There certainly is a cult of personality at work here with some folks, from young adults to the kids. It can hardly be helped, given that Obama is relatively young, good looking, well spoken and has a beautiful family. This isn’t a combo we get all that often in a presidential candidate.

I agree though that it is problematic because he is a man and NOT a messiah (not even in a “secular” sense). He can only change so much, if he manages to change anything at all. The voting age folks who put too much faith into him stand to be disappointed. I’m frankly less worried about the true kids, to be honest. It’s a little freaky what’s on that video, but eager and excited parents get their kids all worked up about a lot of things in life and the kids, well…they often only hold onto it for as long as they see it makes their folks happy, and sometimes not even THAT long.

That said, if he becomes president, it WILL be a watershed moment in American history given that we’ll finally bust the color line in the Oval Office. (Interestingly, I don’t see many people in the African-American blogosphere…and I’m pretty active in visiting that part of the blogging world…who revere Obama. Most of the black voters seem quite clear on the fact that Obama isn’t any messiah or someone who will change their lives but merely someone whom they think is the right man for the job.)

Yes that video was pretty cheesy. I didn’t pick up the sense that McCain or Palin were being worshiped though.

I don’t mean “cult” in the theological sense where they deviate from Christian orthodoxy. That would be inappropriate. But this is what I mean:

1. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers.
2. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

I also am not lumping all Obama supporters into that classification, that would be unfair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e4PlOIrBxw

That said I agree that kids should be off limits in these situations.

I can’t figure out if this is patriotism run amok or just brainwashing gone terribly bad.

Looks like I have to make up my mind by this weekend. Peace.

The mass media would be apoplectic … even more than they already are for Palin.