Grow the [Redacted] Up
I’m about done with this ‘Hussein’ controversy. This is one of those times when both the left and the right wing prove they can’t find a pundit between them with more than two brain cells to rub together. No one’s got it right: not the hysterical lefties who would like to make Barack Hussein Obama’s middle name a matter of national (in)security, nor the ever-smug righties who think fear-mongering is an honest way to win elections.
Hussein is a beautiful name. Centuries before it became associated with a Ba’athist dictator, it was the name of a figure beloved by both Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims: a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who died too young to generate any of the controversy his grandfather continues to do, a man who was killed in battle defending his family from an enemy whose forces hopelessly outnumbered his own. He was a mystic, a poet, a leader, and a soldier of tremendous courage; he was a man who said “Charity should be like a heavy rain, falling on the pious and the sinful alike” and who was known for his honesty and justice.
What ensued after his death was only natural: people started naming their children after him. A lot. Today, the name ‘Hussein’ is as common in Shi’ite communities as John or James is in western Christian ones. Drawing parallels between Obama and Saddam because they share this name is as absurd and slavishly ignorant as drawing parallels between John Wayne Gacy and John the Baptist.
Hussein is so common, in fact, that much of its original significance has sadly been lost–just as the average American parent doesn’t contemplate the deeds of John the Baptist when he chooses the name for his son, the average African or Asian parent chooses Hussein because to their ear it sounds like a nice sturdy upright name. So nice and sturdy and upright, in fact, that in parts of South Saharan Africa it’s used in common between Muslim, Christian and animist communities.
For now, I take comfort in the fact that harping on a middle name probably isn’t enough to dissuade anyone who would have voted for Obama from voting for him–if it does, there’s no hope for sanity in the political process. Let’s get back to the issues that really matter to millions of working, voting, tax-paying Americans, and leave gossip at the water cooler where it belongs.
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[…] Big Pink Cookie wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt I’m about done with this ‘Hussein’ controversy. This is one of those times when both the left and the right wing prove they can’t find a pundit between them with more than two brain cells to rub together. No one’s got it right: not the hysterical lefties who would like to make Barack Hussein Obama’s middle name a matter of national (in)security, nor the ever-smug righties who think fear-mongering is an honest way to win elections. Hussein is a beautiful name. Centuries before it became associa […]
[…] MetaCatholic wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt I’m about done with this ‘Hussein’ controversy. This is one of those times when both the left and the right wing prove they can’t find a pundit between them with more than two brain cells to rub together. No one’s got it right: not the hysterical lefties who would like to make Barack Hussein Obama’s middle name a matter of national (in)security, nor the ever-smug righties who think fear-mongering is an honest way to win elections. Hussein is a beautiful name. Centuries before it became associa […]
While that is true, I doubt we’ll see a “John Wilkes Anylastname” running for president anytime soon.
Not defending, just sayin’
As I noted elsewhere, this is beyond stupid. “Hussein” is probably about as common a name as “Chang” or “Ivan” or “Smith.” Yeesh.
[…] The Bellows wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt I’m about done with this ‘Hussein’ controversy. This is one of those times when both the left and the right wing prove they can’t find a pundit between them with more than two brain cells to rub together. No one’s got it right: not the hysterical lefties who would like to make Barack Hussein Obama’s middle name a matter of national (in)security, nor the ever-smug righties who think fear-mongering is an honest way to win elections. Hussein is a beautiful name. Centuries before it became associa […]
WW,
I have read enough about the Imam Hussein to feel at least a little of what you must have felt when you first studied his life and his heroic death at the hands of Yazid’s henchmen outside Karbala more than thirteen centuries ago, when Islam was in its comparatively youthful beginnings. I for one wish an epic motion picture could have been made about his life, his struggle and his death alone in that desert.
But the United States of America is primarily a land run by people of European stock. And while many of them pay lip service at best to any sort of religion, most of your countrymen here are of christian heritage.
For a very long time to come, most of them will act politically correct about dealing with Moslem who either took up residence in this country, or their offspring who remain Moslems, or of converts such as you.
But if you seriously imagine that most Americans do not feel at least moderately estranged from such people, then I think you are practicing self-deception. And I am certain by now that you have learned that Americans practice taqqiya even more forcefully than Arabs do. Which means they are hardwired to think thoughts and act on them in a way they would never admit to a political pollster or to someone interviewing them for admittance to a university or at a job interview.
Meaning plainly that Moslems probably always will make these people feel uncomfortable and that they will treat them accordingly as strangers even if not as enemies.
Therefore, tagging senator Obama with the middle name that he was given at birth and which still appears on his public records is a tactic that will in fact be used by his political opponents.
And further, being so identified as Barack Hussein Obama will cost this man a significant number of votes, both in the primary elections of the Democratic Party yet to come and in the general election in November 2008.
But you were raised in this country as one of those european Americans. What would you otherwise expect? Becoming president of the United States is one of the few avenues of immortality in this culture and in this republic. So the struggle to win such a campaign frequently and even typically becomes vicious as the screws tighten over each candidate.
But as you well know, anyone in this country otherwise qualified by birth, age and other relevant considerations, can run for president. But the Constitution of the United States provides no guarantee of social fairness in any such election.
And if Senator Obama had thought his given middle name would become a political minefield for him, he could have thought about that before becoming a candidate.
There is no fairness in these campaigns. You either win or you lose.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
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Willow, Karl Rove would agree.
invadesoda’s last blog post..The Assassination Smear
[…] politicalbetting.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt […]
This is all about making criticism of Obama off-limits. Now I agree that right-wing bloggers (and others) who insist on using the “Hussein” part of Obama’s name are playing an obvious game and I don’t like that game. But it IS his name. If he doesn’t like it being used, he can change it legally. If he is proud of it, he can turn its use back against his enemies by virtue of his silver tongue. But to go on and on about this is pointless.
CosmicConservative’s last blog post..How to get a fake memoir published
Feh. Its ironic he’s running against a famous ex-three-namer: Hillary Rodham Clinton.
She ditched the “Rodham” for what was most likely political reasons. Good for her.
Many of the folks who still call her “Hillary Rodham Clinton” are the same ones saying “Barack Hussein Obama”. And it means about as much.
Honestly, I think the Obama campaign is missing a real opportunity here. As Willow says, Hussein is a beautfiul name with a great history, and they shouldn’t be running away from it.
Every time some bigot brings it up negatively, they should emphasize that Barack’s proud of his name.
TallDave’s last blog post..Grow the [Redacted] Up
[Request waiver of Godwin’s Law]
I think the name “Adolph” was considered a perfectly reasonable, nice name — although except for Adolph Menjou, Dolph Schayes and Dolph Lundgren, I can’t name too many folks so benamed before or after the brutal dictator of the Third Reich wrecked it forever.
The problem is twofold: Hussein, as Willow notes, is probably a real, nice name, many thousands of good people sharing it. Of course, as Arnold notes, in the modern American era of sound bites and slick marketing, particularly in a heated presidential campaign, savvy, Lee Atwater types can be reasonably assured that using Barack Obama’s middle name, early and often, will probably send some American voters in the camp against him.
Don’t like it, myself, but that’s the way it is.
To use “Hussein” or not — that is the question.
HankB
definitely agree with dave and cosmicconservative here. michelle obama whining about it isn’t the solution. obama should have made a stronger statement and that should have been the message. “i’m not ashamed of my middle name, but i’m ashamed for america that people are trying to use my name against me.”
The issue is being avoided. The name Hussein begs the question: is there a part of Barak Obama, a deep, from childhood part, that identifies, on any level, with the Islamicist enemies of this country. And would this identification impact the way he handles foriegn/security policy on any level. And why should we take a chance? At least one German born general (US General Walter Krueger) was not allowed to fight in the European theater during WW2 because, even though he had spent his entire career in the military and was not suspected of disloyalty, he was still German born. This was for similar reasons.
This is doubly a concern since he is running under the banner of a party that has done all it could do to undermine US war efforst in Iraq.
The name Hussein begs the question: is there a part of Barak Obama, a deep, from childhood part, that identifies, on any level, with the Islamicist enemies of this country
Surely no one with a grasp of reality better than the Truthers can seriously ask this. Even devout Muslims generally don’t identify with AQ or Iran, let alone Christians who happen to have Islamic middle names.
Dave: Who does Louis Farrakahan identify more with? America or its Islamic enemies?
Dave: Are you sure Barak Obama doesn’t identify with Louis Farrakhan on any level at all? Am I a Truther for being concerned?
His middle name is immaterial. I wouldn’t vote for him if his name was Jesus Christ Obama. Anyone who does consider giving him their vote is proof of the tragic nature of Democracy- that even a brainless primate can cast a vote.
I take comfort in the fact that harping on a middle name probably isn’t enough to dissuade anyone who would have voted for Obama from voting for him–if it does, there’s no hope for sanity in the political process.
Well, sanity left the building in January, since (I know for a fact) many of his supporters support him specifically because he is a black man. So I ask Willow - is voting for him because he is black any more legitimate than not voting for him because of his middle name?
[…] politicalbetting.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt […]
No.
Hey, Dean, comment 12 looks suspiciously like trackback spam.
Willow, I think Scott has an important point. As I commented on open thread this weekend — before Dean lost my brilliant comments (hey, since you can’t read them, I can claim they were brilliant, and no one’s the wiser), there are African-Americans who are accusing any white American of racism if the white American dares to question Senator Obama’s positions or qualifications. The phoney racism accusations I’ve seen have outnumbered the citations of Senator Obama’s name, easily three to one.
I understand you’re sick of racists on the right and left who are making much of the Senator’s name. I’m sick of Democrat racists who cry racism every time someone dares oppose him. There are idiots and racists all across the political spectrum.
Mike,
Walter Krueger wasn’t the only man in the Army sent across the world to fight against his old country’s allies and not against the old country itself.
One of the most famous US Army regiments in World War II was the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT), comprising mostly Japanese-Americans from Hawaii. They did their fighting up through the italian boot against the forces of field marshal Kesselring, rather than in the Far East. Damned good soldiers, too.
But this situation did have its moments of humor. Audi Murphy, the much-decorated US Army hero of the 3rd infantry division, who later became a Hollywood movie star, related in his memoirs that one day he was walking around Naples, at that time in a rear area of the fighting zone. One of his buddies saw some japanese-american troops, presumably from the 442nd, walking along the street. He turned around, slapped his head in mock anguish, and said:
“The war is lost.”
“Why?”", one of the other guys asked.
“Because the Japs have just conquered Naples.”
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Arnold,
That’s funny.
The name Hussein begs the question: is there a part of Barak Obama, a deep, from childhood part, that identifies, on any level, with the Islamicist enemies of this country
I am speechless.
Well, here’s exhibit A as rebuttal to anyone who still thinks Obama should “publicly embrace” his middle name. The people who keep invoking it are doing so precisely because they want people like Mike to “beg the question” above.
Aziz Poonawalla’s last blog post..9 inch EEE
I am considering changing my name to Inv Ali DeSoda. If this comment slips in, I’ll assume the other one is waiting moderation because of it having a link in it.
Inv A. DeSoda’s last blog post..The Assassination Smear
Yeah, it must be the link. That would seem to put a damper in Open Thread Friday.
Inv A. DeSoda’s last blog post..The Assassination Smear
mike,
should we also be cautious of people named louis, then?
Zach,
Ha.
Aziz,
I am speechless that you are speechless.
I am waiting to vote for Bobby Jindal for President anyway.
mike,
it wasn’t supposed to be funny. your claim is that because obama has the middle name hussein, we should be less trustworthy of him. you then said you didn’t trust the allegiances of louis farrakhan. therefore, should we also be less trustworthy of all louises? and if that is ridiculous why is doubting obama because his middle name is hussein not ridiculous?
zach.’s last blog post..The Added Benefit of Being True
zach,
The Ha was that you are trying so hard to misunderstand me and mischaracterize me. Obviously my problems with Obamas middle name are to be taken in context with his spiritual mentor being a fan of the Nation of Islam leader Farakhan. I would have much less of an issue with a Clarence Hussein Thomas. A person’s identity from his youth and his connection to his father, even an absent one, is a powerful thing. And since Obama is part of the “don’t question my patriotism while I undermine the US war efforts ” Democrats, that raises more doubts. Like I said, nothing is conclusive, but why should I take a chance, especially with the Presidency. By the way, would you vote for Keith Ellison for President?
mike,
I honestly wasn’t trying. If I misunderstood you, I apologize.
Does “denouncing and rejecting” Farrakhan count as “being a fan”?
I don’t understand what “chance” this is that you’re taking? The chance that Obama is a crypto-muslim or secretly supports AQ? As Dave said above, the AQ bit is truther territory, and even if he did secretly turn out to be a muslim, so f’ing what?
I wouldn’t vote for Ellison for President because I think he’d be a shitty president. It’s got nothing to do with him being Muslim.
zach.’s last blog post..The Added Benefit of Being True
Zach,
It’s too late to denounce Farakhan. While running for President, it’s not a credible denial. Except for the exceptionally naive. Besides, his denunciation seemed disingenuous. As I said, his spiritual mentor is the avowed fan, not him. But why choose such a mentor, and for all those years?
The chance we are taking by having him president isn’t vis a vis Al Queida. It is that his judgment, at the margin, might be skewed by a conscious or unconscious indeification with Muslims. And this may lead to poor decision making. For example, his “let’s hold a conference and talk to all the rabid Muslim leaders that want to destroy us” idea.
Also, I want a President who considers himself a proud (and I mean was always proud, not just lately proud) American, who loves American deep in his bones. A la Ronald Regan. Not a la Michelle Obama. Is Barak that kind? Why should I think so. Especially since all he talks about is “change”. So American now is bad?
Regarding Muslims in general, (which Obama does not say he is anyway), why choose from among them, when there is a reasonable doubt as to how identified any Muslim individual is with America, rather than a person whose religion is not part of a conflict with America? Until I see “mainstream” Muslims doing something highly visible to counter the impression that the Islamists make, I will always feel that should the Islamicsts gain the upper hand, they will find it just as easy to go along with them. Religion is a powerful thing.
Is my thinking fair? Sure. No one is owed the Presidency. They have to convice me.
After all of that, why should I take a risk for Obama? So he can fulfill his left wing agenda or his blah blah whatever empty campaign planks?
Bobby Jindal I am waiting for you?
mike,
so in your opinion it is a plausible scenario that islamists get the upper hand in american politics? are you on drugs?? if you don’t see mainstream muslims denouncing terrorism then you are simply not looking. if you don’t like obama, that’s fine. you can not vote for him for whatever reason you choose. he has many tough questions to answer between now and a victory in november. the strength of his commitment to america, however, is not among them. not that such a question is out of bounds, but rather that it has already been answered.
zach.’s last blog post..Does he speak like an ordinary guy?
also, what does bobby jindal have to do with the discussion?
zach.’s last blog post..Does he speak like an ordinary guy?
Zach,
I see that the American mainstream media and creative community self censors itself for fear of Muslim violence. Violence that takes place in Europe. I could also believe that members of congress, not known to be particulary selfless and brave in our day, could be intimidated one day in the not distant future. Remember, a relitively small number of organized criminals, willing to murder and pay the price in silence, has a power vastly greater than its numbers. Why is this not plausible to you. Especially when we see Saudi Arab oil money buying education departments at universities around the country. What else are they buying? Who else are they buying? When muslim imams recruit violent prison populations? When Europe has no go zones for its police? When our feckless state department settles thousands of Somalis in Minnesota? When flying immams and other launch lawfare against american corporations? When democrats attack communications companies for cooperating with our self defence efforts? Bit by bit , step by small step, things are happening. Wake up.
mike,
you seem to be living in a nightmare born out of unreasonable fears. the reason that the american experience is not the european one vis a vis muslim immigration is that we are much better at assimilating even vast numbers of immigrants into our amorphous national culture, whereas in europe they remain second class citizens. and democrats are not attacking communications companies, they simply don’t want to give them total immunity in a program that has high potential for abuse.
maybe i’m asleep, but wake me up when the country passes a law aimed at appeasing islamists. until then i think i’ll have a wee bit more faith in our government.
all of which is beside the main point, which is that obama is no more or less likely to capitulate our country to, sympathize with (secretly or publicly), or in any other way give comfort to al qaeda than any other democrat. maybe that means you won’t vote democrat, and that’s okay.
Zach,
Well, I wouldn’t say that I’m living a nightmare, only that I have reason to be concerned. I believe the fundimental disagreement between us is your statement :
“the reason that the american experience is not the european one vis a vis muslim immigration is that we are much better at assimilating even vast numbers of immigrants into our amorphous national culture, whereas in europe they remain second class citizens”
I believe that our ability to assimilate ideologically sincere and deeply religious Islamicists is zero. I agree that a decent society like this one can assimilate many Muslims, to one degree or another. But there will always be a hard core, and I estimate a large one, of those that can’t and won’t be assimilated because - they don’t want to be. I believe it is a weakness of our secular intellegencia that they can’t relate to this because of their secularism. And it is those people that I believe are slowly and surely , inch by inch, devotedly, laying the political and cultural groundwork for thier control of this country. Will they succeed? If we let them, yes they will. They have fertile ground here, becuase great segments of this society are alienated and/or apathetic and do not have a strong identity and a willingness to fight to preserve the values that built this country. In fact, significant and powerful segments of society are against those values and work against them. They will find themselves aiding and abetting the Islamicists, whether they realize it or not.
United we stand, but, I’m afraid, we are now severely divided.
mike,
i think we must just be too far apart on this.
from my standpoint, the u.s. is a deeply religious country, and i don’t see any reason why a devout, sincere muslim can’t be assimilated into the u.s. or why they would choose not to be? if you click through a couple links on the carnival of brass linkblog, you’ll see posts from plenty of assimilated but very devout muslims.
by what metric do you estimate that there is a large core of wholly unassimilated islamicists (to be distinguished from mainstream muslims, i hope?) in our mists?
Zach,
I didn’t say devout sincere Muslims can’t be assimilated into this country. I said hardcore Islamicists can’t and won’t.
As to metrics, neither you nor I have them. I refer you to the work of Steve Emerson for why I might have made the better estimate of the situation.
As for the US being a deeply religous country, maybe yes and maybe no. But its governing, legal, educational and media elites are indifferent at best and frequently hostile at worst to the Judeo Christian tradition that the nation was built from. The impact is that religion for most in this country is a mile wide and an inch thick.
Also, when there is too much lesiure and luxury, but not enough spirutual development and discipline, people tend to go crazy and seek to destroy themselves and others. I believe that dynamic is working in this country.
sorry, mike, i just have a brighter view of it, i guess.
I remember seeing Jihad in America a long time ago, but IIRC there’s nothing in that that even remotely suggests that the number of Islamists is large, especially when compared with regular muslims. Not that we should ignore the issue, of course not. But there’s no need to go off the deep end about it.
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