01 March 2007

Relationships--Let's Get it RIGHT

CBS news discusses the Sharpton-Thurmond connection in a recent article on their site.

CBS news states, in part:

"The Rev. Al Sharpton said he wants a DNA test to determine whether he is related to former segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond through his great-grandfather, a slave owned by an ancestor of the late senator."

Let's get it right, Julia Thurmond Sharpton was a granddaughter of Strom Thurmond's great-great-grandfather. She and Strom Thurmond are first cousins twice removed.

If the national media can't get this straight, how can we ever expect them to explain really complex issues to us? Heaven knows fixing health care, social security, etc. are more complicated than how Strom Thurmond is related to Julia Sharpton.

It is a good thing I'm not famous. I have cousins to whom I am related three and four ways. Heaven knows CBS couldn't understand that ;-)