Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall Note

by vcalzone, Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:21:25 PM EDT

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

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

by jsfox 2008-07-25 12:24PM | 0 recs

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This isn't a big deal...

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

by soyousay 2008-07-25 12:34PM | 0 recs

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Re: Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall

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 2008-07-25 12:56PM | 0 recs

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Re: Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall

Actually a yeshiva student.

by jsfox 2008-07-25 01:10PM | 0 recs

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IMHO that student

FAILS!

by zerosumgame 2008-07-25 07:31PM | 0 recs

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Hmmmm

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.

by fogiv 2008-07-25 01:12PM | 0 recs

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Re: Hmmmm

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!"

by WashStateBlue 2008-07-25 01:25PM | 0 recs

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So classless

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.

by Dracomicron 2008-07-25 01:27PM | 0 recs

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Re: So classless

about as mean spirited as I can think of.

by zerosumgame 2008-07-25 07:32PM | 0 recs

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stealing a prayer left at the Wailing Wall

is really, really bad.

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

by desmoinesdem 2008-07-25 03:04PM | 0 recs

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Re: Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall

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 2008-07-25 03:07PM | 0 recs

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Re: Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall

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?

by vcalzone 2008-07-25 03:20PM | 0 recs

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Re: Someone Steals, Publishes Obama's Wailing Wall

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 2008-07-25 03:37PM | 0 recs

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I didn't see your diary earlier

..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.

by Sumo Vita 2008-07-25 05:56PM | 0 recs

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of course it was gonna get read

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

by Lakrosse 2008-07-25 06:42PM | 0 recs

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Aaaarrrrrgggghhhhh, what a set up! You believe

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 2008-07-26 04:03AM | 0 recs

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Re: Aaaarrrrrgggghhhhh, what a set up! You believ

I wonder if any other country would want you?

by MS01 Indie 2008-07-26 08:42AM | 0 recs

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Well...

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.

by vcalzone 2008-07-29 07:05PM | 0 recs