Spanky's Place :: Inauguration or Pontification?

Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not attacking our new President. It is my sincere hope that he has a successful term of office, and does great things as the leader of the free world. But I am a bit concerned.

The media orgy over the last few weeks, leading up to today's events, has raised a few hairs on the back of my neck.

It appears that a vast number of the people in this country are placing all of their hopes and dreams for change upon the shoulders of Mr. Obama. And I don't think that's wise, or fair. He is not being treated so much as a new President as he is a savior, a messiah. I wonder, today, if there will be palm fronds thrown at his feet.

When I say I don't think it is fair, I mean fair to him. What are these people going to do when they realize that he is not the savior they were hoping for? When they discover that he is just a man, and not a messiah, will they clamor for his crucifixion? How quickly will they turn on him? How quickly will they cry out in anguish when they realize they have foolishly bet their entire sense of self worth, their future, on somebody else's hand?

-Devin

Wowsers! A Tag Cloud!

Comments

1 - ooh, religion and politics all in one post. I wonder if he uses vi or emacs? Seriously though, the important difference is that he has made no claims himself to be infalible or acting as the earthly representitive of any deity. The other important difference is that he can think independently of thousands of years of entrenched dogma. From what I have heard him say I get the impression that there will be tough times but we are all in it together and it is going to be OK.
I think that is a realistic hope and the global goodwill for America (people, president and dream) has not been this strong since September 12th. I don't think that goodwill will be squandered this time.

Posted by Alan Bell At 09:52:15 AM On 01/20/2009 | - Website - |

2 - You're absolutely correct. Far too many are gullible to the media's anointing of idols and false prophets. Curious to see this play out over time.

Posted by Scott At 09:55:26 AM On 01/20/2009 | - Website - |

3 - Obama has said several times it takes EVERYONE to make a true change and that he can't do it alone.

-Tim E. Brown

Posted by Tim E. Brown At 10:09:02 AM On 01/20/2009 | - Website - |

4 - I think you're missing my point. I'm not saying Obama has a messiah complex.

I think the masses are deifying him; and am concerned what their reaction will be when they realize he is human.

Posted by Devin Olson At 11:48:17 AM On 01/20/2009 | - Website - |

5 - Hey Devin,

If you saw the entirety of the speech, he stated, over and over again, that it's a very dark time and we ALL need to work together to make anything happen. He cannot do it alone, but us as the American people have to come together to weather the storm.

Are there some people treating him the way you are suggesting, sure. But to see the excitement crowded around LCD screens even here at Lotusphere is something unprecidented, and a spark for the type of committment we all need to aspire to.

I'm thrilled with where we are going!

-Grey

Posted by Greyhawk68 At 02:16:14 PM On 01/20/2009 | - Website - |