Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
Fri Aug 1, 2014, 12:13 PM Aug 2014

President Obama: 'I believe in God.'



How To Handle A Heckler


By TheObamaDiary.com - Jul 30, 2014

Found on a link with a negative title, but more information. I don't think Obama characterizes these incidents that way:

President Obama Smacks Down Jesus Heckler By Saying 'I Believe In God'



By Yasmine Hafiz - 07/31/2014

A female heckler interrupted President Barack Obama's speech about the economy in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday by
yelling, "Jesus is the lord of Israel!"*

Unfazed, Obama inquired, "I'm sorry, what are you hollering about?" as the woman repeated her cry. "OK," he said.

As she continued shouting, Obama retorted, "I believe in God, thanks for the prayer. Amen! Thank you."

Before he could go on with his speech, he was interrupted again, this time by the Missouri audience cheering and chanting, "We love you! We love you!"

...As the President arrived at Kansas City's Uptown Theater to deliver his remarks, demonstrators stood outside in protest. Vicki Sciolaro of Leawood came with her family to urge Obama to "do more to protect Israel," according to The Kansas City Star. "It's Biblical," she said. "As Christians, we want to stand with Israel. We’ll stay here ’til we fall over or someone tells us to go home..."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/31/obama-jesus-heckler_n_5639132.html

Perhaps acrimony gets page views, but the 'demonstrators stood outside in protest' phrase does not seem to reflect what is actually going on there. Why does media insist on promoting the idea that every crowd is 'protesting' Obama? For what? Doing his job as the POTUS? Or for being the POTUS?

They seem to be asking for help. They may be misinformed about PBO's support for Israel, which has garnered hatred from those who have good reason to feel Israel has acted with evilly with so many deaths and great suffering.

This thread is not the place to have that discussion, there are forums for that, and this a group about Obama and his supporters. I am expressing my own thoughts for my fellow members in the BOG.

If the group outside thought PBO has not supported Israel, they have been misinformed. He supports all sides in the conflict, and some can't abide his even-handedness, but his job demands that he be. I feel passions can be expressed without being hateful.

I think Obama does 'believe in God,' or else he wouldn't have the faith to keep at the job day in and day out. As Sheshe's thread shows, the 'gates of hell' have been opened on this man:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110224668

But he still believes in the ideals many Americans want fulfilled. More so than many people apparently do. He is 'a believer.'



In that picture, I see a strong man who is mustering strength by connecting with his 'higher power.' Look at that body language, Obama is preparing for to express his ideals. We've seen him wet with sweat or rain. There is a passion there many can't achieve without a clear vision to keep them going.

Many have been in situations in which one is all alone in fighting for what one thinks is right, and win the day because they called on their belief system or other organized thinking - to bolster them and it worked in the face of despair and fear. I count the actions of MLK, Jr. and others as proof of that.

And seeing that, I recall this poem:

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.


~ Robert Frost

And also this verse:

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith..."

~2 Thessalonians 4 : 7, 8

In the words of that belief system, I think Obama would be one of whom is said at the end of his time on Earth:

'Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'

If it plays out as the Bible says, he will continue to be humble and say he was 'only doing his duty.' Humility opens the door to knowledge and achieving greater things, it is not an end in itself.

Whether one is into organized religion or not, there are patterns we follow in life, even if we are not conscious of them. They reflect who we really are.

I see a quality in Obama that I have seldom seen in the realm of politics, of transcendence, and of a person who 'walks the talk,' and it is beautiful to me.

JMHO.

Note: This is the BOG, a safe haven group created by the DU Admins. Please read the SOP.

*This doesn't appear to be the view of the people of Israel, but an American belief. I posted a video in a safe haven for believers on DU, if anyone wants to get a glimpse as to why the woman's claim doesn't hold much water there.

Lurkers, please don't disrespect the SOP of the group there:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12643570

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

sheshe2

(87,545 posts)
2. Beautiful thread freshwest.
Fri Aug 1, 2014, 05:20 PM
Aug 2014
In that picture, I see a strong man who is mustering strength by connecting with his 'higher power.' Look at that body language, Obama is preparing for to express his ideals. We've seen him wet with sweat or rain. There is a passion there many can't achieve without a clear vision to keep them going.


You have a way with words, I always enjoy reading your posts. He draws deep inside himself. Never quick to anger and never quick to act. He is a man who looks at every side of the issues. For that I am eternally grateful.

He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders



Thank you freshwest.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
6. I was actually planning to edit one sentence there:
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 12:58 PM
Aug 2014

Last edited Mon Aug 4, 2014, 08:20 AM - Edit history (5)

From:

'We've seen him wet with sweat or rain.'


To:

'We've seen him wet with sweat, rain and tears.'

And in that picture there, I think he is summoning the 'god part of his brain' as some call it:



Whether he's really 'praying' to a power outside himself or to find the words to express his belief in his vision of our nation. He always clarifies at the end of official speeches with these words, even though most don't understand:

'And God bless the United States of America.'

Republicans and Libertarians refer to the United States, and not America. Their emphasis is on 'states' rights,' which is their Trojan horse for dissolving the Union that is the United States of America.

Because it's easier to establish more powerful oligarchies that way to be governed by them. That's the real intent of their words.

But what they tell their followers, is that each state has more sovereignty than the federal government. The Tenthers like Rand, Bundy, the sovereign citizens militants** as well as several official GOP state parties that call for secession in their state platforms, and impeaching Obama for not giving into that, base their objection to all federal law from part of the Tenth Amendment of the Bill of Rights, a housekeeping measure to protect rights that not enumerated, not to fight the federal government. The Founders were unwilling to give up what they'd fought to create.

And given the year it was ratified after we'd been fighting off British rule, we would not have wanted any of those rights left to them, or other nations such as France and Spain, who had designs on territory.

Our soveriegnty from European rule was disputed for many years later, and attacked in the War of 1812 and the Civil War itself as the Confederacy sought alliances with foreign powers to break the USA up into their fiefdoms.

We have ideological forces working hard to redefine America, into something that negates the rights of well over half of the population, but their followers either don't realize that or worse yet, approve.

And the continuing degrading of the Union and all it ever hoped to stand for, is for that purpose as well. Reagan and then Bush set into motion a strong disdain and distrust of our federal government because it interfered with the oligarch plan. Our sins are many, but we will not escape them by being divided up into Koch fiefdoms. There will just be no one but the powerful in small regions to rule their citizens with no redress. Corporacracy with no limit, all for the profit of a minority.

Oh, and thanks for the compliment. Your style of writing is much different than mine, comes form the heart, but with a loving view that at times I struggle to express. Too many innocents I've known have been destroyed; the battle is ongoing.

**

Maine’s Gov. LePage Offers Feeble Excuse for Meetings with Extremist Sovereign Citizens Group



http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2014/07/04/maines-gov-lepage-offers-feeble-excuse-for-meetings-with-extremist-sovereign-citizens-group/

Google search terms 'splc hate watch sovereign citizens' to see many killings have been done people in that cult. The video is a real eye-opener.

sheshe2

(87,545 posts)
9. Finally home...
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 09:13 PM
Aug 2014

I'm exhausted from work.

Thanks, freshwest. I always learn things from your posts. I will save the video for when I am more alert. Sounds ugly and I don't want that tonight.

Thanks to you as well for the compliment, I prefer different styles as it sometimes completes the picture.

hugs~ kinda tired

'And God bless the United States of America.'



Jamaal510

(10,893 posts)
4. K&R
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 12:52 AM
Aug 2014

O is one of the true Christians, along with Sister Samone, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Barber, et al. There's no comparison between them and pseudo-Christians like Santorum or Huckabee, so it gets on my nerves whenever some non-believers decry all people of faith as ignorant and all of religion as "evil" or "nonsense". One side prioritizes the needs of the common man and treasures critical thinking, and the other prioritizes the wealthy and the military respectively and has railed against higher education (snobs, anyone?).

classof56

(5,376 posts)
5. K&R and many thanks, freshwest, for reaffirming the BOG purpose so beautifully.
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 10:50 AM
Aug 2014

After skimming through some other posts this morning, I was feelin' downright discouraged. Your words have raised my spirit, as your posts always do, and for that I thank you again. I am grateful Barack Obama is our President.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
14. Thank you for such a wonderful and insightful piece.
Sun Aug 3, 2014, 11:01 PM
Aug 2014

May I add that in times of stress and exhaustion myself, I've quoted those favorite Robert Frost verses to myself to keep going. Inspirational, but one of the most beautiful of poems on its own. The woods are lovely, dark and deep.... Who sets up a scene better than that?!

And I truly believe President Obama is one of the strongest persons I've ever known of - partly because he knows the source of that strength.

Cha

(305,440 posts)
18. Mahalo for your thread, fresh! Right away you know he's got it.. "I'm sorry, what are you hollering
Mon Aug 4, 2014, 07:06 AM
Aug 2014

about?..... 'I Believe In God' Amen!" Bam!

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Barack Obama»President Obama: 'I belie...