One of my ultra-conservative Christian friends told me that he believes it is G_d’s will that Slobama is the president. He said G_d runs everything for a reason. G_d help us then.
It is nothing short of bizarre that black Americans (and others) support Obama because of his race despite his dishonesty, his own personal racism toward others, muslim leanings (if not muslim faith), and hatred of this country.
Considering that black Americans are themselves shocked by such devotion, how could Obama know in advance that he would gain such blind support?
During the campaign I was almost certain that Obama was using various hypnotic techniques (like NLP) but any advantage gained by that should have worn off by now...yet many of his "zombie-like" supporters have not wavered.
I am still deeply perplexed!
The son can't change the father in this case because the father's conviction is based on emotion and nothing else. My mother-in-law is like that. She's over ninety. I can talk to her about any issue and she is a conservative Republican. I doubt she has ever voted Republican and think she never will.
There are other things that also drive a thinker crazy. The bottom line is the old man won't change. I'd be tempted to avoid politics in his home although feel free to try to sway any of the masses the outside his home.
Allowing a rift with the old man at this late stage won't change anything. Ther will just be a rift.
Perhaps *Love letters to Lloyd’s Dad* expressing admiration for the wonderful son he raised might be the answer.
I was unaware that my son’s best hunting buddy was black until he showed me a photo. Both Southern boys....!!
Prayers up for Papa Marcus.
bump
His father only sees his color and nothing else. Sadly there are lots of Blacks who see Conservatism as racist from the brainwashing of the media.
Pray for America
You’re a good man Lloyd.
I pray everything works out between you and your Dad.
You wrote: "It appears that no amount of truth will penetrate the wall of affection Dad has for the historic figure he never imagined would exist in his lifetime."
That may be the crux of it right there. Your father, at 83, never thought he would see the day when America would elect a "non-white" president. Your father endured fear, intimidation and hatred in order to achieve his dream, and to help pave the way for Mr. Obama. He bravely and honorably faced those challenges, realized his dream, raised a good and honorable son, and along the way he helped change peoples' minds about him and those like him.
That being the case, it must be VERY difficult for him to face the facts regarding what Mr. Obama really stands for. It must feel like the most vicious form of betrayal. Any disappointment you, I or anyone else may have in this president must PALE in comparison to that felt by men like your father.
I would not count on him to admit to anyone that he was mistaken about Barack Obama, but I suspect your father already knows the truth about him. So, please, don't "confront" him on the issue. I think you should just continue to treat him with love and strive to be the best Christian and son you can be as you gently make your case with him.
You might just be surprised what lever he finally decides to pull when he goes behind that curtain in 2012.
Papal infallibility. It’s a religious thing.
First forgive your father his short comings and don’t put a
big rift between you two. Afterall there are only so many years left to enjoy each other’s company. As much as I would love to hear that your Dad changes his mind about Obama, it is much more important at this time in his life, he has you to spend time with. Respectfully bite your tongue when it comes to talking about politics. Be silent, change the subject, smile, excuse yourself to regain your composure, do anything but fight about politics with an 83 yr old man who obviously raised you right.
Dear Lloyd, sometimes you just have to love and let be. Maybe you can change your dad’s mind, but don’t count on it. He sounds like a very tenacious man, for that and his stand against the tyranny in his own life, he deserves credit and even praise. Folks who have invested emotionally into anything, particularly religion or politics (which has become a religion) do not often admit to being dooped, even if in their heart of hearts, they begin to figure it out.
I have a sister-in-law who is a devout christian woman, but is also a feminist progressive... she is emotionally invested into social justice, is anti war and considers others who don’t hold to her views as lessors and red-neckish. I have had my arguments with her but realize that all I can really do is love her the best I can. I know where I stand and I know where she stands, we are opposing forces on the idealogical political battle field. She is my arch enemy philosophically and I seek the destruction of her progressive influence in out culture, but as in war, humane treatment of the enemy is imperative for those whose cause is righteous. So I will love her but I hate what she stands for, and I must wait on God to work things out.
Well that explains where Lloyd got his strength of character. Lloyd, I don’t know that you’ll ever be able to convince your dad, it’s something that he wanted so bad that he will never be able to see what Obama is doing.