Hey Everybody
So I found this video when I was browsing on Youtube, and when I looked at the comments, I realized just how contentious it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51kAw4OTlA0
This is Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore's "Pledge" video in support of President Obama. Now... for my own part, I found this video a little bit creepy. Don't get me wrong, I support pretty much everything all the various celebrities in this video "Pledged" to do. Battling Alzheimer's, ending world slavery, these are all good things.
What creeped me out about this video, was the reverential, almost messianic way that Obama is portrayed. I mean... he's got a lot of people excited this guy... But I certainly don't think that he's the savior of the American people. And I don't mean this to be a political debate, frankly I don't care where you stand politically, what I'm asking is: Is it right that a political leader be idolized this way in a democratic society?
Frankly, it was this sort of well intentioned yet fanatical devotion that led to the rise of Facism. Now PLEASE don't misquote me that I think Obama is going to become a Facist dictator. But I can't help but remember watching the news the night he was elected. There were people out partying in mobs, getting drunk, blocking roads and even flipping cop cars all yelling "Change!!!!". (Now just for the record I'm Canadian so I'm saying this from an outside perspective)
Actually that night I talked to a few of my friends down in the states who were supporters and I asked them what exactly the "change" meant. None of them could answer me. It kind of reminded me of Mussolini's slogan "Don't think! Believe!"
Once again, I'm not asking about his policies as President. If you support him because you've studied his position and agree with the changes he wants to make, then that's fine. I'd go so far as to say that this question could be applied to anyone extremely popular in a democracy.
But this almost blind, fanatical, devotion that seems to follow this guy.... I think it's dangerous.
Still, that's just me. What do you guys think?