Please don't wince.
I know there is a very acerbic reaction to the mention of the Barack Obama's middle name, not just in the blogosphere, but in the larger political community and (unless we do something about it) potentially in the general public.
While one may reasonably infer that this reaction is as much a reflexive one born out of an inexplicable distrust of anything foreign as it is one rooted in ignorance, such prognosis will be misleading indeed.
In various conversation and correspondence, it has become clear to me that so many well-meaning people wince at the mention of Hussein, not out of malice, but mostly out of a reflexive desire to "protect" Barack Obama. These people have come to accept that there is something sinister about Hussein and that any association with Barack Obama will do him irreparable damage.
Why do this well-meaning individuals think that there is a need to "protect" Obama? Simple. There is a concerted effort on the other side not just to associate the name Hussein with, but to also further the "Obama is a Muslim" meme and, by extension, link him to terrorism. The whole point of the Bill Cunningham's incessant repetition of Hussein at every turn is to subjectively deride Obama by making the name "Hussein" an abomination.
This is repackaged manure, pure and simple, and there is nothing new or innovative about it. The other side thrive on demonizing not just a thing, they have demonstrated time over time that their very existence depends solely on their ability ot demonize DIFFERENT races, people, culture, religion, creed, beliefs, ways of life, etc. The other side ceases to function effectively when it is unable to create tension and animus between and among diverse people. Hence Hussein.
But, must we continue to unwittingly participate in this ignoble charade? Must we continue to abet these evil machinations? Must we continue to let other define us and our beliefs and our thoughts? Remember the word "Liberal"? A more beautiful word that succintly describes a political believe has never existed, in my opinion. With time, and while we were off our guards, the other side defined Liberal for us, making it into an odious and disgustingly perjorative that no self-respecting Democrat (however liberal his/her political political views)wanted to be associated with. Something you find next to "liar" or "thief" or "child molester" even, in the dictionary. Today, only politically "safe" Democrats proudly wear the Liberal tag. The other side won, we Liberals lost and started casting about for other, "more acceptable" appelations.
Well, here comes the politics of Hope. Here comes the politics of today and the future. Here is where we stop fighting our battles with the same implements that didn't serve us well in the past. Here is where we stand up and tell the other side - NO, you don't get to define me.
STOP wincing at the name "Hussein". Hussein, if you must know, is a very beautiful name, usually reserved for very handsome boys. In fact, loosely translated, it means "Handsome and Good Thing". It means a little bundle of handsome, good, bouncy baby boy. Hussein is so special, it is not a loosely common name. In fact, in Jordan, it is associated with ROYALTY. Even so, there are MILLIONS of Husseins in this world, and I wager that there are a few thousands of Hussein in the US.
Hussein is NOT an expletive, don't let the other side define it as such.
The Husseins of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and UAE supply the oil that fills your tanks that take you to work and the grocery store.
The Husseins of Abu Dabhi and Kuwait own a big piece of Citi, meaning that they are in your wallet, hold a piece of your mortgage and are propping up our entire economy.
The Husseins of Iraq are supporting our troops, translating for them, catching flaks for them and generally helping us make the best of our Iraqi clusterfuck.
The Husseins of this world are peaceful, ordinary, law-abiding individuals who love/hate their neighbors as much as you do, eat/grow/die just like you do, laugh/cry/bleed/heal/hurt/dance just like we all do.
Hussein is an Islamic name. So is Mohammed. So is Abdallah. So is Faysal. And Bandar. And Mahfoulz. And Hassan. So is Fahd and Aziz. They are all Islamic. You find them all over the islamic world, especially in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and Abu Dabhi and Kuwait and Egypt. Yet, this has not stopped George Bush, Haliburton or their associated bottom feeders from doing business with them.
The neocons and the irascible hate mongers can pretend that they can pick and choose which Islamic name is more closely associated with "Islamo-whatever". They can pretend that they are anti-whatever while secretly reaping the windfalls from their association with the region, religion, entity or belief they pretend to dislike. This is nothing new. This is nothing newsworthy. This is their MO. It will take more than a diary to document their hypocrisy and duplicity. Where would one even start? Railing against gays while secretly maintaining "wide stances", protecting the "sanctity" of marriage wearing huge diapers, preaching against iniquties while being serviced by prostitutes, denigrating welfare while suckling corporate welfare, re-branding avarice and glutony as "trickle-down" econo-mishap? Where does one start? Why do we need to start? QED, people. It is what they do, and it is what they are.
Don't wince at Hussein. Barack Hussein Obama is an immensely qualified and gifted America aspiring for the highest office in the land on the strength of his personal qualification. Not born into wealth or privilege. Not entitled or beholden to. His name is all he has. Don't let the other side take that away from him. Don't let them take him away from us.
Don't wince. Not unless you wince everytime you hear the name John. Or James. Or Rudolph. Or Michael. Or George (ok, this one can be excused :)). Barack Hussein Obama does NOT need your sympathy.
Once you succumb to the temptation to DEFEND Obama every time you hear Hussein, the other side wins. Hussein is a beautiful name. Even if it weren't beautiful, it is still his name. The people who would like to take his name away are the same people who see no problem with continuing to do business with the nation that accounted for 12 of the hijackers who killed our brethren in a vicious attack on our soil. They have no leg to stand on, logically or morally. They know it. But they need you not to know it.
In order for them to succeed, YOU have to feel embarrassed at the mention of Barack Hussein Obama. YOU can resist that temptation. YES YOU CAN.
Barack Hussein Obama is his name. Hope is his game. We and Change have a Date. And my rhyming skill is soooooo lame. Even so, please don't wince.