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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2278969/posts?page=95#95

I had posted the text of the Kiri Tith letter to an FR thread a long time ago...here it is:

‘Remembering my friend Barak Obama

‘I met Barak, for the first time in the courses in economics that we took together at the University of Hawaii, in the early 1960’s. It was not difficult to spot Barak, as he was a rare African student on the Campus at the University of Hawaii, in Manoa Valley, Honolulu.

‘His easy-going manner, especially his infectious smile, and his proud bearing struck me the most. He was always very inquisitive and active in class discussions and after classes as well.

‘Although he was not an East-West Center grantee, he was always with us, especially at a Guest House owned and operated by the Asia foundation, situated on the top of road leading to Manoa valley. Atherton House was a place where most East-West Center grantees gathered for a drink or a chat.

‘Barak and I were a part of a small group of foreign students who participated in group discussions in various places (Churches, sinagogues, junior colleges) around the campus and in town. Those discussions centered on the role and impact of former Soviet Union and China had in the developing countries. Barak, was more hopeful than I was about the role and the influence of these two major Communist countries in the developing nations in the world, because I had the opportunity to study in Europe, and in France, especially, I was more aware of the nature of communism than Barak was.

‘In these debates, Barak was always very eloquent, and enthusiastic. We often were not on the same side, when discussing Communism in the developing countries. In our disagreement, Barak was always very gracious and fair. He was a very good listener which helped a great deal in making those discussions more constructive and pleasant

‘Finally, by chance when I was a staff member of the IMF, one day, a colleague of mine who led an IMF mission to Kenya in the early 1980’s, told me that he had met a government official named Barak Obama who said he was a classmate of mine in Hawaii. I knew it was the same Barak who was my classmate at the University of Hawaii. Needless to say that I was very happy to finally be able to be in contact again with Barak, after more than ten year of silence. My IMF colleague had given me Barak’s telephone number and I immediately called him in Nairobi. We had a long conversation and we were able to talk to each other a few more times until one day, when I called him and his secretary told me over the phone that he had passed away of an accident. I was shocked and sad to hear the bad news. That was the time I had talked to Barak, in the early 1980’s.

‘Barak was indeed a very special human being, with a lot of dignity and character. He was a very engaging, gracious, warm, and smart person. That is how I remember my friend Barak Obama.’

Washington DC. January 2006

Naranhkiri Tith Ph.D.

http://cambodiana.org/MainreasonsofmysupportofObama.aspx