who I am - who we are

I just read this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28216005/page/2/ - you should too!
It's about Obama defining himself as black. Honestly, this has irritated me a little. I understand what a big step this is for us as a nation to have a president that is not white, but I don't get why the black comomunity has grasped on to him so strongly. In my mind, how you define yourself has a lot to do not only with what is in your genes, but also with how you grew up - they both contribute. Obama was raised by a white single mother and his white grandparents in a wide variety of situations, but is that typical among the black community? can they really relate to him? I love that we have a bi-racial president who has half siblings spread across several continents and who was raised in a non-traditional family. I think he more accurately reflects who we are as a nation. Gone are the days of the traditional family and traditional upbringings (if they ever truly existed). And, I am glad we have a president who reflects that. But I just don't think it's fair, to anyone, much less the black community, to hold him up as the first black president. Lets say he's the first multiracial president. I think making a big issue of his race demeans the black community. Wouldn't it be better to have a black president who more accurately reflects the black community? ..... What do I know, I'm a white kid from the red half of a blue state. It does bring up interesting questions in my mind about identity and what role culture plays in that. I spent some time on the reservation recently. The leaders in that community are trying to strengthen the cultural identity of the youth - to give them a basis from which to build some pride in themselves and in their community. But.... so many of us have lost that. Is our cultural identity important anymore? What are we losing as we lose it? I don't know much of anything about being Irish, Scottish, Swedish, French, maybe German, Welsh, and whatever else is flowing through my veins... should I? much of my biological family have close connections to their Irish - Catholic roots. It seems it provides a basis for community, for identity, a reason to connect as people. ARe we losing our reasons to connect? That is important. That is how we see God - in our connections with others. God split us into nations at the tower of Babel so that we would fill the earth. Well, I think we've done pretty well in that aspect. Maybe it's time to re-unify. What does God say about cultural divisions? off the top of my head, it seems that he seeks to unify humanity through Christ. What does that mean for how we think about our heritage and culture? What do you think? about cultural identity and it's importance in who we are as individuals, as families, as a nation...