Barack Obama Isn't Jesus. (He's Nehemiah.)

Ok, so I don't ACTUALLY think that Barack Obama is the reincarnation of the Old Testament figure Nehemiah. However, I do want to put forth that as far as a Biblical comparisons, you could do worse.

Why make the comparison at all? Well, those of us who are quite fond of the work that Senator Obama has done (so far) are frequently attacked for ascribing messianic characteristics to our favorite presidential nominee. (I don't actually know anyone who has claimed that they think Obama is our savior; not saying it hasn't happened, but I haven't seen it.) So, apparently, being enthusiastic about someone who is doing good works means that we have a horrible case of ObamaisJesusitis.

I would disagree. I don't think that if Senator Obama wins, all of our worldly troubles will vanish in the blink of an eye, that dogs and cats are going to start living together or anything. Hardly. It's not like the guy is perfect. He's just someone who (I think) is incredibly capable in the arena of bringing people together for a common cause, and someone who knows the proper balance between civic responsibility and faith-inspired duty.

Which brings me to my original topic.

Nehemiah was a civil servant. (He was the King's food taster.) Upon realizing the hardships that people were facing in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, he asked for permission to leave his post in the King's presence, and go to work with his fellow Israelites. Senator Obama left his cushy job in the halls of academia to go to work as a community organizer. He saw the difficulties people were having in their every day life, and saw a position he could fill.

Both Nehemiah and Senator Obama were/are able to rally people around a common goal and to get people to work together for that common good. (Interestingly enough, Nehemiah's opponents ridiculed him openly by saying that the wall would never be fixed b/c there wasn't enough tax revenue to do so, and that raising taxes was the only option. Of course, that doesn't parallel to Senator Obama's work at all...oh...wait, it kind of does, doesn't it?)

Finally, Nehemiah knew that in order to get the people together, the task had to be blessed by God, but that just as important in the grand scheme of things was inspiring and assisting people to work together NOT for their own interests, but for the common good. Rebuilding the wall could certainly be described, if one was so inclined, as a "socialist" activity. (I mean, why couldn't the King subcontract that job out to the highest...er, lowest bidder, "Haliburtoniah?")

And, Senator Obama, in my very humble opinion, understands the need to balance individual responsibility and social responsibility. This plays out very differently for Mr. Obama then it does for most Republicans, but it is no less sincere and legitimate in it's differences.

But, that might be better saved for another time....


Anyway, thanks for stopping by...

Tommy