Barack Obama--A Kind American Stranger

This is translated from the Original text. I will place link to original text.

ÅSGARDSTRAND (VG) Mary had just married and was ready to move to Norway, but she
was stopped at the airport because she didn't have enough money for the trip.
That's when Barack Obama came by and paid her fee.

Mary Menth Andersen was 31 years old at the time and had just married the Norwegian
Dag Andersen. She was looking forward to starting a new life in Åsgardstrand in
Vestfold with him. But first she had to get all her belongings to Norway.
The date was Nov 2 1998.

At the airport in Miami it was business as usual with long lines in the check-in
terminal. When it finally was her turn and she put her luggage on the conveyor belt
she got the message that would tear away her happiness from under her.

-You have to pay $103 in excess luggage fee if you want to bring both your suitcases to Norway, the man behind the counter told her.

Mary didn't have any money. Her husband had travelled to Norway ahead of her, and
Mary didn't have anyone she could call.

-I got filled with despair and tried to think what I could possibly remove from the
bags. But they were filled with all the stuff I loved the most.


Kind and friendly

Even though she explained her situation to the airline employee, he didn't show any sign of compassion.

-I started to cry, the tears poured down her face and she didn't know what to do.

Then I heard a mild and kind voice behind me say: "I'll pay her fee."

Mary turned around and there was a tall, dark man she had never seen before.

-He had a mild, friendly voice that was still firm. The first thing I thought was, who is this man?

This happened 20 years ago, but Mary can still remember the authority the man radiated.

-He was handsome and fashionable with brown leather shoes, an open cotton shirt and khakis, Mary tells us.

She was happy to get both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that she would pay him back. The man wrote down his name and address on a piece of paper and gave it to her. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally went towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her.

The piece of paper read, "Barack Obama" and his address in Kansas, which is the
state which his mother originates from. Mary kept it in her wallet for a number of
years before she threw it away.

She paid back the $103 to Obama the day after she arrived in Norway. At the time
Obama had just finished his job as a low-paid environmental worker in Chicago,
and was studying law at Harvard.

In spring 2006 Marys parents heard that Obama was considering running for president, but was still undecided. So they wrote him a letter where they told him they would have their vote. At the same time they thanked him for helping their daughter 18 years earlier.

In a letter to Marys parents dated May 4 2006 and stamped "United States Senate, Washington DC" Barack Obama wrote:

"I want to thank you for writing so nicely about me and for reminding me about the incident at the airport in Miami. I'm glad I was able to help that time, and I'm happy to hear that your daughter is doing well in Norway. Please send her my regards. Sincerely yours, Barack Obama, United States Senator."

The parents sent the letter to Mary.

Incredible

This week VG met her and her husband at the cafeteria she runs with her friend Lisbet Tollefsrud in Åsgardsstrand.

-It's amazing to think that the man who helped me 20 years ago now is likely to become the next president of the United States, Mary says ecstatically.

She has already voted for Obama. Recently she donated $100 to his campaign.

She often tells the story from the airport in Miami, when racial questions pop up and when the conversation is about the election.

-I really hope Americans have the common sense to understand that Obama means change, Mary says.

Obama «reddet» Mary - betalte reisen til Norge

Translated Link

[edit on 6-10-2008 by walkinghomer]

[edit on 6-10-2008 by walkinghomer]

[edit on 6-10-2008 by walkinghomer]

After Reading this story I was blown away at how kind Obama is. This is a man who truly in my mind loves this country and would make a great President.

He gave the daughter 103 dollars and that makes him a lover of America?


Sounds like the daughter, and the parents, are sheep.

Anyone confirm that the translation in this article is indeed true about Obama? I would love to find out if this is indeed true as it reflects on the type of person he is.

I wouldn't know it the story is true, but what we can work out for ourselves is, "Is Obama someone who we would expect to act in this way?"
And the answer from me and my family is yes, it would be no surprise to find that, even as a broke student, he'd spend what little he had to help someone like this. The man has a heart, and cares about ordinary people.

He's not like Phil Gramm, a failed pornographer who was John McCain's most senior Economic Advisor until June 18, this year, who said in response to a statement that a Social Security proposal would hurt people over 80, "Most people don't have the luxury of living to be 80 years old, so it's hard for me to feel sorry for them."

[edit on 7/10/08 by Kailassa]

Ok i have a question, in the story it says Nov 1998, but throughout the story it says that barack helped her 20 years ago....the time frame is off

Originally posted by DirtyHarry
Ok i have a question, in the story it says Nov 1998, but throughout the story it says that barack helped her 20 years ago....the time frame is off

That just proves that the story is sourced from a paper printed 10 years in the future.

Or that a republican did the maths.

Originally posted by walkinghomer
[-He was handsome and fashionable with brown leather shoes, an open cotton shirt and khakis, Mary tells us.

Definately wasn't Obama. He's an ugly sucker. Seriously ugly.
Talks a good talk and dresses snappy. But ugly as a mud hole.

Oh .. and the timing of the story is wrong.

I'm not buying it.
Sounds like a typical democraticunderground made up story.

Agreed. This is the opposite end of the spectrum from the "Obama ate my baby" chain emails.

Not buying it for a second.

reply to post by DirtyHarry
And now for a non-frivolous answer.

The original article, which the OP does reference, gives the correct date of 1988.
So the "20 years ago" quote is correct.

It is true that Obama had worked as a community organiser for the three years prior to this, and took his first trip to Europe in 1988 before commencing his law degree at Harvard.

Edited to add that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I think he's quite gorgeous, and his ears would give a girl something to hold on to.



[edit on 7/10/08 by Kailassa]

Originally posted by Kailassa
It is true that Obama had worked as a community organiser for the three years prior to this, and took his first trip to Europe in 1988 before commencing his law degree at Harvard.

Okay, just one question, my sense of logic is having trouble wrapping around this story - not that I am saying it's false!

but... Obama is living in New York as a community organizer, just got accepted to Harvard, yet he ends up in Miami International Airport (instead of a NY Airport) at the baggage check in counter no less, when all we know is that he traveled to Europe before starting at Harvard.

Why Miami? Anyone have any idea why he was visiting Miami at that time?

What I find surprising is that after 20 years Obama is still an American stranger.

As far as the story I chalk it up to a creative writer.

Originally posted by FlyersFan

Originally posted by walkinghomer
[-He was handsome and fashionable with brown leather shoes, an open cotton shirt and khakis, Mary tells us.

Definately wasn't Obama. He's an ugly sucker. Seriously ugly.
Talks a good talk and dresses snappy. But ugly as a mud hole.

Oh .. and the timing of the story is wrong.

I'm not buying it.
Sounds like a typical democraticunderground made up story.

First things first..

Are you Male/Female? If you are Male then we got some splaining to do.(Not that there's anything wrong with that)

Look at the Original Link. The date is correct. The mistake was in the translation.

I think the big question is, Is this online site reputable

Finally...Looks?..Obama is Ugly? Are you serious. I don't care if he is or not but is this something important to add.

If McCain or Palin did that you would be all over this thread talking about how kind they are.

Beautiful story!

The foreign source adds to the credibility - harder to fake for sure.

The only ify thing is the date, but still, it's not a hard story to believe.

Originally posted by redhatty
Why Miami? Anyone have any idea why he was visiting Miami at that time?

I am sure he was in Miami meeting with terrorist leaders or maybe getting someone in the black market to forge a birth certificate for him or something.

Ever heard of lay overs

reply to post by FlyersFan


Mary Menth Andersen var den gang 31 år gammel og hadde akkurat giftet seg med nordmannen Dag Andersen. Hun gledet seg til å starte et nytt liv i Åsgårdstrand i Vestfold sammen med ham. Men først måtte hun få alle eiendelene sine over til Norge. Dagen var 2. november 1988.

Whomever translated thi article got the word right but the year wrong. Above is the article from the Norwegian Newspaper VG and it shows 1988 which is twenty years ago.