"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent". ~Thomas Jefferson
I saw this viral e-mail from “Marlene” about Obama and wondered if I could find her facts so we would have substantiation of her story. The full e-mail is below with all spelling and grammatical errors included. I will take each segment and see what I can find and post a synopsis and then links for further information at the end of the article. If you have something to share or any additional links, feel free to post them in the comments.
The Occidental Education:
“Marlene” says, “Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California . He is very open about his two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. 'Barry' (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan.”
What I Found Regarding the Occidental Education:
Obama attended Occidental, a liberal arts college (Do you want fries with that?) in the Los Angeles area called Eagle Rock. He was there for two years (Fall of 1979 through Spring of 1981) on full scholarship. Additional information is available in the links at the end of the article.
Naming Rights. Someone having and using a familiar name and a more formal name does not bother me. I do the same thing. I use my full first name in my professional life – not working the pole or the corner, although I get teased about that a lot – and at home or around friends.
Roommates: A Seattle Times article shows his freshman roommates were Imad Husain, a Pakistani, who's now a Boston banker, and Paul Carpenter, now a Los Angeles lawyer. The following is quoted directly from the same article:
Obama had an international circle of friends - "a real eclectic sort of group," says Vinai Thummalapally, who himself came from Hyderabad, India.
As a freshman, he quickly became friends with Mohammed Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, two wealthy Pakistanis. There were others, Thummalapally recalls: a French student and both black and white Americans, including Jon K. Mitchell, who later played bass for country-swing band Asleep at the Wheel (Mitchell remembers that Obama wore puka shell necklaces all the time, though they were not in style, and that "we let it slide because he spent a lot of time growing up in Hawaii.")
I was able to locate some information on Muhammad Hasan Chandoo. He is now a self-employed financial consultant, living in Armonk in Westchester County, New York. According to The Times, he has donated the maximum, $2,300, to Obama’s primary campaign and an additional $309 for the general elections.
Wahid Hamid was a fellow student who was an immigrant from Pakistan and traveled with Obama there, the Obama campaign said. Hamid is now a vice president at PepsiCo in New York, and according to public records, has donated the maximum $2,300 to the Obama campaign and is listed as a campaign fundraiser. (Interestingly enough, PepsiCo is a company my father was involved with on the transportation side. Was he a secret Muslim?)
Travel to Pakistan:
“Marlene” says, “During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a 'round the world' trip. Stopping to see his mother in Indonesia, next Hyderabad in India, three weeks in Karachi , Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his father's family. My question - Where did he get the money for this trip? Nether I, nor any one of my children would have had money for a trip like this when they where in college. When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York . It is at this time he wants everyone to call him Barack - not Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia ? It's not cheap! to say the least. Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia , he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000. a year. Why Chicago ? Why not New York ? He was already living in New York.”
What I Found About the Trip:
The trip to Pakistan in 1981 is verifiable. From the Seattle Times article mentioned earlier:
“In 1981, Obama transferred from Occidental to Columbia. In between, he traveled to Pakistan - a trip that enhanced his foreign policy qualifications, he maintained in a private speech at a San Francisco fundraiser last month. Obama spent "about three weeks" in Pakistan, traveling with Hamid and staying in Karachi with Chandoo's family, said Bill Burton, Obama's press secretary.
"He was clearly shocked by the economic disparity he saw in Pakistan. He couldn't get over the sight of rural peasants bowing to the wealthy landowners they worked for as they passed," says Margot Mifflin, who makes a brief appearance in Obama's memoir.”
Then there is this from the Daily Times on Friday 11 April 2008:
“In 1981, Obama visited his mother and sister Maya in Indonesia and then travelled to Pakistan. According to Obama, he was in Karachi for about three weeks and then visited Hyderabad in India.”
As a former college student myself, I recall my parents paying for me to come home over the summer and for various holidays. Again, not the most unusual of circumstances to visit your mother and sister and then go see college buddies.
“Marlene” also mentions a trip to Africa to meet his father during this same 1981 time frame.
What I Found About the First Africa Trip:
“Marlene’s” information is inaccurate, the trip occurred when Obama was in his late twenties and from the information out there, it would have been 1988.
In his 1995 memoir, "Dreams From My Father," Obama recalled his first trip to Africa, when, in his late 20s, he cried as he sat between the graves of his father and grandfather. Obama hardly knew his father. His parents divorced early in their marriage.
Columbia University Tuition and After Columbia University:
The way the Obama campaign has answered the question was simply hard work and student loans.
Campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt says that the loans Senator Obama took out to pay for Harvard Law School “were repaid in full while he was a candidate for the U.S. Senate [in 2004], and under the rules, the modest outstanding balance he repaid was not reportable as a liability on his personal financial disclosure reports.”
“Marlene” tells us, After Columbia , he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000. a year. Why Chicago ? Why not New York ? He was already living in New York.”
What I Found About the Community Organizer:
Jerry Kellman, the man who hired Barack Obama as a community organizer, said earlier tonight:
In 1985, I needed to hire a community organizer. I found myself in New York City, across from a 25-year-old recent college graduate. I wanted to convince him to give up a comfortable life and a bright future to come to Chicago to take up the toughest of challenges for a salary of just $10,000 a year.
Also from Jerry Kellman (SOURCE 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee):
“It was not difficult to convince Barack to take the job. All I had to do was describe what had happened to people on the south side of Chicago. The region had once been the largest producer of steel in the entire world, but the mills had shut down one by one. Other industries began to close, then stores and offices. Without jobs, neighborhoods unraveled and kids became easy prey for gangs and drugs. Two weeks later, using $2,000 we gave him to buy a car, Barack arrived in Chicago. Many before had quit in frustration at the challenges of organizing. Not Barack. If something didn't work, he'd stay up all night long until he figured out what went wrong and how to fix it. With his help, people who had been shut out of decisions and robbed of dignity all their lives found their voice and found one another.”
"Marlene" and Tony:
“Marlene” shares, “By 'chance' he met Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria , and a real estate developer in Chicago . Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery this year. Rezko, was named 'Entrepreneur of the Decade' by the Arab-American Business and Professional Association'. About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School . Do you have any idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School ? Where did he get the money for Law School ? More student loans? After Law school, he went back to Chicago. Rezko offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis , Miner, Barnhill & Ga lland. Guess what? They represented 'Rezar' which Rezko's firm. Rezko was one of Obama' s first major financial contributors when he ran for office in Chicago . In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with 'seed money' for his U.S. Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwoood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than asking price). With ALL thoseStudent Loans - Where did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price. The London Times reported that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three weeks before Obama's new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many timeswith Rezko.”
Here’s What I Found About Antoin “Tony” Rezko:
From The Chicago Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama expressed regret late Friday for his 2005 land purchase from now-indicted political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko in a deal that enlarged the senator's yard.
"I consider this a mistake on my part and I regret it," Obama told the Chicago Sun-Times in an exclusive and revealing question-and-answer exchange about the transaction.
Verifying Valerie Jarrett:
“Marlene” says, “NOW we have Obama running for President. Valerie Jarrett, was Michele Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz , Iran ! Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy?”
What I Found About Valerie Jarrett:
Here’s a tip, “Marlene” don’t ask rhetorical questions when the answer may not be favorable. You may be going crazy, but I'll let prople reading this make their own call on that.
Valerie Jarrett was born in Iran, to American parents who were working there. Wikipedia tells us: "Valerie Bowman was born on November 14, 1956 in Shiraz, Iran, where her father, Dr. James Bowman, ran a hospital for poor children. Her father, a pathologist and geneticist, is Professor Emeritus in Pathology and Medicine, University of Chicago" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Jarrett. I don't see the relevance of this.
As an aside, do you recall that John McCain was born in Panama to parents working there?
“Marlene” the Hamas and Robert Malley:
“On May 10, 2008 The Times reported, Robert Malley advisor to Obama was 'sacked' after the press found out he was having regular contacts with 'Hamas', which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers reported that during Obama's visit to Iraq , he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will 'Take care of things'.”
What I Found About Robert Malley:
From The Times
One of Barack Obama’s Middle East policy advisers disclosed yesterday that he had held meetings with the militant Palestinian group Hamas – prompting the likely Democratic nominee to sever all links with him.
Robert Malley told The Times that he had been in regular contact with Hamas, which controls Gaza and is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation. Such talks, he stressed, were related to his work for a conflict resolution think-tank and had no connection with his position on Mr Obama’s Middle East advisory council.
“I’ve never hidden the fact that in my job with the International Crisis Group I meet all kinds of people,” he added.
“Marlene” Warns Us:
“Marlene” shares at the end of the e-mail, “A phrase that keeps ringing in my ear - 'Beware of the enemy from within'!!!”
What I Found On the Quote:
“Marlene” I think you are trying to quote from Marcus Tullius Cicero. Here is the full quote for future use:
“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague.” ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero
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This is the email, left as is for your viewing pleasure:
Subject: Fwd: Where is the money from?
Food for thought. To All My Friends, this is long, but every important, please take the time to read it.
This election has me very worried. So many things to consider. About a year ago I would have voted for Obama. I have changed my mind three times since than. I watch all the news channels, jumping from one to another. I must say this drives my husband crazy. But, I feel if you view MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News, you might get some middle ground to work with. About six months ago, I started thinking 'where did the money come from for Obama'. I have four daughters who went to College, and we were middle class, and money was tight. We (including my girls) worked hard and there were lots of student loans. I started looking into Obama's life.
Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California . He is very open about his two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. 'Barry' (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan
During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a 'round the world' trip. Stopping to see his mother in Indonesia , next Hyderabad in India, three weeks in Karachi , Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his father's family. My question - Where did he get the money for this trip? Nether I, nor any one of my children would have had money for a trip like this when they where incollege. When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York . It is at this time he wants everyone to call him Barack - not Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia ? It's not cheap! to say the least. Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia , he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000. a year. Why Chicago ? Why not New York ? He was already living in New York.
By 'chance' he met Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria , and a real estatedeveloper in Chicago . Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery this year. Rezko, was named 'Entrepreneur of the Decade' by the Arab-American Business and Professional Association'. About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School . Do you have any idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School ? Where did he get themoney for Law School ? More student loans? After Law school, he went back to Chicago. Rezko offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis , Miner, Barnhill & Ga lland. Guess what? They represented 'Rezar' which Rezko's firm. Rezko was one of Obama' s first major financial contributors when he ran for office in Chicago . In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with 'seed money' for his U.S. Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwoood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than asking price). With ALL thoseStudent Loans - Where did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price. The London Times reported that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three weeks before Obama's new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many timeswith Rezko.
NOW we have Obama running for President. Valerie Jarrett, was Michele Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz , Iran ! Do we see apattern here? Or am I going crazy?
On May 10, 2008 The Times reported, Robert Malley advisor to Obama was 'sacked' after the press found out he was having regular contacts with 'Hamas', which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers reported that during Obama's visit to Iraq , he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will 'Take care of things'.
Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that where born in Pakistan ? They are in charge of all those 'small' Internet campaign contribution for Obama. Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could it be from the Middle East ?
And the final bit of news. On September 7, 2008, The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was made on 'This Week' with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking about his religion said, 'My Muslim faith'. When questioned, 'he make amistake'. Some mistake!
All of the above information I got on line. If you would like to check it - Wikipedia, encyclopedia, Barack Obama; Tony Rezko; Valerie Jarrett: Daily Times - Obamavisited Pakistan in 1981; The Washington Times - September 7, 2008; The Times May 10, 2008.
Now the BIG question - If I found out all this information on my own, Why haven't all of our 'intelligent' members of the press been reporting this?
A phrase that keeps ringing in my ear - 'Beware of the enemy from within'!!!
Marlene
###############
For More Information:
http://www.oxy.edu/x7992.xml Occidental College’s web site regarding Obama.
http://www.oxy.edu/Documents/PDFs/ForMedia/Obama_Oxy_Mag_1.pdf Occidental Magazine featuring Obama (PDF format)
http://www.oxy.edu/Documents/PDFs/ForMedia/Obama_Oxy_Mag_2.pdf Occidental Magazine featuring Obama (PDF format)
http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/29/local/me-oxy29 Occidental recall Barry Obama.
Additional Recent Articles About Obama and Occidental College:
Boston Globe, Aug. 25, 2008U.S. News, Aug. 22, 2008Times of India, Aug. 19, 2008Chicago Sun-Times, Aug. 18, 2008Daily Times, Aug. 16, 2008Bloomberg, June 7, 2008USA Today, June 3, 2008
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/18/181128/082 High School Yearbook.
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Story?id=3082803&page=1 Barry O’Bomber
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004417706_apyoungobama2ndldwritethru.html Old Friends Recall Obama’s Years in LA, NY
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C04%5C11%5Cstory_11-4-2008_pg7_32 Trip to Pakistan 1981
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/070323obama-early-photogallery,0,5458360.photogallery?index=chi-barackafrica20080603140550 Photos of Obama’s First Trip to Africa
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/17/ap/politics/mainD8JICSE00.shtml Obama to Africa
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4160123#4161628 More information on the viral e-mail.
http://snopes.com/politics/obama/donations.asp Where Obama’s donations are coming from.
http://www.newsmax.com/timmerman/obama_harvard_/2008/09/23/133199.html Obama’s Harvard Years
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/08/obamas_community_organizer_sal.asp Community Organizer Salary
http://www.forbes.com/prnewswire/feeds/prnewswire/2008/08/25/prnewswire200808252142PR_NEWS_USPR_____DC31523.html Jerry Kellman and Barack Obama
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/08/obama-mistake-on-being-muslim-seized-by-rivals/
http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Bowman_James_2416335.aspx Dr. James Bowman profile
http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=200&category=MedicalMakers&occupation=Pathology%20and%20Genetics%20Expert&name=Dr.%20James%20Bowman Profile of Dr. James E. Bowman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Rezko Tony Rezko on Wikipedia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-rezko-storygallery,0,1028378.storygallery Tony Rezko
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/124171,CST-NWS-obama05.article Obama Expresses Regret on Rezko (2005)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3897414.ece Obama fires Robert Malley.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm International Crisis Group
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1317&l=1 Robert Malley profile
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero Cicero Quote and information
http://drivingsocrates.com/wp-content/nightmare_01.jpg Image at start of blog Sphere: Related Content
Posts
3 comments:
This was my reply to the person who sent it to me:
This email is, by all indications, written by someone who didn't ever really
consider voting for Obama. It borders on slander and tells only the details
that fit its narrow view of Obama as some sort of Muslim terrorist trying to
infiltrate the presidency of the United States. I'm quite sure none of you
can trace it back to the "dear friend" who penned it. It very cleverly
gives the impression that it is written by someone who is impartial, but has
some genuine concerns about Obama. So here is my somewhat biased rebuttal.
And I have embedded some links, so you can actually click on them. Because
obviously saying, "Check it out yourself" doesn't mean that anyone will. Of
course if you Google "Obama Pakistan" you get all the links to the
ultra-conservative blogs that spread rumors without citing the sources for
their information, or only print the information that suits their purposes.
I'll start with Robert Malley, the adviser "sacked" by Obama for having
contacts with Hamas. Yes, please do check wikipedia. Try the link to
Robert Malley, and please read the whole thing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Malley
As for Obama's roommates at Occidental, they were Imad Husain, currently a
Boston banker, and Paul Carpenter, a Los Angeles lawyer. He was friends
with the wealthy Pakistanis erroneously reported to be his roommates,
Chandoo and Hamid. Hamid is currently a senior VP at Pepsico and was
recently appointed to their Board of Directors. Chandoo is a financial
consultant in New York. They have raised a lot of money for Obama through
their circle of friends. Are we to infer that their friends are all Muslim
terrorists? If they are such dangerous individuals, why are they in this
country. Is Pepsi supporting terrorism?
Obama traveled to Indonesia to visit his mother in 1981, while she was
working for the Ford Foundation helping poor women get microloans. Perhaps
his mother sent him a plane ticket. She wasn't supporting a family and
sending four daughters to college like "Marlene". I spent a month in
Europe, staying with friends, while I was unemployed. The US dollar used to
go far. He then went to Pakistan and stayed with Chandoo's family. Many
conservative blogs have stated that there were travel restrictions to
Pakistan at the time and that Obama must have gone there for a jihad. There
are absolutely no citations for this information. In fact, if you click on
the following link
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/report/crs/crs94041.htm
you can get a basic rundown on the history of US relations with Pakistan.
In 1981, Pakistan was an ally of the US because of the Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan. We agreed to a six-year, $3.2 billion package of economic and
military aid to Pakistan. Oh, and he visited India. There are lots of
Hindus in India. Maybe he is secretly Hindu and wants to give telephone
customer service jobs to all his friends.
Obama did not say he used drugs while at Occidental. He attributed that
"moral failing" to his high school years. As for Columbia University, I'm
guessing there is a pretty good chance that he got financial aid and
scholarships. Yes, affirmative action at work. If that's the case, their
reckoning that he deserved a chance was right on, because he ended up
graduating magna cum laude from Harvard law and was president of the Harvard
Law Review. But of course we are supposed to somehow think it's bad to
aspire to an ivy league degree because it somehow makes you less authentic.
The Syrian born Rezko was raised in a prominent Catholic family. Being
Arab-American is not the same as being Muslim. He was indicted along with
Stuart Levine. Hmm, what kind of last name is Levine? Rezko raised money
for just about every politician, Republican and Democrat, in Illinois over
the last 20+ years. Chicago is a pay-to-play kind of town, and Obama may
have used his influence on Rezko's behalf. Who knows? Obama was working
for neighborhood revitalization and Rezko was building developments on the
South Side of Chicago. As for the law firm where Obama worked, they
specialized not just in civil rights litigation, but also neighborhood
economic development. Obama's 2005 house purchase came after the
publication and success of his book Dreams from my Father. He was also a
Constitutional Law professor at the University of Chicago from 1992-2004 and
his wife was a lawyer. I would imagine they had a decent income at that
time. The purchase price of the house, while below asking price, was the
highest bid the sellers received. As for the Rezkos paying full price for
their neighboring lot, there was another full price offer with which they
had to compete. As for the $3.5 million loan from Nadhmi Auchi, Rezko had
entered into several real-estate partnerships with him. It was this loan
that landed him in jail, because he told the court he had no access to money
from overseas. It's fair to question whether Obama used his influence to
help fill Rezko's coffers, but if the fact that Rezko was born in Syria
somehow taints Obama, then that taint should be spread to every politician
Rezko ever supported.
And the final smear is against Valerie Jarrett (nee Bowman), apparently for
the sin of being born in Iran, while her father, an American pathologist,
geneticist and now professor at the prestigious University of Chicago, was
running a hospital for poor children.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Jarrett
I don't know how to even respond to the claims that Iraqi newspapers
reported Obama told them to let things go until after he is elected. I
mean, really, where is this coming from. Cite the link to the newspaper, so
I can have it translated, please.
I'm really shocked that so much of this gets forwarded around. Do people
really believe that Obama is some sort of Muslim operative? Really? We
seem to be doing a fine job of bringing down our country on more fronts than
just the economy.
both the email and the rebuttal posts are all biased. there is a fraction of truth to each story. Obama may very well be a Muslim and the country could be making a big mistake
Here's what I think. If in fact Obama is a Muslim terrorist, then we have a bigger problem than him being a terrorist. How about if so, then we somehow have allowed a terrorist to infiltrate the US Senate. Something far more dangerous to the US because the Senate dictates US policy. So if this is the case, McCain shouldn't be the answer as he's part of the Republican's which would have been responsible for preventing this from happening, as it was their watch.
Fact is people are very ignorant and will try and spread anything about anyone in hopes to hold onto there own falsehoods.
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