I have a semi-serious question. You've stated repeatedly that you don't hate Obama. At what point, if ever, do you think it would be appropriate to hate him?
Do you think it's a mistake for any people to ever hate their leader? Was it a mistake for the Germans to hate Hitler, for the Russians to hate Stalin, for the Cubans to hate Castro, for the Cambodians to hate Pol Pot?
Originally Posted by joe bloe
Good question, Joe. And I really have no answer. I truly don't hate anyone. Hate is an acid that destroys its container. I don't think we've reached the point of having a Stalin or Hitler as our leader, although the personality cult arising around Obama is disturbing. But if I were in a Hitler's Germany, a Stalin's Russia, a Castro's Cuba or a Pol Pot's Cambodia, I don't know how I'd react.
While I'm sure I could be very susceptible to hate in those circumstances, I would hope that I would be able to channel that hate into love for something else. Even now, rather than hating Obama, I focus on my love for America, and for freedom. That is why I post many threads showing the attacks on freedom perpetrated by our government. When I find an article or news of freedom winning, I post that, too.
If I were ever involved in a fight against something, I would hope my motivation would be to be fighting FOR something else. We all have the potential in us to be a Hitler, a Stalin, a Pol Pot, or a Gandhi, a Mandela, a MLK Jr., or even a Jesus. When you allow hate to be your motivator, you will likely not make the best decisions. It was the love of freedom that helped us prevail against the British in the Revolution. If they simply hated the Crown, we would have likely lost. I'm sure they hated the Crown, but their love of freedom was the primary motivator.
It's obvious that Hitler,
et. al. were bad men. I don't think Obama is a bad man, he is just a bad President. And he is making horrible mistakes. He has the potential to be a Stalin, or a Jefferson, or simply one more in a long line of corrupt, dishonest and incompetent Presidents.
One thing to remember. Hitler, Stalin, and the rest, while hated, also had a large number of adorers who ignored the facts of what their leader was doing, or gave tacit or overt approval, knowing how wrong it was. We have the same today with Obama, and previously with Bush.
The personality cults surrounding our recent Presidents is also disturbing. Michelle Obama is being touted for Senate in Illinois. Why? Hillary Clinton is being touted for President in 2016. Jeb Bush is also being touted in 2016, and younger members, like Chelsea Clinton and George P. Bush are being groomed for politics. We are treating our government as a monarchy, to be handed down from parent to child. Lincoln could never be elected today, because he was homely and had a high squeaky voice.
I guess that was off topic. But nonetheless, I don't know when it is appropriate to hate a leader. But it was a good question. Not many posts on here make me think anymore.