I am disturbed by the behavior my fellow Christians have been displaying toward Barack Obama. Let me explain:
If you know me, you know that I am a supporter of Barack Obama, but this blog post isn’t written as an Obama-supporter. It’s written as a Christian.
As a Christian who actively, although not perfectly, strives to follow Christ’s teachings of love, forgiveness, and nonjudgment, some of the comments I have heard leave the mouths of Christians as of late have struck me as oxymoronic. Let me juxtapose them with Christ’s teachings for you, if I may:
1. “I’d assassinate Barack Obama.”– a 13-year-old boy in my youth group, in response to a question about what he’d do if he had two hours and unlimited resources
“Love your enemies.”– Jesus Christ
2. “Obama is a retard.”– a 15-year-old boy who attends a conservative church
“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”– Jesus Christ
(I’m pretty sure “Love your enemies,” would work here, too, but I don’t want to be redundant.)
3. “Obama is a terrorist,” or (my personal favorite), “Obama is an Arab.”– many of McCain’s supporters who claim to be Christians
“Be as shrewd as snakes.”– Jesus Christ (i.e. know the facts so you don’t look like illiterate fools)
This behavior particularly disturbs me because it represents Christ negatively and inaccurately to the world. No wonder so many people have a crummy perception of Christians if so many of us act with such hatred, anger, and judgment!
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:57 pm
This reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw on this little ol’ ladies car in traffic the other day. “You cannot be Catholic and pro-choice.” Although, you are not Catholic, you are a follower of Jesus Christ, as am I. I am a very much a McCain supporter, because he is an Israel supporter and he has a born again Vice President. You know this, right? Read some of Revelation, sweetie. I’m being serious about this. Maybe a bit of John, as well.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 am
My question to you would be, what has been said bad about McCain? Surely you have not just heard only negative statements about Obama. I tend to agree with #3, as he does have arab in his genetic make up, and if he is a Christian why want he use his christian name Barry? We all know what kind of racist preacher he listened to for 20 odd years. I don’t see any more hate thrown towards Obama than what he and his associates throw at every American. At least these children are honest about it.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:56 pm
His Christian name Barry? The man’s birth name is Barack, after his father. Why should he use any other name than the one that was given to him by his parents?
Also, regarding his “being an Arab”, Barack’s father is from Kenya. Kenya does have plenty of Arab blood & influence in its ancestry, but the problem here is that people are using “Arab” as a smear, as if Arabs are terrorists or anti-American.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Obama is a raghead! Live with it.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
you’re delightful.
November 4th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Mercy, thank you for walking the talk and demonstrating that to be a Christian, one should strive to be Christ-like. And I’d say that even if you were a McCain supporter, based on your statements about the teachings of Christ. :^)
November 29th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
hooray justmercy! thank you so much, this is what i do not understand about people of faith who can say such hateful things. it’s one thing to have different beliefs or politics, but being disrespectful is not being a good christian in any respect.
steph – first of all, if you ever want to have any credibility, start by not saying racist statements, you lose all legitimacy in your argument, as well as seeming to have no other facts to stand on than to resort to insults, which, sorry, makes you sound a bit like a nitiwt.
ALSO — i agree with nos0up4you — his “christian” name was not barack, he went by barry, you know, a nickname, you may have heard of such things before? also, try being named barack and not having people call you a “raghead” or just being generally negative because you are different (remind you of anyone?), at a certain point, you might not want to fight anymore, and might want to be left alone. going by barry was a way to do that. and no one is denying that people on both sides can say hateful things. it is just hypocritical to claim to be doing so because of what the bible says when those actions are going against what the bible says at the same time. also, i think it has to be noted that people can always be nasty when it comes to politics, but with the first non-white president, it would be nice to avoid such dumb, racist statements like the one you made.
breannawanna — justmercy said nothing about being pro choice, that is another argument. being respectful and “loving your enemies” is a lesson that one does not have to read all of the bible
December 1st, 2008 at 9:13 am
allieehope, you just stated exactly my point. “with the first non-white president, it would be nice to avoid such dumb, racist statements like the one you made.” he is a raghead if i want to call him that, just as you may call me a nitwit. (although, who really uses that word now days?) THE MAN IS NOT BLACK! also he is not white. nobody really knows what the hell he is. you can’t verify anything he says. he locks everything up. so, spare me your bull. and, oooooooobbbbaaaaammmmmaaaaaaaaa isssssss aaaaaaaaa rrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaagggggggggghhhheeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaddddd. you do not have the right not to be offended in this country.
December 28th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Steph, if I may that term raghead is offensive and clearly shows your lack of intelligence since that’s your only argument to this article. You have clearly not evolved since you are still in that mindframe of stereotyping. People always have the right to be offended. No matter what race you are, Steph I’m sure there are remarks that are offensive to your race as well. We are in 2008 and President Obama is a remarkable man – if you could get past what race he is then you would see that. And he is half black and half white actually…the whole world knows that why don’t you? Pick up a newspaper.
December 29th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
steph, this is fucking ridiculous. “THE MAN IS NOT BLACK! also he is not white. nobody really knows what the hell he is.”
yes, he is black. yes, he is white. one can be more than one race, ever hear the term “mixed race” or “biracial”? that’s what it means. when someone has two parents with different backgrounds it can be hard to figure out who you are, no one has the right to tell someone who they are, it’s a personal viewpoint and decision on how to view themselves in society.
also, individual insults are different than racist comments, which was my point. one may call a particular person something that has nothing to do with stereotypes, yet once race, or anything else — could be sexism or homophobic, is brought into the dialogue, you have offended many people, and it is irresponsible and ignorant to make such statements.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Looking at your profile allieehope, stephiehopes you are really good at art and will grow better at politics. I say this because allieehoping for sex is asking much of this world. How is that for a personal insult. Judging from your opening statement you are not in any position to regulate what is or is not responsible or to judge somebody’s ignorance. Keep on hoping allieehope!
December 30th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
lol, hope is my middle name, it’s not a statement of “hope” for anything.
January 10th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
You people are so warped – get out of your house and into the real world. I bet you wouldn’t last 5 minutes outisde of your little house on the prarie strict catholic homes.
January 10th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Cindy-
Who are you addressing?
January 10th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
whoever is writing that his Christain name is Barry and that he’s a raghead it’s insane that people even think this way!
September 25th, 2009 at 9:14 am
President Obama is first and foremost a political mask. I personally believe that the mask he wares has a distinct resemblance to the face beneath, but I could be wrong. This is no insult to the man personally, I hold this view about all politicians. He seems more honest than many others, at least to my eyes. The real reason I am popping in on this conversation is the use of the words “Arab” and “Raghead”. I am a little amazed at the manner these terms are employed. Arab is a descriptive term, but the context marks its use as a slur. Raghead on the other hand is on the same level as nigger in terms of abusiveness.
I am an active member of the Marine Corps. I hear these terms a great deal and whenever I do I endeavor to correct them. I had a buddy in boot camp who took a great deal of abuse for his name and religion. He was a devout follower of Islam and his last name was that of the prophet. I do not mean anything illegal was done to him, but only this who have been through military training understand what Drill Instructors are allowed to do. But they stopped singling him out after this exchange, and yes they do honestly talk this way.
Drill Instructor “Recruit, why did you join my beloved Corps?”
Mohammed “This recruit is sick to hell of what is done in the name of his god, and intends to do something about it, Sir!”
He is out of the Marines now, but not by choice. He was struck by two enemy rounds in the leg while in Iraq, and was discharged due to the damage to his knee. He fought and bled for his country, please do not degrade his sacrifice with racial slurs. If you have a problem with the president have it with him or his political party.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:55 am
That was a very good answer from that recruit! You always have your bullies in Boot, BCT etc, and they all have to have it showed to them you are serious. Back to the recruit’s answer, for anybody thinking of joining the Army NEVER call your DI sir. Never. The Marines are the only ones that will allow that. Some say it has changed. I know not to do it in the Army. Don’t worry to much about it though, DIs in all branches will tell you what to call them and you will NEVER, EVER, be as tough as the DI’s grandmother, NEVER. So don’t try. Ha Ha, I love the military.