Barack Hussein Obama

First, I use his middle name, as that name is a badge of pride and not one that should be shied away from.  It's a very common name in the middle east and a tribute to his distant heritage. 

 

Second, If you have not listened to Senetor Obama's speech from this morning, please take a half hour out of your day sometime and give it a listen.  Obama has come under fire recently for comments that his pastor, Jeremiah Wright has made in the distant past.  I have a few comments on this

 

1) The people who are condemning Obama for statements he has already said he does not agree with, are the same ones who called him a Muslim because of his middle name.  Ummm, Muslims don't have pastors... which is it?

 

2) I hope that the american people / voters have the common sense to judge someone by their own merits and comments rather than what their friends say.  I hope this on a very personal level... because I'm crazy.  I AM the guy who says inapropriate and crazy things.  I truly hope that this does not negatively impact the view that people in general have on those that call me friend. 

 

3) Pastor Wright said the following... "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme. "  Frankly, I don't think the Gods would disagree with this sentiment at all... but lets look at another well known christian preacher.  A man who said " Damn you rich!  You already have your compensation. Damn you who are well-fed!  You will know hunger. Damn you who laugh now!  You will weep and grieve. Damn you when everybody speaks well of you!"  There's some equal vehemence.  Any guesses who that is?  According to Luke 6:24-26, those are the words of Jesus of Nazareth.    So perhaps a preacher saying pointed and inflamatory things to make a point... isn't that "un-christ like" afterall. 

 

We are an imperfect nation made of men and women.   I think any one of us is silly for claiming that the Gods bless or damn any of us.  They will do as they please.  They always have.  But we try to behave in the manner that their teachings show us (the bible for rev Wright, the Haavamaal for myself), and we can and SHOULD speak up if we think things are of whack. 

 

If you feel that rev Wright is wrong for thinking that the Gods you believe in would condemn the way we treat our poor and those of the rest of the world... I'd like to know why you think that. 

 

I'm out of time... I may continue these thoughts in a future post.