One of the things I missed last week was the creepy little story of New Jersey elementary-school kids being taught songs in praise of Barack Obama. I’m sorry, that’s just un-American; in this country, we don’t venerate our leaders until they’re safely off the stage, and usually dead. This sort of engineered adulation belongs in places like North Korea, not here. I’m with Tyler Dawn—I’d find this just as creepy and just as nauseating if it had been for President Bush, or President Reagan, or anybody else.
Incidentally, for all the folks who were having hysterics and mocking conservatives for their reaction to the President’s school speech—granted that that reaction was in many instances excessive—stuff like this is the reason for it. It wasn’t that the President was speaking to our kids, it was the suspicion that he wanted to politicize them and turn them into Obamabots—and that the public-school system would, in large part, gladly go along with that agenda—that sent so many people up in flames; and garbage like this only reinforces and aggravates those concerns.
Now, obviously, it’s not likely that this was directly orchestrated by the White House; but it’s all of a piece with the politics-by-personality-cult approach Barack Obama and his campaign have taken all along. It’s the sort of thing that prompted even a liberal like Doug Hagler to complain about the messianic tone of the Obama campaign, which went along with the candidate’s apparent messianic view of his own leadership. This isn’t even the first creepy video this has produced—not by a long shot.
Yikes.
I suppose I can see reasons for Obama to get more attention than previous modern presidents because he does represent a watershed for this country in my opinion – the first non-white guy and so on. That's *huge* regardless of his party.
I'm just creeped out by cults of personality. I get this twisty feeling in my stomach, a lesser version of what I feel when I watch video of, say, North Koreans who are brainwashed into worshipping Kim Jong Il.
I think that the idolatry of the last 8 years was a generalized worship of a particular view of America – hypermasculine, gloriously violent, and morally unaccountable. Now the idolatry seems to be more specific in nature – of Obama's person as exemplifying another view of America (theoretically populist and egalitarian, functionally interventionist and bureaucratic).
I can't say the change is better, though. I'd rather have an idolatry that is divorced from a particular person, in a way, because it can encompass more, and is harder to turn into something slavish. Even though I find the neoconservative vision of American to be disgusting, I feel like it is more diffuse, more likely to adapt perhaps in light of its (many) failures. I'm not sure that'll happen with a cult of personality – they seem to be almost immune to learning until there is some big collapse…
Anyway, long comment, but yeah, I'm creeped out.
I'm with you on that, all the way.
Having said that, though, it should be noted that the song was part of Black History Month, shortly after the Inauguration, was part of a program praising other presidents as well as Obama, and the lyrics were provided to parents before the program began so that they would know all that was planned. So Fox News claims that this is equivalent to the Khmer Rouge or North Korea are asinine, as are 99% of all Fox News claims ;). It's creepy, but not even unique to Obama. Apparently there were Louisiana schoolkids singing songs to praise Bush and FEMA after Katrina…
Just wanted to make sure that I painted both deserving "sides" with the same brush.
Actually, I'd be curious to see some kind of analysis of messianic language about W. I know I remember hearing it, though not as pronounced as it has been for Obama….
Apparently there were Louisiana schoolkids singing songs to praise Bush and FEMA after Katrina…
Didn't hear that; I would have had the same reaction. Nor do I recall hearing any messianic language directed toward any Republican at any point in the preceding eight years (though some of the reactions to Sarah Palin were heading that direction; I commented unfavorably on that at the time). That kind of thing is purely out of line and out of bounds, regardless of political party.
Doug, could you provide a link about those Bush songs after Katrina? If they were anything other than, "Thank you Mr President… ya, ya, ya…" I think I will go bathe in something caustic after listening.
Personally, I would not have had any problem with lyrics celebrating Black History Month saying something like "Hey, Hey thanks to MLK, we've come a long way, now America has President Obama to lead the way," or something like that (only better written…. needless to say). Because it would have been accurate, and anyone offended by it would be just looking for an excuse.
Okay, I found it, here are the words:
Our country's stood beside us People have sent us aid. Katrina could not stop us, our hopes will never fade. Congress, Bush and FEMA People across our land Together have come to rebuild us and we join them hand-in-hand!
I have to say that this bears no resemblance to the songs about President Obama, and it was performed at the White House for the Easter Egg roll. I was a bit worried and had my "ick" face on as I went looking for it. But expecting to be mortified and grossed out, I feel much better now. Heck, it mentioned our do-nothing Congress and didn't even say the word President or give the former President a first name ROFL
And even worse, who would want to be sandwiched inbetween Congress and Fema, isn't that the 8th level in hell according to Dante? 😉