Guest Voices

Barack, Thy Name is Biblical

Vilifying Barack Obama's name has become a favorite blood sport in the 2008 presidential campaign. Recent examples range from repeated mentions of "B. Hussein Obama" by conservative pundit Ann Coulter to four allusions to Obama's "Muslim sounding middle name" by Republican strategist Cheri Jabobus on MSNBC in defense of similar language. Time correspondent Mark Halperin predicts that the McCain campaign will likely continue to "emphasize Barack Hussein Obama's unusual name," despite McCain's repudiation of this tactic. Obama himself warns supporters that his "funny" name will be targeted.

The actual lineage of Barack Obama's name, however, extending back to a revered biblical namesake, befits his status as a Christian of rich ancestral influences. Obama's first name, Barack, means "blessed" in the African languages of Luo and Swahili, both spoken widely in his deceased father's birthplace of Kenya. The African "Barack" originates from the Arabic word "baracka." Barack and "baracka" mean the same as the Hebrew word "baruch," as Obama himself noted in his 1995 memoir, "Dreams from My Father," and at recent campaign appearances.

Famous historical figures with derivations of that name are philosopher Baruch Spinoza, philanthropist Bernard Baruch and Pope Benedict XVI -- "Benedict" is the Latinized form of Baruch.

Despite their similar sounds, Barack has a different linguistic root than Barak, the last name of former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, which means "lightning" in Hebrew.

Obama's middle name, Hussein, derives from the Arabic word Hassan, which means something inherently good. Some linguists believe that the Irish name Ó hOsáin or Hassan is derived from the same word. Historical figures with names deriving from that root include Prince Hassan and the late King Hussein of Jordan and King Hassan II of Morocco. The name of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, an ally of both the United States and of Israel, has precisely the same roots, in reverse, as Barack Hussein.

Barack Obama shares with past American presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, Zachary Taylor, and Benjamin Harrison, the distinction of a notable biblical namesake. Baruch Ben Neriah was a scribe and friend of the prophet Jeremiah and also the reputed author of the apocryphal Book of Baruch, a canonical biblical book for Roman Catholics. He is the subject of Jewish and Christian religious lore from the Talmud to the writings of fourth-century church father Jerome and is portrayed as a righteous sage granted a tour of heaven itself.

Baruch Ben Neriah makes a fascinating appearance in recent archeological finds, as detailed by J. Edward Wright in his book, "Baruch Ben Neriah: From Biblical Scribe to Apocalyptic Seer." Showing up also, indirectly, in these finds is Ebed-Melech, a black Ethiopian who is identified with Baruch Ben Neriah in some ancient rabbinic commentaries and who rescued Jeremiah after the prophet was imprisoned by three ministers of King Zedekiah (Jeremiah 38:1-13). The names of Baruch Ben Neriah, "the scribe," and of two of these royal ministers all appear in ancient Hebrew inscriptions on clay seals, the first on display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and the others unearthed in dramatic recent finds by archeologist Eilat Mazar in Jerusalem just this July and in August 2005.

I asked Dr. Wright, who is director of Judaic studies at the University of Arizona and president of the J.F. Albright Institute of Archeological Research, about these developments concerning Obama's name. "The way some pundits are using name associations is beyond simply naive; it is truly shameful," Dr. Wright said. "As names, both Barack and Hussein have noble pedigrees, and this fact should be used to promote understanding and not to provoke political or religious enmity."

It remains to be seen how the strange versus "blessed" interplay behind Obama's name will resonate with Bible-centered voters as well as with other Americans. Will voters be influenced more by fear of differences or by appreciation of America's diverse religious and cultural tapestry and the prophetic stands within?

If the latter influences prevail, and if Obama's linguistic lineage continues to feed his charismatic appeal, his detractors may find themselves wishing they could just call him Barry.

David Scheim is the author of the 1989 New York Times best seller, "Contract on America," and a member of an interfaith Bible discussion group in Patrick County, Virginia.

By David E. Scheim |  August 28, 2008; 3:00 AM ET Save & Share:  Send E-mail   Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Yahoo Buzz   Del.icio.us   StumbleUpon   Technorati  
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WHERE ALSO ARE OUR AMERICAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS ??


SENATOR OBAMA,THIS JUDICIAL INJUSTICE HAS BECOME AN AMERICAN ART FORM,AND NO LONGER CAN BE KEPT HIDDEN OR SECRET FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE !!!

WHEN AMERICANS WERE TOLD THE TRUTH BY THIS HONEST BLACK LEADER,WHO WENT ON TO BECOME A US PRESIDENT ???

LETS ALL HOPE OUR MEDIA FRIENDS CONTINUE TO SHOW AN INTEREST IN REPORTING ON THIS AMERICAN HORROR FACING THESE (TENS OF THOUSANDS) FORGOTTEN AND TRAPPED POORER AMERICANS, AND HOW THIS PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER HANDLES THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE FACING AMERICA?S LATINO AND BLACK AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ????

WITH 80% OF THE BLACK AMERICAN VOTERS SAYING THEY SUPPORT SENATOR OBAMA IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IT IS ONLY FAIR FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW PRIOR BEING ELECTED OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HOW THIS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TRULY FEELS ABOUT THIS AMERICAN JUDICIAL INJUSTICE CONTINUING TO INFLICT GRAVE HARM ON THE BLACK & LATINO AMERICAN FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE ??????

*** WHEN GOD?S FACE BECAME VERY RED ***
THE US SUPREME COURT GAVE ENEMY COMBATANTS FEDERAL APPEAL HC RIGHTS LAWYERS AND PROPER ACCESS TO US FEDERAL COURTS,AND POORER AMERICANS (MANY EVEN ON DEATH ROW) ARE DENIED PROPER FEDERAL APPEAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OUR US FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEAL, AND ROTTING IN AMERICAN PRISONS NATIONWIDE ?????????

**** INNOCENT AMERICANS ARE DENIED REAL HC RIGHTS WITH THEIR FEDERAL APPEALS !
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE $LOWLY FINDING OUT HOW EA$Y IT I$ FOR MIDDLE CLA$$ AND WORKING POOR AMERICAN$ TO FALL VICTIM TO OUR U$ MONETARY JUDICIAL $Y$TEM.

****WHEN THE US INNOCENT WERE ABANDONED BY THE GUILTY ****
The prison experts have reported that there are 100,000 innocent Americans currently being falsely imprisoned along with the 2,300,000 total US prison population nationwide.
Since our US Congress has never afforded poor prison inmates federal appeal legal counsel for their federal retrials,they have effectively closed the doors on these tens of thousands of innocent citizens ever being capable of possibly exonerating themselves to regain their freedom through being granted new retrials.

This same exact unjust situation was happening in our Southern States when poor and mostly uneducated Black Americans were being falsely imprisoned for endless decades without the needed educational skills to properly submit their own written federal trial appeals.

This devious and deceptive judicial process of making our poor and innocent prison inmates formulate and write their own federal appeal legal cases for possible retrials on their state criminal cases,is still in effect today even though everyone in our US judicial system knows that without proper legal representation, these tens of thousands of innocent prison inmates will be denied their rightful opportunities of ever being granted new trials from our federal appeal judges!!

Sadly, the true US *legal* Federal Appeal situation that occurs when any of our uneducated American prison inmates are forced to attempt to submit their own written Federal Appeals (from our prisons nationwide) without the assistance of proper legal counsel, is that they all are in reality being denied their legitimate rights for Habeas Corpus and will win any future Supreme Court Case concerning this injustice!

For our judicial system and our US Congressional Leaders Of The Free World to continue to pretend that this is a real and fair opportunity for our American Middle Class and Working Poor Citizens, only delays the very needed future change of Federal Financing of all these Federal appeals becoming a normal formula of Our American judicial system.

It was not so very long ago that Public Defenders became a Reality in this country.Prior that legal reality taking place, their were also some who thought giving anyone charged with a crime a free lawyer was a waste of taxpayers $$.

This FACADE and HORROR of our Federal Appeal proce$$ is not worthy of the Greatest Country In The World!

***GREAT SOCIETIES THAT DO NOT PROTECT EVEN THEIR INNOCENT, BECOME THE GUILTY!

A MUST READ ABOUT AMERICAN INJUSTICE:
1) YAHOO AND 2) GOOGLE
MANNY GONZALES THE KID THAT EVERYONE FORGOT IN THE CA PRISON SYSTEM. ** A JUDICIAL RIDE OF ONES LIFE !

lawyersforpooramericans@yahoo.com
(424-247-2013)

Posted by: DOUGLAS FIELD | September 7, 2008 9:26 PM
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WHERE ALSO ARE OUR AMERICAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS ??


SENATOR OBAMA,THIS JUDICIAL INJUSTICE HAS BECOME AN AMERICAN ART FORM,AND NO LONGER CAN BE KEPT HIDDEN OR SECRET FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE !!!

WHEN AMERICANS WERE TOLD THE TRUTH BY THIS HONEST BLACK LEADER,WHO WENT ON TO BECOME A US PRESIDENT ???

LETS ALL HOPE OUR MEDIA FRIENDS CONTINUE TO SHOW AN INTEREST IN REPORTING ON THIS AMERICAN HORROR FACING THESE (TENS OF THOUSANDS) FORGOTTEN AND TRAPPED POORER AMERICANS, AND HOW THIS PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER HANDLES THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE FACING AMERICA?S LATINO AND BLACK AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ????

WITH 80% OF THE BLACK AMERICAN VOTERS SAYING THEY SUPPORT SENATOR OBAMA IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IT IS ONLY FAIR FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW PRIOR BEING ELECTED OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HOW THIS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TRULY FEELS ABOUT THIS AMERICAN JUDICIAL INJUSTICE CONTINUING TO INFLICT GRAVE HARM ON THE BLACK & LATINO AMERICAN FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE ??????

*** WHEN GOD?S FACE BECAME VERY RED ***
THE US SUPREME COURT GAVE ENEMY COMBATANTS FEDERAL APPEAL HC RIGHTS LAWYERS AND PROPER ACCESS TO US FEDERAL COURTS,AND POORER AMERICANS (MANY EVEN ON DEATH ROW) ARE DENIED PROPER FEDERAL APPEAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OUR US FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEAL, AND ROTTING IN AMERICAN PRISONS NATIONWIDE ?????????

**** INNOCENT AMERICANS ARE DENIED REAL HC RIGHTS WITH THEIR FEDERAL APPEALS !
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE $LOWLY FINDING OUT HOW EA$Y IT I$ FOR MIDDLE CLA$$ AND WORKING POOR AMERICAN$ TO FALL VICTIM TO OUR U$ MONETARY JUDICIAL $Y$TEM.

****WHEN THE US INNOCENT WERE ABANDONED BY THE GUILTY ****
The prison experts have reported that there are 100,000 innocent Americans currently being falsely imprisoned along with the 2,300,000 total US prison population nationwide.
Since our US Congress has never afforded poor prison inmates federal appeal legal counsel for their federal retrials,they have effectively closed the doors on these tens of thousands of innocent citizens ever being capable of possibly exonerating themselves to regain their freedom through being granted new retrials.

This same exact unjust situation was happening in our Southern States when poor and mostly uneducated Black Americans were being falsely imprisoned for endless decades without the needed educational skills to properly submit their own written federal trial appeals.

This devious and deceptive judicial process of making our poor and innocent prison inmates formulate and write their own federal appeal legal cases for possible retrials on their state criminal cases,is still in effect today even though everyone in our US judicial system knows that without proper legal representation, these tens of thousands of innocent prison inmates will be denied their rightful opportunities of ever being granted new trials from our federal appeal judges!!

Sadly, the true US *legal* Federal Appeal situation that occurs when any of our uneducated American prison inmates are forced to attempt to submit their own written Federal Appeals (from our prisons nationwide) without the assistance of proper legal counsel, is that they all are in reality being denied their legitimate rights for Habeas Corpus and will win any future Supreme Court Case concerning this injustice!

For our judicial system and our US Congressional Leaders Of The Free World to continue to pretend that this is a real and fair opportunity for our American Middle Class and Working Poor Citizens, only delays the very needed future change of Federal Financing of all these Federal appeals becoming a normal formula of Our American judicial system.

It was not so very long ago that Public Defenders became a Reality in this country.Prior that legal reality taking place, their were also some who thought giving anyone charged with a crime a free lawyer was a waste of taxpayers $$.

This FACADE and HORROR of our Federal Appeal proce$$ is not worthy of the Greatest Country In The World!

***GREAT SOCIETIES THAT DO NOT PROTECT EVEN THEIR INNOCENT, BECOME THE GUILTY!

A MUST READ ABOUT AMERICAN INJUSTICE:
1) YAHOO AND 2) GOOGLE
MANNY GONZALES THE KID THAT EVERYONE FORGOT IN THE CA PRISON SYSTEM. ** A JUDICIAL RIDE OF ONES LIFE !

lawyersforpooramericans@yahoo.com
(424-247-2013)

Posted by: DOUGLAS FIELD | September 7, 2008 9:10 PM
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Just to clear up some confusion, the Hebrew name Barak, which can, and actually should be spelled Baraq means lightning, and derives from the root brq
ברק. This is also a biblical name, that of the General Baraq who, together with Devorah led the Israelite armies to victory over the Canaanites.

The Arabic version of that name is buruq, from the same root brq.

Semitic languages are constructed round the root system. The Modern Hebrew word for telegram mibrak, comes from the same root, as it was as fast as lightning. Another modern Hebrew word derived from the same root is mabrik, which means shining.

To give another example of how Semitic languages work, the root ktv means write. From this we have miktav-letter, kituv-spelling, kotev-writes, ketav-writing.

Barack, as written in the article comes from the root brck, which means blessing. The Hebrew form of the root is brch. The Semitic letter at the end of the root is chaf in Hebrew (guttural ch sound like Scottish loch) and ckaf (hard k)in Arabic.

Posted by: yoni | September 1, 2008 5:25 PM
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Fun stuff. Irrelevant, but fun.

Posted by: Bob S. | September 1, 2008 2:14 AM
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We have to be greatful for the informative and noble research of the roots to the candidates' names. However, doesn't it ever dawn on you, that the roots to the name Obama are never explored?
I believe exploring his family name is more important than the secondary ones.

Posted by: Malunda Wanda | August 31, 2008 9:43 AM
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This is SPIN. Besides, the Democrats have been fixated on names for decades, and asking us to use Muslim names. Now they are angry? Indeed, the fact that you use Senator Hussein's own book as a primary source, and attack Ann Coulter suggests that the Washington Post is playing politics.

Posted by: Ben Australlia | August 30, 2008 8:42 PM
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David:

Now that you've elucidated the meaning of Barak Hussein Obama's names-

Please shed some light on the meaning and sibnificance of the names Bill and Bernadette.

Thanks.

Posted by: Back Story Please | August 29, 2008 3:23 PM
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Thanks for shining light into this potentially damaging and misunderstood corner.

Posted by: VICTORIA | August 29, 2008 2:49 PM
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I appreciate kind words posted about this piece and just want to clarify that the linguistic analysis was extremely well researched and accurate. In semitic languages, words are composed of root letters (for Hebrew baruch, for example, Beit Resh Khaf, v. Qof which would corresponding to "lightning"). But there can be different vowels used in conjunction with the same root letters and also different variants in meanings. This kind of detail was not appropriate for this short article.

Of course, we should make decisions about a candidate based on policy and record, not name. But there's a subterranean roar of attacks out there on the web using Obama's name to try to raise sinister implications. Floyd Brown, creator of the 1988 Willie Horton ads used against Michael Dukakis, is involved in one video now along these lines. If we're going to be diverted by this name focus, let's use it in a way consistent with American values and to learn about a fascinating character in the bible. Let's shine light on this and see how the bedraggled, late dictator Saddam Hussein stacks up against Pope Benedict, dignitaries, and Baruch Ben Neriah. - David

Posted by: David Scheim (article author) | August 29, 2008 2:43 PM
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I applaud Mr. Scheim's efforts- although I wish he would have researched the subject a little more deeply.

"Barack, means "blessed" in the African languages of Luo and Swahili, both spoken widely in his deceased father's birthplace of Kenya. The African "Barack" originates from the Arabic word "baracka." Barack and "baracka" mean the same as the Hebrew word "baruch,".

Buraq means lightning. Barak means lightning in Hebrew- similar but from a different root.


Baruch and berakhah-

This confusion stems largely from difficulties in the translation. The Hebrew word "barukh" is not a verb describing what we do to G-d; it is an adjective describing G-d as the source of all blessings. When we recite a berakhah, we are not blessing G-d; we are expressing wonder at how blessed G-d is.

Here is an interesting analysis form a spirutal POV-
http://www.jewishmag.com/92mag/blessings/blessings.htm

The (Hebrew) berakhah and the (arabic) baraka are similar in that they are both acts of giving blessings or receiving blessings- and included in both is a gratitude for blessings received from the god.

The difference is, in the naem- the named is the one who has a blessing conferred upon them.

I just love words, and their etymology (roots) so it's a partuclarly fascinating subject for me.

I really appreciate the good intentions of the author, Mr. Scheim.

Posted by: VICTORIA | August 29, 2008 1:55 PM
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--

By: JAKTOEC{LAT}ian, INTERFAiTH-NATiON-USA!

---

TO: ALL, EVERY & ANY Pre-Apocalyptic SHMUCKS , aka NiCOLAiTAN(s) , Interfaith Nation Enemy’s, from HARVARD & GEORGETOWN & BERKLEYUni Religio Dept’s :

Please: Stop Satanically switcharooing between a Pure 'SECUALR'ist & a un-pure HUMAniSta!

Note: There is no Such thing as a SECULAR-HUMiNiST any more! Do not mix apple with orange pleaze! SCHAME SCHAME SCAEME!

VOTE For: innate "SiNGULARiTY" Of ReLiGiON() in U.S.A. & elsewhere Never via "PLURALiTY" of man-made imported RELiGiON(s) in America!

imagine: The O.ne U.niversal R.eligion B.ook O.f T.ransfinity [O.U.R.-B.O.T.]; aka The Religion of Everything Before the Science of Everything!

HALLALUYA! Praise the HOL{i}-NEVER-WO&MEN!

Goodbye "Interfaith-Nation" pipe dreamers!


Goodbye jealous Evil "HUMAnIST's" [Zero SECULAR] like ye proud Judeo Mr. gods-chosen-people , G.M.Epstein & idiot(s)!

Originally Posted on Judeo-Ju boys Epsteins Blig August 29, 2008 12:05 PM

Posted by: By: JAKTAN INTERFAiTH-NATiON-USA! | August 29, 2008 1:03 PM
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TO: SHMUCKS from HARVARD & GEORGETOWN & BERKLEY Religio folks:

VOTE For: innate "SiNGULARiTY" Of ReLiGiON() in U.S.A. & elsewhere Never via "PLURALiTY" of man-made imported RELiGiON(s) in America!

Goodbye "Interfaith-Nation" pipe dreamers!


Goodbye jealous Evil "HUMAnIST's" [Zero SECULAR] like ye proud Judeo Mr. gods-chosen-people , G.M.Epstein & idiot(s)!

August 29, 2008 12:05 PM

Posted by: Anonymous | August 29, 2008 12:08 PM
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"Barak in Hebrew and Arabic measns “lightning”

I have noted for some itme on this board and others that Muslims always typed "Barak Obama" not "Barack Obama". It has happened with such frequency that I made a note to check it out.

hmm.. interesting..

Posted by: interesting | August 29, 2008 11:40 AM
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Re Barak's name:
Buraq is not to be confused with Barak and
Barakeh. Barak in Hebrew and Arabic measns “lighting” while Barakeh means blessing in Arabic. Buraq, on the other hand, is a mythical animal who looks like a winged horse that carried the Muslim prophet overnight from Mecca to Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, the cite of King Solomon Temple. This is according to the Quran which Muslims believe to be the literal words of Allah. From there the prophet allegedly ascended to the seven heavens where he visited with all the other prophets and later saw Allah. No one saw him take that trip and the woman with whom he stayed that night did not see him leave her room. The Muslims of the world use this story to claim Jerusalem as their third holiest city after Mecca and Medina.

Posted by: Observer | August 29, 2008 11:12 AM
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Today, coopers are often called barrel makers. Shooters to thrill. We can spin some barrels, so grab your partner and stay locked and loaded.
http://www.jimbeam.com/Legal.aspx?redirectUrl=%2fDefault.aspx

Posted by: Jim | August 29, 2008 10:46 AM
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"Senator Obama should be judged based on his works, both past, present and future. Period."

um ah great idea Obama Wellwisher.

Why not name a few in each catagory?

Posted by: Anonymous | August 29, 2008 12:46 AM
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Senator Obama should be judged based on his works, both past, present and future. Period.

Posted by: Obama Well Wisher | August 29, 2008 12:40 AM
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I find it endlessly amusing that such a desperate attempt is being made to add all sorts of mystical significance to Senator Obama's name.

No amount of twisting and turning will change the fact that the name is that of his Muslim father.

The question is why should that matter?

Posted by: Obama Well Wisher | August 29, 2008 12:39 AM
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Just noting so the mistake isn't repeated. The arabic word baraka means the blessing one receives from performing a good deed, and is more closely likened to mitzvah.

(Arabic: البُراق al-buraaq, meaning lightning; is a mythical creature from Islamic tradition. It was said to have been a creature from the heavens, which in the 7th century, carried the prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem and back during the Isra and Miraj (Night Journey), which is the title of one of the chapters of the Qur'an.

In Turkey, Burak is a very common name also.

I believe Obama's name as no real basis in either, but is as noted by the author, a swahili name.

The name Hussein is a diminutive version of Hasan, which means handsome, one who is good.
And is the name of the sons of Ali, the son in law of the Prophet(pbuh)

Posted by: VICTORIA | August 29, 2008 12:32 AM
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Anonymous: August 29, 2008 12:00 AM

"Will you please vote for me as President of the United States - because I have got a really special name?"

Congratulations Obama Wellwisher. That's the most lucid reason to vote for Obama I've heard in a long long time.

---------------------------

You missed the satire entirely I think.

The latest objection to Senator Obama seems to be his name. People are not going to vote for him because he has the "wrong" name?

So I countered, if people are voting merely a name or refusing to vote merely because of a name, then I'm eligible to be President of the United States of America.

Vote the policies and party of your choice, even if the politician representing the policies and the party of your is called Micky Mouse.

What is in a name? A rose by any other name...


Posted by: Obama Well Wisher | August 29, 2008 12:27 AM
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"Will you please vote for me as President of the United States - because I have got a really special name?"

Congratulations Obama Wellwisher. That's the most lucid reason to vote for Obama I've heard in a long long time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbjBHkKiS4c

Posted by: Anonymous | August 29, 2008 12:00 AM
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Anonymous tells Athena:

"Question: what would be "wrong" with Obama being a Muslim if he were? I thought the USA respected all religions?"

Yes! We respect the right for anybody to choose his religion and practice it without any sort of compulsion. What is wrong with a Muslim being a president of the USA? A Muslim is synonymous with a person who simply believes and do not practice critical thinking. The presidency of any country is too important to have someone as such to hold it.

Posted by: Observer | August 28, 2008 11:56 PM
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I have got a really special and unique name, filled with such significance and really no one else in the world has my name.

Will you please vote for me as President of the United States - because I have got a really special name?

Posted by: Obama Well Wisher | August 28, 2008 11:28 PM
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The Anonymous was Obama Well Wisher

Posted by: Anonymous | August 28, 2008 11:24 PM
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What is wrong with the son of Muslim, who was named after his father, having a Muslim name?

Since Senator Obama has been a Christian for at least twenty years, proved by his membership in the Church of Rev Wright and was an agnostic/atheist before that (his mother was an atheist, his father was a non-practicing Muslim), WHY this big deal about a name?

Does a President's name have to have some special significance, failing which one must be invented as in this essay?

Senator Obama has his Muslim father's name. SO WHAT?

Posted by: Anonymous | August 28, 2008 11:23 PM
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Athena writes:

"Only ignorant, uninformed people actually believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim. What are you going to believe - some rumor on the Internets or the ample proof of his Christianity?"

Question: what would be "wrong" with Obama being a Muslim if he were? I thought the USA respected all religions? Would being a Muslim rule him out as becoming president?

Posted by: Anonymous | August 28, 2008 7:06 PM
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And yet, no Republic has pointed out our current president's use of a pseudonym - gw bush - in place of his birth name, Alfred E. Newman.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 28, 2008 7:02 PM
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Hussein is an Arabic name which means “small good looking“. It is true that Christian Arabs have historically avoided using this name, yet now there are many ex-Muslims with that name. Obama’s father was a nominal Muslim, but no evidence that Barak ever was. Maybe another reason for non-Muslims to name their children Hussein. Barakeh is also an Arabic name, but not as near as popular as Hassan or Hussein. A well known Arab member of Israel’s Knesset is called Mohammad Barakeh.

Posted by: Ibrahim Mahfouz | August 28, 2008 5:18 PM
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'the prophetic vision of Thomas Jefferson at the core of our great nation"

Thanks. We should remember the following words of Jefferson as we listen to Obama speak tonight:

"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."

Posted by: karen | August 28, 2008 3:18 PM
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Thanks for the info, David!

Posted by: Gloria Whitman | August 28, 2008 2:42 PM
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Only ignorant, uninformed people actually believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim. What are you going to believe - some rumor on the Internets or the ample proof of his Christianity?

Besides, what's wrong with the name Hussein? King Hussein of Jordan was a staunch ally of the US for forty years, as is his son.

Posted by: Athena | August 28, 2008 2:39 PM
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"Obama name attacks try to raise the specter of Saddam “Hussein"

Since you bring up Saddam- why stop there?

Hussain is a POPULAR arabic name:

Used As Given names-

Husayn ibn Ali – grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and son of Caliph Ali ibn abu Talib
Husayn Bayqarah – Timurid ruler of Herat from 1469 to his death
Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca – Sherif and Emir of Mecca
Hussein Chalayan – British/Turkish Cypriot fashion designer
Hussein el-Husseini – former Lebanese Parliament Speaker
Hussein Gradaščević – Bosnian Muslim 19th century leader and rebel
Hussein of Jordan – King of Jordan
Hussein Kamel – son-in-law of Saddam Hussein
Husayn Kamil – Sultan of Egypt and King of The Sudan (December 19, 1914 – October 9, 1917)
Hussein Onn – third Prime Minister of Malaysia
Husayn (Safavid) – former Safavid king of Persia
Barack Hussein Obama II – Current United States Senator and 2008 Democratic Presidential candidate.[1]

And Patronymics-

King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein – King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Ali Akbar ibn Husayn – son of Shi’as’ third Imam Hussain ibn Ali and Umm-e-Laila
Ali bin Hussein of Jordan – son of King Hussein of Jordan and his third wife
Alia al Hussein – third wife of King Hussein of Jordan
Tahir ibn Husayn – Persian general and governor during the Abbasid caliphate
M.F. Hussain – eminent artist from India
Ali bin Hussein of Hejaz – King of Hejaz and Grand Sharif of Mecca
Fatimah bint Husayn
Fouad Hussein – Jordanian journalist
Hala Hussein – daughter of Saddam Hussein
Hussein el-Husseini – former Lebanese Parliament
Muhammad Husayn Haykal – Egyptian writer, journalist, politician and a former Minister of Education in Egypt
Nasser Hussain – former Essex and England cricketer.
Princess Muna al-Hussein – second wife of King Hussein of Jordan
Qusay Hussein – son of Saddam Hussein
Raghad Hussein – daughter of Saddam Hussein
Rana Hussein – daughter of Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein – executed President of Iraq
Sharif Ali bin al-Hussein – pretender to the throne of Iraq
Taha Hussein – Egyptian writer and Arabic literary scholar
Uday Hussein – son of Saddam Hussein

Then there is the sacred Islamic village in Ethiopia- "Sheikh Hussein" named after the man (Hussein) who introduced Islam to the area.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husayn

Posted by: Anonymous | August 28, 2008 1:38 PM
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Two words: Thank you

Posted by: Marjorie Lominy | August 28, 2008 1:20 PM
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Barack Obama is a Christian of rich and diverse roots that evoke powerful and beautiful influences -- Christian, Jewish, African and Arabic. He has a biblical namesake, as did presidents Abraham Lincoln, Zachary Taylor, and Benjamin Harrison, and it's quite fascinating that through religious commentary and recent archeological, the revered biblical figure Baruch Ben Neriah is connected to another biblical hero, a black Ethiopian.

As Obama name attacks try to raise the specter of Saddam “Hussein,” how will the late, bedraggled dictator fare in the linguistic lineage mix against Pope Benedict, dignitaries and Obama’s venerated biblical namesake, Baruch ben Neriah? Is it spinning to try to counter gutter talk representing the worst of America with focus on the prophetic vision of Thomas Jefferson at the core of our great nation, on biblical history, on the best in America? I don't think so. - David (article's author)

Posted by: David Scheim | August 28, 2008 12:59 PM
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Why try to twist the truth about Barry's name??

The fact that his Muslim father named him "Barack Hussein" shows his father considered his son "born Muslim" as all good Muslim fathers do.

"There is none born but is created to his true nature (Islam). It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian quite as beasts produce their young with their limbs perfect. Do you see anything deficient in them? Then he quoted the Qur'an., The nature made by Allah in which He has created men there is no altering of Allah's creation; that is the right religion"

If it makes you feel any better-

David, THY Name is Biblical

Posted by: Anonymous | August 28, 2008 11:47 AM
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He could be spinning in his grave.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 28, 2008 11:05 AM
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Popularity isn't a blessing. It has all kinds of snares. See Profiles in Courage. I am rather unpopular and intend to stay that way. It's all pop culture, with no popcorn. Hollywood is producing this years election, with a remake of Camelot with a cast of people who believe in taking no chances this time. The black JFK is over the top. Pirates on a ship of fools. The tune is sour, the brain is going dim but the true memory is love. The ship is sinking and so I say hells bells. Enjoy the trip.

Posted by: unpopular | August 28, 2008 11:03 AM
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Barack Obama was named after his Kenyan father, the late Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a Muslim.

Hussein is a Muslim name, which comes from the name of Ali's son--Hussein Ibn Ali.

“Baraka” is an Arabic word meaning “blessed” and is found in the Koran.

Why are you spinning this??

Posted by: terra | August 28, 2008 10:11 AM
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