As with many spiritual enlightenments, mine came in the middle of a bleak, hopeless period of my life. The innocent, idealistic world of politics that had shaped my childhood, the one that taught me how the president is a good guy, one who makes you feel safe, gives a speech on TV every once in a while and one you'd feel honored to shake hands with, had been slowly whittled into a deep rooted cynicism to anything politically related.
Then I found my miracle. Stumbling through my hopeless world, afraid to turn to anyone with my political questions of morality, my concerns about the afterlife of the country I called home, a voice spoke to me.
Barack Obama bore to me his testimony in 2004 at the Democratic National Convention, a testimony that included believing in concepts as simple and wholesome as the Constitution; a belief the current administration had done away with entirely. I was 17 and my antipathy for politicians was already in place before I had even reached the age to legally vote for one. He, though, seemed different. I was intrigued. I would follow him. I believed however, that my discipleship would lead me on a much longer path to political change than was true. He was much too young, not white enough, not rich enough, not jaded - the country certainly wasn't ready for this, maybe in 12 or 16 years he would be able to run in the Democratic primary, I thought.
My interest was piqued, but the dark time lived on until my faith in others was renewed on Jan. 4 in the Iowa state primary. Obama had beat out squeaky clean southern boy John Edwards and former first lady and next in the line of political succession Hillary Clinton. I was in shock. And then I came to Jesus/Obama.
I donated to the campaign. I followed every primary with bated breath, and muttered my prayers to the political gods while proselytizing the miracle of my new prophet. I got a car magnet, I bought a t-shirt; a pin and bumper sticker are on their way to my campus mailbox. Then the media and right wing questioning began: what is he? A rock star, or the next president? Bono or Britney? The naysayers used his popularity among young people against him. Who had ever heard of political posters in college dorm rooms? Bumper stickers on the back of your high school neighbor's Jetta? Guess what those "Jesus is my homeboy" t-shirts were replaced with at Urban Outfitters? A smiling Obama under his own cutesy sayings like "Obama for yo Mama."
I must admit, I questioned this myself. After all, would I have ever bought a t-shirt with Al Gore's face on it? Was this all he was, the newest pop culture fad? I questioned my newfound faith - was it all only a phase, like the time I thought I was Baptist in junior high? But my inner dogmatic struggle only helped cement my beliefs as I followed politics more closely than ever before. Obama's mere presence, knowledge and enthusiasm in the political realm inspired my own desire to understand what exactly had gone wrong, what exactly he could do to remedy the mess we'd made.
Then I began to realize I wasn't the only one trying to buy a WWOD bracelet and spending my weekends scouring CNN.com. The rock star-type love for Obama wasn't just because he was pretty and in the media. Others too, had seen him as a shining light, heard that mythical voice boom out over the mountaintops; people were wearing the t-shirt because they would rather wear something representing a politician than a pop star. People everywhere, young and old, were caring again. So what's the problem here?
I've officially been saved, and soon, whether they like it or not, the rest of the country will be too. I will follow him, all the way to the White House, and I'll be standing there in our nation's capital in January 2009, when Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States of America. In the name of Obama, Amen.
I teach confirmation class to middle school students at an Episcopal church in Manhattan. Yesterday, we were discussing the prophets of the Old Testament and asked the kids for examples of prophets. Several of the kids were pretty convinced Senator Obama was a prophet. It took a few minutes to explain that he's neither a major nor minor prophet but that he's just a guy running for president.
And, of course, during prayer request time, we had to cover nationalized healthcare. I wish I was kidding...
Obama described as prophet Moses by bishop: Adulation of the Democratic nominee is building to a crescendo. Offering a prayer before a rally in Columbus, Ohio today, Cornal Garnett Henning, an AME bishop for parts of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, compared him to Moses and Martin Luther King in the same breath
My new favorite Obama praise song- "It is the will of God"- "The world loves Obama"
Okay, let me think. When was the last time anyone broke out into song about George Bush, with hippy flute-players dancing for joy? Hmmmm. I'm drawing a blank. This particular song has a nice, hypnotic "whirling dirvish" vibe to it, good for enchanting the masses.
You seem unusually concerned that there aren't more liberals here to spank you for your blatant failure. I'd think you'd be grateful instead that you're beneath their notice.
But then, you're just BITTER. Go cling to something.
Good goddamn! The Obamanauts aren't even waiting for him to do anything before giving him the same treatment as those leaders who've actually accomplished something with their lives' work.
In central Alabama's Perry County, government workers already get a day off for President's Day, Martin Luther King Day, and Veterans Day. In 2009, they'll get one more: "Barack Obama Day."
The rural county, which overwhelmingly supported Obama in last month's presidential election, has approved the second Monday in November as "The Barack Obama Day." Commissioners passed a measure that would close county offices for the new annual holiday and its roughly 40 workers will get a paid day off.
The Cult of Obama now has its first religious holiday.
It's funny how his new presidency was supposed to be about "change" but he's appointing the same cabinet as President Clinton had 8 years ago! And how his whole idea of going into politics came in the home of Bill Ayers, a known terrorist who shows absolutely no remorse about his many US soil terrorist attacks. Instead, he writes books about his exciting days as a revolutionary! And is somehow allowed to become a professor at University of Illinois!
Anonymous 56 minutes 44 seconds ago Reading a post Forum: Deep Topics Thread: The Church of Obama Anonymous 56 minutes 46 seconds ago Reading a post Forum: Deep Topics Thread: The Church of Obama Anonymous 56 minutes 46 seconds ago Reading a post Forum: Deep Topics Thread: The Church of Obama Anonymous 56 minutes 46 seconds ago Reading a post Forum: Deep Topics Thread: The Church of Obama
It's funny how his new presidency was supposed to be about "change" but he's appointing the same cabinet as President Clinton had 8 years ago! And how his whole idea of going into politics came in the home of Bill Ayers, a known terrorist who shows absolutely no remorse about his many US soil terrorist attacks. Instead, he writes books about his exciting days as a revolutionary! And is somehow allowed to become a professor at University of Illinois!
I complained that the true injustice was that Barry our elcted president told people NOT to listen to a certain entertainment radio program. ALL OF MY OISTS were delete without even saying FRANTA'S POST WERE DELETED BECAUSE THEY WERE OFFENSIVE! THIS IS THE PROBLEM WE HAVE! OBAMA WANTS EVERYONE TO BOW DOWN TO HIM HE IS SUCH AN EGOMANIAC HE IS GOING ON RECORD SAYING DONT LISTEN TO RUSH!
SAY WAT YOU WILL ABOUT BUSH BUT HE NEVER CONDONED ANYONE MAKING FUN OF HIM BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED FREE SPEECH!
Sure it's Easter, but Jesus is so last millennium. We've got the Obamessiah now, so it's time to put the dashboard Obama in your Prius and venerate him with a deep bow every time you pass by a federal office building or a Planned Parenthood clinic.
Caution: Do be careful not to bump your head on the steering wheel while bowing before the Lawd Obama, at least not until after universal health care is enacted.
As the good Lawd Obama says: "Salam alechem bitches!"
Randy Kennedy wrote in The Times that President Obama has captured the imagination of artists worldwide, and many are finding an audience online. ArtsBeat asked readers to submit their own Obama-inspired art.
You can send your Obama portraits to artsbeat@nytimes.com.