Interesting.
Senator Obama is presented as a “new face” for America that better reflects the world’s diversity. We are told that the various *streets* will feel better about us and cease their angry demonstrations.
This story about his half brother reveals that Obama is in violation of, and is probably unaware of the prime directive in the third world: take care of your family first!
Much of the corruption that so dismays Americans in many of these countries is actually a manifestation of good manners and breeding. When one member of the family achieves success, it is expected that he extend his influence to assist his siblings and cousins. This nepotism is the mark of a conscientious son, not a venal moral failing. (His time spent in Indonesia should have made him aware of this.)
That Obama doesn’t know this, that he hasn’t thought to make provision for his half brother is the first tangible sign of just what a foreign policy disaster an Obama presidency would be. He presents his African face to the third world, says “I am one of you!” and the demonstrates the stereotypical American selfishness by neglecting his family. This story will do much to reinforce bad feelings about America and Americans.
The muslim identity issue runs parallel. We ecumenical Americans are intrinsically pluralistic, the overwhelming majority of us sincerely believe that faith is an question of individual conscience. We have not dealt with the great possiblity that despite his membership at Rev. Wright’s church, there is, as of yet, an unknown percentage of muslims that consider his birth to a muslim father to obligate him to be a muslim. The important thing is not how Obama views himself, but how his is viewed by those communities. At some point it could become a very serious issue in the muslim world that the US is ruled by an apostate.

So, two points of intersection, collision, between individualistic American ideas and communal attitudes of the third world.