Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall Note

by vcalzone, Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 04:21:25 PM EST

This is pretty awful to do and some news we really shouldn't have. A student took Obama's note from the Wailing Wall in Israel and gave it to a paper, who then published it. That's really an invasion of privacy and borderline sacrilegious, but regardless, the note is kinda nice. I wonder if THIS will ever hit a viral email:
Lord -- Protect my family and me,' the Democratic presidential candidate wrote in the note published in the Maariv daily. 'Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will.

I know there are a lot of people on here who don't like a President who cares about religion, but speaking as someone who was a devout Baptist for the first 15 years of their life and a hopeless cynic ever since, that made me smile.




Tags: obama, prayer (all tags)

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Re: Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall (2.00 / 1)

Truly sad, that even one's prayers can't be kept private.


Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.
by jsfox on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 04:24:06 PM EST

This isn't a big deal... (none / 0)

...everyone knows he prays. It's not like he's praying for something outrageous.


by soyousay on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 04:34:52 PM EST

Re: Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall (none / 0)

Thanks for bringing this up. The fact that someone would steal a private note like that is so wrong. Probably a reporter, actually.


by Jeter on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 04:56:09 PM EST

Re: Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall (none / 0)

Actually a yeshiva student.


Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.
by jsfox on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 05:10:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

IMHO that student (none / 0)

FAILS!


by zerosumgame on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 11:31:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hmmmm (2.00 / 2)

It's unfortunate it didn;t remain private, but as an atheist, I'll say this:  It was beautifully expressed.  Nice.

Mine would've read something like this:

Hey JC (or whoever), how 'bout hooking me up with the next batch of SuperLotto numbers, eh?  Once again, Santa failed to pony up.


Unseen, in the background, Fate was quietly slipping the lead into the boxing glove.
by fogiv on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 05:12:24 PM EST

Re: Hmmmm (2.00 / 2)

The big guy would probably write you back

"What you talking about, I send those winning lotto numbers to you six months ago? Didn't Santa deliver the...Oh wait. It was right after that Santa got that new Ferrari and that place in Cozemel...DAMN that Red Suit wearing MotherF'er!"


"Well the danger on the rocks is surely past... Still I remain tied to the mast"...Don Fagen, Poet and Piano Player
by WashStateBlue on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 05:25:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

So classless (none / 0)

Leave the man's prayers alone.  How often does a person in the United States get a chance to leave a prayer at the Wailing Wall?  

I'm angry that I even read the printed text.  It's like... SPOILER ALERT.


In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.
by Dracomicron on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 05:27:27 PM EST

Re: So classless (none / 0)

about as mean spirited as I can think of.


by zerosumgame on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 11:32:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

stealing a prayer left at the Wailing Wall (none / 0)

is really, really bad.

I shouldn't be surprised that someone did that, but I am.


John McCain: 100 years in Iraq "would be fine with me."
by desmoinesdem on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 07:04:52 PM EST

Re: Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall (none / 0)

Well, so much for the anti-Christ argument.  I reckon he just got another point or two of the evangelical vote, anyway.


by Shaun Appleby on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 07:07:49 PM EST

Re: Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall (2.00 / 1)

Wait till he speaks at Rick Warren's church. That's something that millions will pay attention to. Thing is, McCain knows enough about what social positions they like, but he's pretty ignorant when it comes to faith itself.

There are some who will never vote for him, of course. The latest meme is that he's the damn AntiChrist. How do you possibly reason with that?


If you're being chased by an angry bull and then you notice you're also being chased by a swarm of bees, it doesn't really change things. Just keep on running.
by vcalzone on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 07:20:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall (2.00 / 1)

Yeah, well there are plenty of people who just aren't going to vote for him, no matter what.  That was always going to be the challenge at the end of the day.  And the sillier the reasons they give the more ridiculous the opposition appears.  The solution?  New voter registrations in every precinct, county and parish of America, that's what.  And most of them as Democrats, too.  Shazzam.

It's my observation that on social and international issues Obama's campaign has already indelibly altered US politics, for the better.  That's very promising and not before time.  


by Shaun Appleby on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 07:37:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I didn't see your diary earlier (none / 0)

..or I wouldn't have put one up on the same story.

It's terrible that the note was published, but I was moved by the contents. That he sought courage, wisdom, humility - over victory, retribution, or the vanquishing of his opponent - is telling.


It is not because I cannot explain that you won't understand. It is because you won't understand that I cannot explain. - Elie Wiesel
by Sumo Vita on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 09:56:09 PM EST

of course it was gonna get read (none / 0)

and Obama was smart to just write generic good stuff in it.


by Lakrosse on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 10:42:03 PM EST

Aaaarrrrrgggghhhhh, what a set up! You believe (none / 0)

this shite? You don't think he knew, as everyone else did, that his note would be revealed? I can't stand it anymore! I told my husband that I want us to leave the country and go to a place where we can't understand the language, until this farce is over!


by suzieg on Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 08:03:38 AM EST

Re: Aaaarrrrrgggghhhhh, what a set up! You believ (none / 0)

I wonder if any other country would want you?


"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson
by MS01 Indie on Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 12:42:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well... (none / 0)

As has been stated, this is a very exceptional event to take place. I don't think he had any intention of it getting out. You might convince me if you said that he wrote something nice just in case, but I sincerely doubt he expected someone to desecrate a holy area.


If you're being chased by an angry bull and then you notice you're also being chased by a swarm of bees, it doesn't really change things. Just keep on running.
by vcalzone on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 11:05:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]


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