Fri 25 Jul 2008
Israel got to see Barack Obama in the flesh this week. Israel has sled into an ugly conservatism in the last few years and right-wingers are pretty vocal here. To them Obama is the devil incarnate (Israel’s right wing think George W. Bush is the best American president ever). One talkbacker on the website for leftish newspaper “Haaretz” wrote, in response to Obama’s quote that he thinks Palestinians should get their own independent state (a notion anyone with brains intact should applaud), wrote “This Obama guy scares me. He reminds me of Jimmy Carter”. Yup, Carter is also hated here. He’s too fond of Palestinians, caring about their rights. Not like Saint Bush who hates them and like the average Israeli right winger considers every Arab a terrorist. Carter, who engineered the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt (and for which he won a Noble Peace Prize) is a crucifix in front of our right-wing vampires.
Obama’s wailing wall note, exhumed and reprinted in Israeli papers
Anyway, yesterday before he took off to Germany he visited The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, the only remaining relic of the ancient Temple of David, and the most sacred spot for Jews. As customary, he placed a note in the cracks of the stones. It is believed that a wish or a prayer stuffed in the cracks gets fulfilled by God. Obama, in what seems like a last minute improvisation, wrote a small prayer on his hotel stationary (nice product placement). Journalists then promptly stormed the wall and ransacked his note and had it reprinted in “Maariv” (it’s a big faux-pas from a Jewish traditional point of view and I’m quite certain that if Obama were Jewish no mainstream reporter would’ve dared violate his privacy so bluntly).
But, although this whole thing - the note, the reprint - might’ve been staged it made me like Obama all the more. Not only for his respect for tradition but also for his great handwriting and his touching prayer: “Lord - Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will.”
July 26th, 2008 at 1:07 am
I’d rather have him ask for the will to protect and defend the constitution of the USA.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:08 am
Obama scares me, too. But his Middle East policy is the opposite of Carter’s, which is what I find so damn scary. I fear that Obama is, for political purposes, an Israeli. He’s taken such a vocal and pro-Israeli stance, repeatedly that anyone who cares any degree for Palestine and the Palestinian people are pretty outraged at some of the things he has said. Israel’s right wing probably doesn’t hate him at all… After all, no matter who loses the 2008 election, white or black, red or blue, old or young, Republican or Democrat, McCain or Obama, Israel wins, and the public loses. Big time. More Israeli expansionism is an inevitability at this point. Obama and McCain are both terrible candidates, and it’s a real shame when society gets so caught up in “Lesser of Two Evils Politics” that they feel the need to support either one.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:34 am
Nice article, my first thought was that it was pretty low to pull a mans private prayer off the wailing wall. My second thought was, what a great prayer! Then my third was I wonder if he staged it. It certainly looks like it was jotted down right before going there. Very nice handwriting too!
July 26th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Can we once– just once– have a president who doesn’t believe in sky tyrants?
July 26th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Bulletin: The Wailing Wall-the last remnant of the chosen people’s great , ancient temple- many consider the holiest relic in the Jewish religion- a generational scion…has fallen!!!!
IN Heaven, Elijah cries, and angels despair…the Heavenly guards report mass chaos and demonstrations…saints and sinners bemoan the great Betrayal. Jerusalem has fallen by a single act of theft!
A bloodless coup, the Message Gates to God are stained.
Woe- for Cain, Absalom, and Delilah have risen.
God has called a meeting with His Sacred Trust…. by artist, Elliot Bassman
July 26th, 2008 at 7:27 am
(I’m an American)
I’m with asdhjfasd, it’s about time we get a capable atheist in office. I’m not saying that all atheists are more capable than all Christians but I think it’s way past due that we get at the very least a non-theist in office. It’s ridiculous that religion even plays a part in a political election in a country where there is supposed to be a separation of church and state. For having a “separation” of church in state in the USA, they are pretty close to each other.
Religion has ruled for basically all of human history and look where it’s gotten us. It’s just another way to segregate people and to keep people in control by governments. It’s time we lose the opium (religion) and find the love and harmony in the world. There will NEVER be peace as long as there is religion.
Unfortunately, by the time the world realizes this, it will be too late. If it’s not already.
July 26th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
asdhjfasd: Mm.. I’d just be happy with one who doesn’t think he’s telling him to go to war.
July 27th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I’m all for Obama. Though I’m pessimistic about his chances to win. Great post.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:32 am
I’m very moved by Sen. Obama’s message to God although it should have remained private. Americans need a President of strong faith — and McBush so rarely talks about God I wonder if he’s an atheist. God bless Obama.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:08 am
In four sentences, he said “me” four times. The only other entity besides himself he was interested in was “my family,” mentioned once. Nothing at all was asked for about the well being of the United States or world peace. Says something, doesn’t it.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
The daily pressure this candidate has to endure is tremendous. Even though his message encourages diversity, many American ‘patriots’ hold a different view. Consequently, his prayer echoes what many lift up each day for Senator Obama and his family: protection, wisdom, strength, courage, and the ability to be God’s instrument.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Mel, I hope that one day bigots such as yourself do see the light. It is Obama’s prayer, not your’s. He is a man determined to lead the United States, but is not required to pray for the US (a country that denounces public prayer), but rather to lead us. He asks his God (the same God of Jews, Muslims, and Christians)that he may have the wisdom to do what is right and just(for everyone). There is nothing more damaging to the US’s Obama is nothing short of admirable… He has my vote along with many other proud AND open-minded American/World citizens.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
First of all don’t all you guys have something important to do
J/K
I agree with Ronsums. We do need more open-minded American and world citizens. If we live in U.S and still can’ be open minded then might as well move on down to some cave in Afhani-land
Hope people understand the value of Human lives and the fact that there are humans that are living in different parts of this world not just in U.S.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I will admit that Obama is well intentioned. That the the most goddamn scary thing I can imagine in a candidate.
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Mel Painter wrote: “In four sentences, he said “me” four times. The only other entity besides himself he was interested in was “my family,” mentioned once. Nothing at all was asked for about the well being of the United States or world peace. Says something, doesn’t it.”
I don’t think that is a fair criticism. Personally, I’m a bit skeptical about intercessory prayer (petitioning God on behalf of someone else or some thing) rather than using the prayer as a way of altering my own consciousness.
I also think the prayer has a very 12-step feel to it. “Make me an instrument of your will” is used in one of the suggested daily prayers in “the Big Book”, and the twelve steps specifically directing prayer towards asking for positive changes in self.
Mr. Obama has never, as far as I know, claimed involvment in any 12-step groups, and it would be inappropriate for him to publicly discuss it if he has been involved. But he has confessed to past substance abuse, so it wouldn’t be surprising.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
[…] Obama’s wailing wall note exposed […]
November 7th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I see this public note as nothing more than a political stunt. In and of itself is a disgusting thing, that a presidential candidate would use such a holy place for political gain. And performing such a stunt for political gain at a holy sight is certainly an abomination.
Could this be one of the events as foretold in the Bible?
Daniel 9:27 - He will confirm a covenant with many for one ’seven.’ In the middle of the ’seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
Mathew 24:15 - So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel–let the reader understand–