined up before entering the class, he would step forward and lead the whole class," said Sinaga, 57. "He inspected the line, and he was acting like a teacher. I could see his sense of leadership back then.">

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.obama16mar16,0,6597508.story?page=2&coll=bal-nationworld-headlines

[ellacott]

1. I like those passages also. n/t