what would obama do
by Brian Thomas
Published: March 8, 2008
What Would Obama Do?
A question asked by millions of followers of America’s political messiah. However, the correct question to ask is much more direct:
What Will Obama Do?
As the candidate that has chosen to ride the slogan chariot calling for “change,” he has found himself in unfamiliar territory for many politicians - that of political superstar. No one can doubt that the senator from Illinois possesses an appealing stage presence, evidenced by the number people who have fainted during his rallies. However, as we learn more about the candidate, his charisma becomes a facade and the new light in dark times proves to not be very illuminating.
The first hint of duplicity comes with a close evaluation of his “Christian morals.” As an avid member of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, we would think the senator to be a man of faith, understanding and acceptance; however, after reviewing the dogma of his church, I’m having second thoughts.
The church’s mission statement begins with the following:
“Trinity United Church of Christ has been called by God to be a congregation that is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that does not apologize for its African roots!”
Now, don’t get me wrong, no one should ever feel the need to apologize for his or her African roots- unless of course those “roots” are planted in soil with the likes of Louis Farrakhan. The type of man who dances deftly around racist rhetoric while endorsing the hate speech of surrogates should be denounced, not merely set at a distance.
A typical example of Farrakhan-endorsed hate speech can be found in a statement made by Khallid Abdul Muhammad, second-in-command of Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam. He outrageously proclaimed that Caucasian children should be murdered before they are able to grow old to prevent future racism.
“We kill the women, we kill the children. We kill the babies. We kill the blind, we kill the cripples, we kill ‘em all… And when you get through killing ‘em all, go to the [expletive] graveyard and dig up the grave and kill them a-[expletive]-gain. Cause they didn’t die hard enough.”(Magida)i
When Farrakhan was asked about his former minister’s homicidal remarks, he claimed that the comments were distasteful, but did possess “truth.” (Pement 10-16,20)ii
Though I do not claim in any way that Senator Obama has the same mindset as Farrakhan, I am surprised that the official response to Farrakhan’s apparent endorsement was so soft: “Senator Obama has been clear in his objections to Minister Farrakhan’s past pronouncements and has not solicited the minister’s support.”
Actually, no. Senator Obama did not make his objections clear. “Clear” would have been more along the lines of the following:
“Senator Obama rejects the endorsement of a man who finds ‘truth’ in rallying cries to practice infanticide as a twisted means of social justice.”
Though the deft political maneuvering to curry support from blacks may seem insignificant, it brings to head the answer to my original question: what will Obama do? And ironically, instead of taking this opportunity to “change” the practice of politics in America, Obama has chosen to “stay the course.”
WWOD? Nothing new.
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i. Magida, 176. See also Fred Bruning, “Nothing Produces Hate Like Hatred,” Maclean’s, 28 Feb. 1994, 13
ii. Pement, Eric. “Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, Part I.” Cornerstone 26(1997): 111.
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