“I didn’t need Obama to tell me that I could do anything”
Make sure to read this terrific column from young Paul Ibrahim, a Lebanese-born American who rejects the myth of Obama salvation. Right on, Paul. Here’s an excerpt:
I was born into the Lebanese civil war, both chronologically and geographically. My earliest memories are those of hiding in a makeshift bunker, huddling to pray with my family and neighbors, while a barrage of fire rained down outside. My other memories are those of constantly hearing gunfire while in school, and of speeding on more than one occasion toward a ship that would take refugees to the nearby island of Cyprus when the burden became just too much to bear.
I lived in a country ruled by neighboring Syria, with an unstable society and an economy in tatters, until my parents made the best decision of their lives – bringing my sisters and me to America. I began learning my third language, English, in eighth grade, and I had far from mastered it through much of high school. I was mocked by some in high school for not being American enough, and by many in college for not being anti-American enough. Two days after the 9/11 attacks, and only a few miles from the Pentagon, one of my teachers told me that I bore an uncanny resemblance to Mohammed Atta.
Let’s just say that I didn’t start life with a big advantage. Far from it.
Yet not for one second did I believe that I faced limitations other than my own initiative. Had I stayed in Lebanon, or gone to Africa, South America or even Europe, I probably would have had overwhelming obstacles beyond my control. But not in America. Not in the one country that provides you with equality of opportunity. And I didn’t need some politician to give me self-esteem or hope. I already knew I could.
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Thank you, Michelle, for finding this and posting it here. Excellent article, and should be required reading for all.
Welcome to America Paul, and like you, I never needed a politician to give me self-esteem or hope either. As a matter of fact, as you soon will learn, politicians are really not needed for anything. They spend most of their time fabricating their worthiness.
I saw a comment on a news story where the reader stated that Obama’s election opened up doors and gave them the thought that they could do anything. The notion that just electing Obama opened doors of opportunity is silly. The opportunities were always there and just waiting to be taken advantage of.
It seems that Paul didn’t let the holder of the office of president keep him down.
90% of what politicians do is make work for other politicians.
(They have to make a new program to counter the side effects of the last program.)
We need more people like this guy!
Right on!
The absolute last thing I need is some phony, wormy, self serving politician “helping” me. Let them continue to pander to the parasitic underclass but leave me alone.
You’ve learned a great truth young man. Liberal progressives…can’t live with them…can’t shoot them.
No one but Jesus gives me hope. I’ve had a black lady (supposedly christian) tell me that obama would give her hope…I was flabbergasted. I don’t understand how anyone could put their hope in another man.
Lovely story, Paul. I’m surprised that so many natural-born citizens have been unable to figure it out.
By the way, everyone…great video on Paul’s website re. Disaffected Obamites! lol
Yet another naturalized citizen who has more love of country than about 50% of today’s native-born Americans. Paul, welcome to the US!
Contrast this young man’s testament of America’s greatness, with the “America’s-broken-and-let’s-collectively-fix-her” rhetoric of Obama. The difference is very telling!
I agree. In fact, I would say that an overwhelming percent of Obama supporters are living sad lives without God.
Christ alone is sufficient.
Why is stating the Obvious so necessary? The limits of self delusion by the Left, have been extended past credulity.
I think the appropriate theme for Obama Administration should be “It came from the 60s” These people in charge now, are reacting to things that happened 40s some years ago, NOT to things happening in real time, right now..how is that for Progress…The Term Progressive, am I the only one who sees the irony of that term, being applied to these folks in charge now?
How refreshing to see someone that understands the real promise of America. This is the type of legal immigrant we need to welcome and include in our society with open arms. Too bad the permanent victim class of this country can’t get off their lazy butts and reach the same promise this young man has.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE (mo-lone lah-veh) Translation: Come and take them!
It is too bad he is going to have to watch it all collapse…
I asked another black lady, supposedly christian, how she could vote for anyone who supports abortion…and I get some spiel about how she can’t impose her morality, and impose her beliefs on others…and I asked what about pedophilia, murder etc…*silence*
but of course nothing shaked her faith in obama…its scary. and then I saw a video of black churches in my area praising obama during their services….scary…
Thank God they let people like this into the country! I doubt this will be the case after a few years under the guidance of the chosen one.
Yes indeed. The crybabies and whiners will never understand but his story is encouraging.
Imagine that Obaminites.
There needs to be revival in the body of Christ in the US, if so many of them would vote on the basis that this man would 1) solve this nation’s problems 2) give them hope and 3)fix race relations. The african american community are regular church goers and they overwhelmingly voted for this man, this is not just shocking but speaks voumes towards their Faith in Christ. It is a tragedy.
The body of Christ supported Obama…
Praise Jesus!
Matt. 7:21: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
He should run for Congress. He’s just who the Republican party needs now.
SoCal, that “Preacher” forgot to add, a man who supports abortion, a man who said his own grandchild would be “punishment,” a man who supports gay rights.
Equal opportunity is not enough; equal results is the goal of the left (they are special and will form a ruling class), and they will not stop until our country has been destroyed.
Is there any doubt that this young man has the right stuff? You remember, the stuff that people had inside them at Bunker Hill, Gettysburg, Omaha Beach, Okinawa, Midway, the Frozen Chosin, Khe Sanh, Lebanon, Fallujah? Academics forget where Freedom is birthed, what sacrifices are made to preserve Freedom and how hard people like this young man, myself and others here will fight to keep it. The government doesn’t “give” us our rights, our creator did, the government doesn’t make us more free, we earn our Freedom and no academic, talking head, politician will take away my Freedom without a fight. Good to see I’m not alone.
Imagine that, Paul Ibrahim achieved his success without the help of a fawning media, Acorn, the Lebanese community, and American racist guilt. He achieved it on his own merits. Wow, what a concept.
This delusional young man obviously is not a product of Glorious American Public Schools. What is all this nonsense about own initiative and hard work? He even has the poor taste to write disparagingly of Dear Leader. Deport him now!
I am encouraged by the words Paul wrote, knowing there are people out there who “get” it. I would be hopeful that the typical grievance-mongers will be silenced, but I seriously doubt it. The “I’m a victim” meme is too ingrained in their culture. Funny, but knowing they can succeed would free them, thinking they are victims dooms them to poverty.
There are millions of us that achieved success prior to B.Hussein Obama. I’ve lived a good life without hearing one word from The Fraudulant One and I do not need his welfare handout. Sadly there are too many lazy people that don’t give a damn and want others to pay for them.
Don’t blame me. I voted against socialism.
So many people are being set up for failure by emotionally attaching their own success to a 2-bit politician from Chicago’s success. Sad, but ultimately fulfilling when it all comes crashing down. I for one cannot wait to see them crash and burn.
I suppose if you look for silliness you are bound to find it.
Is what Pres Obama said any different from a pro tennis player telling a fan (a child) that if s/he works hard enough, stays in school and dedicates themselves, they too can become a pro tennis player?
What is exactly wrong with inspiring people? I would hazard the guess that Michelle Malkin has giving encouragement to would be journalists.
No, Paul Ibrahim did not need Pres Elect Obama to tell him that he could do anything, but he did need America.
America is an inspiration, and saying so is not to be derided.
Obviously, Paul needs chap, lgm, mistressjustice, and the other libtards posting here to set him straight on how rotten America is, and how horribly misunderstood is Hezbollah, now the de facto rule of Lebanon.
I’m with you Paul Revere,
I keep hearing alleged conservatives making nicey-nice by saying they hope Obama succeeds. Knowing what he wants to do to this country, how can you hope he succeeds. I hope he fails (to further Socialism), and America Survives. The One can bite my pink butt.
All we have heard from the Obama campaign is that America is a ‘downright mean country’ and that we are a poor and oppressed people. The only people who bought into that message are the ones who have not availed themselves of the opportunities America has to offer, they just want it given to them, by means of taking more from the ones who have pursued and succeeded in the American Dream.
The America that enabled Ibrahim to succeed will become less accommodating when Obama raises taxes, enables unions to gain a stranglehold in industry, raises capital gains taxes and leaves America in a more vulnerable position for our enemies.
People who know how much worse it could be possess a clarity few others have.
I found this paragraph very good:
All the blacks like Oprah etch who said Obama was needed to succeed, were already successful.
Mattm, the sad thing is, Barack Obama’s life, also, is an American success story. Abandoned by his father, raised by his grandmother, attended one of our finest schools to become a filthy rich, successful lawyer.
So I just don’t understand why he hates the very system that made him a success.
One of my Facebook “friends” wrote that she was counting down to freedom…I haven’t commented on that comment yet, but I don’t know if she knows how ridiculous that sounds. If anything, we will have far fewer freedoms on the horizon, starting with the right to free speech! Then comes restrictions on the right to earn income, on the right to bear arms, of course. I just have little faith this country is going to be any better in 2-4 years… changed, yes, but not for the better.
There are a lot of young people like Paul Ibrahim. They go about their lives without fanfare. But they are, or will be, making a lot of difference!
Thanks, Paul. You have a good head atop those strong shoulders! If you have the inclination, you can be a success in politics, too. Specially because you do not want to challenge our Constitution! ;D
Paul took the same route both sets of my grandparents took, only 100 years later!
I’m with you Paul Revere i can’t wait for it to crash and burn…Love the article Paul Ibrahim wrote it is so true..Everyone worships Obama like he is God,boy are they in for a rude awakening…Politicians all scum suckers and leeches thats all they are..
This is what we should be fighting for. Everything else would fall into place if we could just essentially leave each other alone.
If not for the utter and unashamed patriotism of our immigrants, we might forget what a great Nation this is!
Thank you Paul. Thank you for your patriotism, and for reminding us that we have much for which to be thankful!
I had black friends who ditched me to go fine their identities during the black power movement. Now, Obama’s election has lifted this burden from them. A burden which they placed upon themselves, but were too foolish to realize that. Hard work is the only path to the American dream. Life slaps everyone around. We all have different hardships.
This election is more like winning the lotery without getting the cash. At some point, when the happily ever after fails to deliver people from their suffering, what then? Obama is not going to deliver them from anything, least of all, themselves.
Of course there is nothing wrong with this message- the problem is that that has always been the case, and Obama wants people to believe that his presidency brings opportunities that were not previously available.
The rule is not arbitrary. You can certainly make an argument against it- but it is not aritrary.
I wish Paul was an example to others but forget it.
Unfortunately, many/most of you will be surprised to hear that many of Obama’s constituency would regard Paul’s intuitive and work ethic as being “too damn white”. Sounds crazy, but that’s the mentality out there. Our soft underbelly fighting Dems and Libs are the schools; I’m amazed so little attention’s been forwarded there!
James Greenidge
Queens, New York
http://blogspot.pocpuma.com/2008/11/09/mccain-supporter-arrested-at-obama-rally–why-we-must-not-go-away.aspx
Read President Elect Obama’s own words-his books and pre-nomination speeches and tell me what god he follows-not my GOD to be sure.
He denies Heaven-keep it up and it will be denied him.
He states there are many paths to his god.
There is One Way to my GOD.
Obama is from Ibrahim and Ishmael.
We are Sons of Abraham and Issac.
And there will be no coming together. The goats will be separated from the sheep.
Evangelist Orval Brown of Robinson Community AME Church, 4602 N. College Ave. does not impress.
—
That every man be armed-you too ladies.
America First
America Alone
Americans Come Home
Until we all start calling Barry what he is, a dedicated Marxist Communist that hates EVERYTHING the Constitution and Bill of Rights represents, except those laws or amendments that he can use to take and use and maintain power with, NOTHING will change except the very real chance of a 3rd Civil War…
“Hope” is another word for “sitting around waiting for someone else to give you stuff instead of trying to get it yourself.”
How did Jackie Robinson ever get to play in the bigs without Obama to give him hope?
The Obama Mystic will wan.
His followers will soon come to find that even with him as President their lives are still unfulfilled, because they haven’t gotten of of their rear ends to make something happen.
Rewards feel good because you have to work hard for them. Obama’s promises of give-a-ways will only serve to add to the angst of the “Give Me the Money” crowd.
They will soon become even more discontent. Of course for a while they will do what they always do,
Blame it on President Bush!
Thank you for the space,
riggword