海角大神

Biblical anti-Obama slogan: Use of Psalm 109:8 funny or sinister?

Psalms 109:8 says, 'Let his days be few; and let another take his office.' The citation is being passed around the Internet as a rallying cry against President Obama.

There鈥檚 a new slogan making its way onto car bumpers and across the Internet. It reads simply: 鈥淧ray for Obama: Psalm 109:8鈥�

A nice sentiment?

Maybe not.

The psalm reads, 鈥淟et his days be few; and let another take his office.鈥�

Presidential criticism through witty slogans is nothing new. Bumper stickers, t-shirts, and hats with 鈥�1/20/09鈥� commemorated President Bush鈥檚 last day in office.

But the verse immediately following the psalm referenced is a bit more ominous: 鈥淟et his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.鈥�

The slogan comes at a time of heightened concern about antigovernment anger. Earlier this year, the president's senior adviser, David Axelrod, said that Tea Parties could lead to something unhealthy. In September, authorities shut down a poll on Facebook asking if President Obama should be killed.

Still, that doesn鈥檛 push the Psalms citation into the realm of hate speech, says Chris Hansen, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The use of Psalm 109:8 is ambiguous as to whether its users are calling for the President to serve 鈥渙nly one term, or less than one term,鈥� he says.

Deborah Lauter, director of civil rights at the Anti-Defamation League agrees that the bumper sticker falls within acceptable political discourse.

For it to be considered hate speech, it 鈥渨ould advocate actual violence or cite scripture that was more clear in its message.鈥�

But that doesn鈥檛 mean that it鈥檚 completely innocent.

鈥淎re we concerned about real hostility towards [President Obama]? Absolutely,鈥� says Ms. Lauter. 鈥淚s this a part of that movement? It may be, but in terms of this message itself, we would not criticize it.鈥�

鈥淭he problem is you don鈥檛 know if people who are donning that message in a shirt or on a bumper sticker are fully aware of the quote or what follows. Obviously that message makes the ambiguity disappear. If they鈥檙e just referring to him being out of office, that鈥檚 one thing. If they鈥檙e referring to him being dead, that鈥檚 so offensive. It鈥檚 protected speech, but it鈥檚 clearly offensive.鈥�

For many, the slogan is just a humorous way express disapproval for President Obama. It鈥檚 been tweeted and retweeted by Obama critics with messages like 鈥溾�� and 鈥�.鈥�

Twitter user felt compelled to share the psalm with others. Reached by phone, she said she found it on website while searching for Bible passages relating to leadership 鈥� a topic on which she writes, speaks, and consults for a living.

Ms. Douglas was unaware of the verses that followed the ones she referenced and doesn鈥檛 think that those who shared the psalm wish the President harm.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe there鈥檚 海角大神s who wish him ill will,鈥� she says.

But Douglas does say she鈥檚 unhappy with the president and used the psalm to convey that she鈥檇 like him to serve only one term.

See also:

Facebook poll on killing Obama sign of antigovernment anger

Axelrod comment that tea parties are 'unhealthy' stokes militia fears

-----

Follow us on .