Obamanation
DISCLOSURES…
1. Well, techno-spaced Yours Truly wiped out my original page, from June 2008, but the comments are still here.
2. I won’t mind if you read Marc Ash’s “Are we ready for change?” before my letter to it’s author. Use the”Truthout” link From here, go to the big Obama tag to see my letter.
3. This page’s title was stolen from someone who is more optimistic about how we and Barack Obama may evolve than I am. Her thoughtful “epharmony” can be reached from my Blogroll on the right.
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Tierras Keridas Reborn 
9 responses to “Obamanation”
Barry Kissin
July 14th, 2008 at 20:09
The point is a very good one that in these dire times Obama is called upon to LEAD rather than to pander for the sake of getting elected. I also agree that the strategy of triangulation is not only unprincipled, but quite possibly defeating of the purpose of getting elected. (The failure to lead in favor of “triangulating” accounts for the terrible defeats of Gore and Kerry in my opinion.)
But I disagree that all of this backsliding on the part of Obama is attributable to misguided electoral strategy. On the contrary, all of this backsliding is truly sliding into who this candidate really is — the standard bearer of a political party ultimately beholden to big business and the wealthy. Our democracy is illusory. The best interests of the whole are entirely ignored. The system in which Presidential candidates pander is the same system that brainwashes the masses into supporting their own suffering and control by the elite.
Just today, July 14, the New York Times published an op-ed by Obama in which he pledges to put an additional 10,000 troops into Afghanistan, so as to more effectively fight the war against terror. There is absolutely no excuse for such drivel. The war against terror is bogus. It is essentially a criminal and tragic (as well as transparent) pretext for imperialism and the enrichment of the military-industrial complex.
Mike Dalgleish
July 14th, 2008 at 20:27
What type of “transformational change” are we talking about? More burdensome taxes? More bloated social programs (funded by the burdensome taxes)? More kowtowing to the UN? The unlikely possibility of productive diplomacy with nut-job Islamic leaders like Achhmadinijadd (or however you spell it)? Universal health care along the lines of the failing Canadian or British model?
Obama is just another flip-floppin’ puppet groomed by handlers who would like nothing more than to water this country down into a European style socialism.
So, David, how’s your summer shaping up?….
Mike Dalgleish
July 14th, 2008 at 20:46
Barry, so the war against terror is bogus? If only one percent of all those practicing Islam are crazed fanatics along the lines of most of those held in Guantanamo, that would amount to roughly 20 some million. These roaches are just beginning to come of their little holes. They are coming out precisely because of our non-responsiveness to their attacks of the last 30 plus years. Remember the Cole, World Trade Center, Iranian Embassy, Spain train bombing……and oh yea, the twin towers. The list is longer, however, I have to make dinner for the kids and I’m drawing blanks at the moment. Whatever mistakes we’ve make in Iraq (and there are many, like MOST wars throughout history), that’s where the front is. If we retreat from Iraq, the radical Islamic element will be emboldened to increase their efforts. Read any one of the dozens of researched books on the history of Islam and you will see that these maniacs want nothing more than world domination (and to see all women and girls in your family wearing burkas).
davichon
July 14th, 2008 at 21:25
Mike: I don’t know what “research” you’ve been reading, but I suspect it’s consistent with what you already believe. That’s how most of us, myself included, at times become caricatures of what’s actually in our souls. For example, although I’m not a Christian, I’d be happier if both of us were at least a smidgen better at loving our enemies.
As for history of religion, I like Karen Armstrong — who was a nun (in her 20s) before become a writer and scholar. Yes, I do like her conclusions, but she also challenges me. Actually, what I love about her is how while being so calm and thoughtful, she implicitly challenges most everybody.
Mike Dalgleish
July 15th, 2008 at 19:13
David, Yea, loving ones enemies can be trying. As for the individuals practicing Islam, I have no beef. When they use Islam as an justification to strap a bomb on themselves to blow up infidels, well…
I’ve read a couple books on Islam (Ergun Caner–ex-Muslim; Joel Richardson), heard a bunch of radio interviews and read some of the Koran, and heard some audio of Muslim preaching.
Most Muslims are peacable, hard-working folks trying to raise their families. Cool. I love freedom of religion. There is no way of getting around the fact, however, that, most of the conflict in the world at this point is coming from Muslim countries. All the suicide bombings around the world are, I think, entirely Islam initiated. The simple reality is that there are, throughout our lovely blue planet, frightening numbers of not-so-peacable Muslims who want to cut off your head (mine too), because we don;t serve Allah. It’s not that they hate Western civilization. It’s not that they dissaprove of our countries affinities for self-pleasure, it’s because their Book tells them to. Those who REALLY follow the Koran and the other sacred writings of Islam do, in fact, believe that everyone who does not acknowledge Allah needs to be either subjugated or eliminated.
Question: If Islam is the “religion of peace,” how come there is not a worldwice outcry against its more radical elements from the moderate folks? If a Christian (not Mcvey), blew up a bunch of people, the outcry would be loud and instantaneous.
I’ve never heard of Karen Armstong. I’ll Google her.
davichon
July 15th, 2008 at 20:26
One obvious thing about “There is no way of getting around the fact, however, that, most of the conflict in the world at this point is coming from Muslim countries.” is that it is not a fact. In fact, all you need for prejudice is the ability to make or accept any generalization like that, assigning blame to “all” or “most” people of a certain religion, culture or whatever.
If you can’t turn the other cheek, at least turn some pages that don’t confirm such prejudices. For example, someone who wanted to know something about anti-American feelings (and violence) could do worse than starting with Stephen Kinzer’s All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror. Kinzer starts with the first major CIA overthrow of a foreign government after World War II (It was Iran in 1951, a fact that is not in question) and then goes back to ancient history so we can get a grip on both nationalism and religion in this one extremely old and important land. Israelis and Palestinians (to take a more recent example) have completely different stories of their conflict for merely the past 70 years. And they brutalize each other every freakin’ day, with their stories as justification.
To understand our violent world, you don’t have to accept every intepretation in Kinzer’s book.You just have to do some homework and stop asking phoney questions like “if Islam is the religion of peace….” It’s not, any more than Christianity is “the religion of love”. Both are major (and closely related!) world religions that have not only good and bad among the faithful, but have been used to justify all sorts of killing and persecution throughout history. And of course good Christians and good Muslims say the same thing about those major-league crimes: Those weren’t the “real” Christians (or Muslims).
You can see (if smoke isn’t already pouring from your ears) where I’m going. The struggles between good and evil in the world don’t all line up behind Capt. America or any one religion. The people who say they do are the people who –when they get power or are told to – kill like crazy… in the name of God and Country.
Most people not only do not “love their enemy,” they barely try communicate with the people they seriously disagree with, who of course are all wackos, extremists and bad guys. Some of us try, but it’s sort of like “love thy enemy”: hard work without which we all go to hell in a handbasket. That’s what I believe—and I don’t call it religion.
Mike Dalgleish
July 16th, 2008 at 14:37
David,Google: Current world conflicts, I’ll wait……..see, the majority of world conflicts involve Islam.Yes, both Islam and Christianity are major religions, but just below the transluscent surface of their similarities, they are as night and day.Yes, many ignorant, prejudiced, and misguided acts have been purpetrated by men in the name of Christ. If parts of the Bible are taken out of context, they can be used to justify just about any insanity. The core teachings of the Bible, however, involve a sacrificial love which would bless, pray for, feed, hydrate, clothe and house an enemy. The example of this is Christ Himself. He died for those who would kill Him. His call to those who would trust and serve Him is to do the same. There are reasons for the apparent wild violence in the Old Testament on the part of God and His worshipers.Again, the problem with Islam is that the core teaching of Islam is world domination through violence and the killing and subjugation of infidels. This has been Islam’s foundation from the beginning. Most muslims are ignorant (or don’t follow) the jihad portions of their religion (good thing).My generalization is still the following: Most Muslims are peacable and hard-working, but the radical element of the religion is dangerous and wants to kill you. I never said most Muslims were violent, but the “real” muslims who truly practice what their religion teaches, are. Real Christians, who truly practice what their religion teaches, are not. Night and day. One would kill you in the name of God and the other would die for you in the name of God.
The roots of Middle east terror are not found in the CIA or the USA. The roots are found in the teachings of Muhammad and the sacred texts of Islam.
My goal is to love everybody, but if you’re a extremist belted up with a bomb, you need to be eliminated.
davichon
July 17th, 2008 at 11:14
If Mike studied history, the Koran and Islam with half the intensity he has put into the Bible, I don’t think he would be able to maintain his prejudices, or put himself forward as deciding who the “real” Muslims are. I heard “my” rabbi make similar comments shortly after 9-11. My heart told me he was wrong (and unloving), but at the time I knew less about Islam than he, who was quoting snippets from the Koran e-mailed to him by an enraged congregant to demonstrate that Islam was a murderous religion.
There are Muslim extremists, but there are a much larger group of anti-Western Muslims who are not so different than Mike when it comes to deciding who their enemies are. They also experience the results of U.S. intervention, which couldn’t happen unless there was a constituency who believed these garbage generalizations about Them. Are our G.I.’s dying for Freedom? How about the 10 or a hundred (I don’t want to argue about numbers) Iraqi civilians who also have died, for every American, since the fall of Saddam? Were they all extremists or victims of extremists? Collateral damage? Whose children are they, and which loving God ratifies an “I’m sorry but it’s just too bad, probably their own fault” attitude.
And then… you realize that we send kids to fight, believing what they believe or just doing what’s expected. And with all that blood in their lives, apparently courtesy of the most powerful military in the world, the real extremists find more (not less) kids willing to blow themselves up, or join the infantry a war against (fill in the blank with Mike’s opinions, but substitute, Americans, Jews, infidels or whatever, for Muslims).
There is no road to peace that lead through demonization of an entire culture. And though we “surge” and bleed and win battles, and spend billions, no victory either.
Mike Dalgleish
July 17th, 2008 at 23:06
David,
I believe our opposing world views perpetuate a never ending argument. I know what I’ve read about Islam and its founder. I am not an authority on the religion. I’d be willing to bet you have read and studied more than me. That said, I’m keen to hear just what you think is the heart of Islam. What is the goal of Islam? The radical element of Islam terrorizes with indiscriminate religious zeal. They do this all over the world and don’t seem to care who they blow up. Just where do they get the idea that suicide bombing ( for example) is justified? The Madrasa’s in the early school years? During the Friday evening sermon time? Their leaders? Preachers? The current Iranian LEADER denies the Holocaust and vows to destroy Isreal. He believes that the more infidels that die, the sooner the 8th Iman (8th something, a child apparently) will come and do something, I can’t remember exactly what. He obviously has had alot of teaching somewhere. Who taught him this stuff? Why is he so prejudiced of everyone who does not follow Allah? Why has he generalized everyone not practicing Islam to be worthy of death or treated as a second class citizen?
Please David, put down the CAIR Kool-aid and come to grips with the fact that whether or not GIs are in Iraq or not, the radical Islam element will not stop. It’s against their foundational beliefs.
If not now, then when?
Who will take a stand against these extremists?
Time for bed.