Over the course of the last week I have felt the intense rush of serendipity. Conservatives from all walks of my life have inundated me with their opinions of Barack Obama. His rise to the probable nomination for the Democratic party have left conservatives scratching their heads. They simply don't understand why his message is resonating with so many people. In fact, they don't understand his message at all. The question is why. Why? Why is it so difficult to understand what hope actually means?Coming from the party that allegedly follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, it is even more perplexing.What is uncanny and terribly ironic about what the right is saying about Obama is that it sounds eerily familiar to what the "non believers" said about Christ during his time on earth. Let's take a look at some recent quotes.
"I think Obama is a charlatan and I think his follows are brain dead zealots who either lack the education, intelligence or insight to see through his empty rhetoric. I think his followers are a cultish lot with some type of messiah complex and hope that he will fulfill whatever needs they're missing in their lives. Empty, sad, shells of people looking for someone else to make them whole. And when it's President Obama, the veil will be pulled back and the awakening will be very rude." (just Dave from comments)
"Barack Obama, ladies and gentlemen, is a blank canvas upon which anybody can project their fantasies, or their desires." (Rush Limbaugh)
"Barack Obama shares the same ideology as Hitler and Stalin: socialism" (Dennis from comments on The Smallest Minority)
Dave's comments are actually accurate...if you are describing certain conservatives who laughingly call themselves "Christians." Sadly, what Dave and others fail to see that what is really happening is that people are sick and tired of criminals running and ruining our country. They are energized because they think they can make a difference again and make out country strong and respected again, as opposed to weak and reviled. They see Barack Obama as a shining example of FINALLY having a leader with whom we can be proud.
Michelle Obama said last week that she can "be proud of her country again." Right wingers went nuts. How dare she say America, in the recent past, is something that we shouldn't be proud of!!Well, she's right. Deal with it. Stop trying to blame the media, our education system, or any of your other usual suspects that you point to when you hilariously shift the blame for the ills that befall our country. You sound like children, pointing to the guy next to you saying, "He did it! It's his fault."
I don't know about the rest of you, dear readers, but I can't be proud of a country that bemoans political prisoners in Cuba and yet has hundreds of its own. I can't be proud of a country that claims to stand for human rights and yet has people in it that think that water boarding is not torture AND want to fight for the right to water board (!). I can't be proud of a country that has millions of people who claim to be pro life and yet condone the murder of thousands of Iraqi children calling it "self defense."Fellow blogger Kevin Baker asked me this question on his blog the other day: how will Obama heal our souls? The question reminded of another question that was asked in comments last week: how will Obama get able bodied men to work who are lazy and don't want to? The answer to both questions is the same.
Barack Obama is not the messiah. He will not heal our souls. What he can do is lead us to the beginning of the path and the rest of it is up to us. In effect, each one of us is a messiah to ourselves. Believe me when I tell you, we really NEED to start down that path or it's over for our country.
Each of us has that Christ power that inside of us. Every one of us has the capacity for love, hope, and peace. Everyone of us has the power to take these three fundamental traits and put them into action, not just in our communities but in our country at large. We can do this by picking an issue in our communities, getting involved and making it better. I think the reason why most conservatives don't grasp this concept is that they don't understand the difference between intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. They can't understand people who are motivated to do the things purely for the joy of doing them. Most conservatives believe the only way to motivate people is through money...and fear. It really doesn't have to be that way.When you break out of that system, you gain power.
Believe me when I tell you that people like Dick Cheney, Grover Norquist, and James Dobson don't want us to get in touch with that power. They view Christ as a means to an end to control people. They believe in structure and steel enforced granite rules with a select few people in control. The reason why you see conservatives so upset right now and making comments like the ones above is that they are afraid of losing that control.
People are starting to realize how much power they have. Obama is telling them that they can break out of it. Many, many people are believing him and, thus, believing in themselves. And that's why people are worried about him getting shot. Not because of Steyn's death messiah fantasy talked about in comments. It's because people that understand these things know what has happened before...with JFK, Dr. King, Bobby Kennedy....these leaders who would have made things better for more people were killed because they represented a threat to those who want power for few and hate, misery, and fear for the rest of us.When you lose these three things, you lose control. It is starting to slip away and that's why we are starting to hear people say things like the above mentioned quotes.
I have to admit that I felt a lot of anger when I read some of these comments. I mean...seriously!....They take a message of restoring simple human dignity to Americans and becoming better ambassadors to the world then twist into a cynical distortion that would make Goebbels proud. Scary, huh? It's almost as if they have a filter in their brain that transforms all words said by anyone that doesn't think exactly the way they do into the foolishness we see above.
After a day or two...well....now I just feel pity, really. I think it is tremendously sad that there is such a large group of people in this country who see villains around every corner.....who constantly give into fear and fall into backwards thinking (e.g. Barack Obama is a communist)....who are so insecure with the word change that they demonize that which could be helpful....who are so trapped inside of an ideology that they will never realize their true potential as human beings.
All of this begs the question...do conservatives understand the language of hope and healing?
18 comments:
I have come to the conclusion that conservatives will never understand anything. They have a very set view of the world and anything that operates outside of that view is labeled wrong.
Nice post, though, markadelphia. I doubt anyone on the right will listen, though.
Conservatives generally see "villains" around every corner, markadelphia. Their complete misinterpretation of Barack Obama is evidence of this.
markadelphia, on the other blog you referenced in this post you asked correspondents the following question; let's see if you have the "sack" (your term) to leave this response on your site:
how is obama not like hitler/stalin/mao?
well, rob mentioned a few surface differences, tongue in cheek, but then went on to make his point that in politics and purpose, he is their incarnate...
but he is not...
those individuals were firebrands of their own conjure...their evil, and genius, and flaws, and failures were singular because they were the godheads of their own movements...but not obama...
obama is simply the (current) figurehead, not the godhead, of a minority movement whose goals and motives we can only debate and ponder...these very relative few who suffuse modern American media, entertainment, and "intellectuals" have found their new goldenboy, one gifted with an amazing charisma, oratory, presence, and mesmerizing cultability...and bonus, he's black! what a perfect vehicle!
and what serendipity that these traits and abilities come on the scene at the right place, at the right time, and with the right "competition"...and he's a clean slate! there is no baggage, there is no record, there are no skeletons, because he is new, and fresh, and young, and so wonderfully malleable!
it is no wonder that the old figurehead, the former darling of this godhead movement, finds his/her self cast upon the heap like yesterday's pat'e...inconvenient reminders of prior, disgraced efforts to inflict its shadowy will and unknown purpose on what's left of free will and the free world...you can see the shock and hurt in the face(s) of bill/hill, hear it in their voices, as they realize the money, the power, and the adoration that was theirs, has been taken away like spoiled bourgeoisie royalty whose reign has been deposed by the real power behind the throne, their aristocratic patrons.
the further glaring way that this movement is unlike those despots of the past is that they must find a way to herd and dazzle the simple majority into overcoming the inconvenient formality of popular election...and obama is "the way"
even mainstream media, albeit inadvertently, has recognized the mindless, entranced nature of the throngs that trek by the tens of thousands to obama's "revivals", terming them pilgrimages, and that they are, in every sense of the word...they are promised salvation, and healing, and free riches, in exchange for just their faith (vote).
and they will give it, and the figurehead will succeed, and the movement will have its chance, once again, to inflict its purposes and control on the world...
but they will fail, once again, because though they will control the majority for now, their godhead is small, and inherently evil, and cowardly...
and there is this...the opposition may be the minority, and temporarily disjointed, and without real leadership, but we outnumber the godhead of their majority, and we see through their transparent figurehead, and into the dark soul of who and what they are...
we are Americans, we are free, and we will relinquish that freedom when they, God forbid, pry our cold, dead fist from its embrace.
and so i have taken up your convoluted challenge, markadelphia, and you are right!
for obama, thy name is not hitler, nor lenin, nor mao...obama, thy name is shill!
godhead, come out from the shadows, let us see you, and hear you...and by the Grace of God, your true purpose will be exposed, and it will be defeated...again.
jtc
JTC, are you familiar with the term "superordinate goal?"
My children were hungry, so I gave them a plate of hope. They looked at me, all confused. They just don’t understand.
So, I was caucusing this past month and I was pleased to see the party platform all laid out for me. I did request a couple of additions, though. Right after item 5c) bestowing “hate, misery & fear” on the less fortunate, I asked for a pox on redheaded stepchildren. Sadly, somebody had already beaten me to the punch, adding ‘decimate the earth’ and ‘smite the elderly’. …I hate going last.
Well, sarcasm will get you everywhere, Dave. Let's hope you can actually see what your party has been up to these last few years and how it is so unbelievably anti-American it sickens me.
Mark, good piece but again, the foul language distracts me from your point, which is spot on as usual.
Markadelphia, you can stop starting sentences with "Most conservatives believe". From what I have read on here, conservatives have said that money is merely one of the motivators that should not be removed if you are looking for progress. And if others don't continue down the path that obama starts them on you'll be right there with big government to take it all better won't you? Your latest entry sounds like just more rhetoric. I care about actions, not words.
this is such a beautiful post, i am going to frame it, then propagate it far and wide. Wisdom and truth speak for themselves and you have spoken both.
It doesn't matter who comes to power (the blue or the red team, Gladiator 1 or Gladiator 2) AS LONG AS they are TRUTHful, empowering of the people, truly DEMOCRATIC and truly love their country and bring the best out of it.
I believe Obama IS and CAN BE those things and more and seems to be the best qualified person from every angle.
If you start a leadership campaign based on truth, democracy (giving power back to the people and nation and rules of law applicable to all) and understanding (not demonising or fear-mongering whether at home or abroad, but basing your analysis on CORRECT not politicised information and solutions that will actually solve problems and heal this nation and the world) then things can only dramatically improve on the current completely dysfunctional & depressing (in foreign policy terms) US situation.
Proud to be your fellow citizen Mark, you are a credit to your nation. Along with so many others who may not be famous or Obama supporters. Let's hope that Obama does not turn into corrupt Establishment Politician who sells his soul for the pinnacle of power and lives up to the promise of the man and leader this country needs.
JT (not anonymous, but the logon system has changed..)
I don't think he will, JT. Certainly some conservatives will try to paint him that way but his actions will speak louder than anything their pathetic voices can muster.
I look forward to the debates between Obama and McCain. Both are honorable men and want the best for their country. Sure, pundits may try to steer it clear of the issues but I think both of these candidates will keep focused on the issues.
Great read today, Mark. Just got around to it. I do think you let conservatives get to you too much. You should just realize that they have no interest in making themselves better people nor in broadening their minds. Their single interest centers around maintaining their vastly outdated belief system and stabbing at anyone who challenges it.
They don't know what to do with Obama so they attack him in ultra psychotic ways. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what they say, right?
Hmmm...not just psychotic, but 'ultra' psychotic. Golly...
This conservative, for what it's worth, welcomes a win by Mr. Obama. Normally I might feel somewhat dirty after typing such a sentence, but in this case I have my reasons. Long story short, I see two primary benefits:
1) Too much of a good thing is bad, and for too long businesses in this country have lived the good life with respect to the US being an economic superpower. A return to liberal domination in the executive and legislative branches, while undoubtedly painful at the microeconomic level for many, should force many companies to adjust their perspective to focus on service/quality. We'll get killed in the international markets, but that's happening already, so there's only so much more damage that can be done. The upside will hopefully be that fewer people will be living their lives boiling over with rage, and I have to think that's a good thing.
2) An attack on the wealthy means that more money will be in the hands of those who are too stupid to hold onto it, offering an attractive opportunity for more of it to end up in my hands.
I would, however, issue the following challenge to those on this blog who are going on record with the predictable and tedious conservative bashing. I challenge you to now go on record with what scorecard you are going to use for Mr. Obama should he be elected President. You cannot measure "hope" or "good will", except perhaps via grossly subjective polls, so I want to know from you when, if ever, you might ever conclude that Mr. Obama is failing as President.
Long-timers on this blog know that despite my political allegiance I didn't vote for GWB in '04. Common sense clearly indicated that in no circumstance would GWB actually be able to accomplish anything in his second term, no matter how valid or viable his ideas might be, therefore a vote for him was a vote for nothingness. At the time I laid out that "accomplish" meant things like implementing tax reform, education improvement, health of economic indicators, and so on. As predicted, he has failed to accomplish almost anything of significance in the past four years.
So Markadelphia, et al....let's hear it. How and by when will we know that Mr. Obama (presumably with a continuing majority in the Senate and House) is proving to be the leader that we [conservatives] are told he will be?
NOTE: It goes without saying that Mr. Obama winning the White House will be accompanied by four years of the predictable and tedious blame game with respect to whose fault whatever the problem-du-jour truly is. Here's your chance to prove yourself more than just another liberal sycophant by holding up an objective measuring stick to your boy. (No, Markadelphia, not that boy....I meant Mr. Obama.) Are you as open-minded and visionary as you profess to be?
A good question indeed, PL... …and I’d certainly love to hear their criteria. However, one must ask the question. If this is the same group that finds nothing unusual about comparing our current administration to not only the worst the world has to offer today (Mark’s preference to the Castro regime), but the worst the world has ‘ever’ offered (ridiculous references to Nazi Germany), can one expect a rational judgment when critiquing their messiah?
Dave, didn't your side recently compare Obama and other liberals to Hitler (re: Jonah Goldberg)?
As to the rest of your comment, check out the new thread I started today.
No, no, no. I (and Mr. Goldberg)was merely pointing out that liberals love to use the 'nazi stick' on conservatives, but that, as I've always said, nazism was a form of socilism, and thus, is on the left side of the spectrum along w/ it's friend, communism. ...and I'm speaking in generalities such as policy decisions, anti-religion, etc, not the "Bush/Obama is a murderer" mantra that eminates from the left. Big difference. As much as I dislike the left, it is ridiculous to make such comparisons. ..which is why I've always said that language is dead to the left because if one is so stupid as to compare Bush (or Obama) to Hitler, then what words are left to describe a real monster when one comes along?
(sorry...written in haste, no spell checker today)
So, Dave, why do you think liberals put the Nazi stick on conservatives?
Ignorance.
More focused, though, what is it exactly that conservatives do or seem to do that would make liberals think they are like Nazis?
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