Mrs. Kerry, the wife of Presidential Candidate Senator Kerry was born in South Africa. She has since becam an American citizen. If, again God forbid, Senator Kerry is elected president, she would then become the First African-American to serve as U.S. First Lady. That of course would leave only one more first, First African-American President of the U.S.

Perhaps we should organize support for President Bush to keep that FIRST open for the First Black African-American US First Lady.

Be Blessed

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2004

Answers

Now Now Rev. Paris Mother might say you're being a naughty boy. Let the candidates fight this one and leave the ladies (and I do mean ladies) out. Both have appeared to be both gracious and kind in the U.S. News I receive here in Bermuda.

It is most enjoyable polictical bantering but I have a question for you on this one. I was under the opinion that Black Americans decided to use the change to terminology to African American for thier color and culture. Did anyone consider that the use of Black being phased out would again rise if white Africans began to emerge and rise in America? This would suggest that Ernie Els has been accepted into the Black (or African American) Community. Please help me to understand this as I conceed I probably have it wrong. I certainly do not wish to offend or upset anyone but the question does give food for thought

-- Anonymous, May 23, 2004

Parson Paris -

Point of correction. The wife of Senator John Kerry, Teresa Heinz Kerry, was born in Mozambique not South Africa. The widow of former Pennsylvania US Senator John Heinz (who died in a plane crash in the early 90s) is fluent in five languages and the heir to the Heinz fortune, which explains why her married name remains a part of her full name. So, it looks like even if her current husband unseats GW Bush as occupant of the OVal Office she would not qualify as the "first African-American First Lady". It's interesting that you cite golfer Ernie Els because nealry 10 years ago when the ethnic classification was being debated I offered an identical anomaly. This is precisely why I prefer either black American or Cameroonian- American to describe my classification. Both are purged of the racial ambiguity like African-American. QED

-- Anonymous, May 23, 2004

As you might discern I am not a fan of the term {African-American) when it is applied to Black folk born citizens of the United States. First and foremost I am an American; my color is black; I have no problem when I am considered a black American when referencing the major racial group I identify with. I believe that hypenated identifications such as (African-American, English-American, Spanish- American, Mexican-American) is devisive and serve no useful purpose. Colonel Fred Cherry, a Viet-Nam POW was tortured unmercifully by the North Vietnamese. They thought that since he was a black American, they could break him down by using the facts of racial discrimination that existed then and still do inb the United States. I am proud to say that they were not able to break him down. They went so far as to give him a white southern-born cellmate who became Col Cherry's primary care-gtiver, dressing and caring for his wounds inflicted by the torture. They are still fast friends appearing together at numerous events, etc.

The point is that the enemies of the United States has never been able to make a black American betray his nation in spite of the discrimanation experienced in the U>S. That is something all of us, African-American, Black, Colored, Negro, folk can take pride in the way our men/women in uniform conducted themselves. I noted that Bill Cosby list himself as American too.

I am proud to be an American.

-- Anonymous, May 23, 2004

My mistake, or should I say "My Bad", but she was norn in Africa and there is more African-American than I because I am an American, whose great-grandfather was from Africa but we don't know where. Thanks for makjing my point; you said it better than I could.

-- Anonymous, May 23, 2004

I am glad you two agree.

-- Anonymous, May 24, 2004

Paris- you will need to give me far more reason to support a man who has this country at war with a regime that this country put in place than because his opponent's wife was born on the continent of Africa.

While I appreciate my tax cuts because I now fit into that tax bracket, I don't appreciate reckless unrequested commentary regarding Affirmative Action at UofM, "sending" men and women to war while you vacate, appointing an individual of questionable legislative decisions to the highest court, or driving past hungry, homeless, innocent citizens on your way to a political fundraiser, not once promoting ways to uplift those same individuals you have driven by.

Support Bush so that the first African American first lady is not caucasion. Give me a break.

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2004

Just trying to help!!!!!

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2004