by Donald Moore

Created on: October 07, 2008

We often name our children after the kind of people who inspire us. People who have done great deeds or formed great ideas or shown great courage in face of great obstacles. I would suggest to you that Barak Obama is not a name worthy of that kind of honor. This does not mean he is unworthy of our respect or even of being chosen as our next President. After all, lots of uninspiring people have held that office. It just means we ought to look deeper for someone to name our children after.

Frederick Douglass' rise from slave to abolitionist leader is inspirational. George Washington Carver's success as a scientist and educator is inspirational. The service of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II is inspirational. Harriet Tubman, "Moses" of the Underground Railroad and recipient of full military honors at her funeral, is inspirational. The courageous eloquence of Martin Luther King, Jr. is inspirational. Jurists like Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas are inspirational. Rosa Parks' pacifist refusal to move to the back of the bus is inspirational. Jesse Owen's gold medal performances in the teeth of Hitler's fanatic racism is inspirational. Sojourner Truth's voice for freedom that could not be stopped by beatings and stonings is inspirational.

These are names of people who lifted not only Blacks but all people up. These are names that fire the imagination. These are names worthy for our children to bear. Barak Obama just does not belong.

Barak Obama cannot point to a single accomplishment of worth that lifts people up. And make no mistake, succeeding in a run for the Presidency ought to arest ON accomplshments not BE the accomplishment.

Barak Obama cannot suggest a single great idea he is forming. A slogan like "CHANGE" is nothing like "I have a Dream!" He is just repeating the same liberal, socialist agenda which fails everywhere it is tried.

Barak Obama cannot point to a single great obstacle overcome. In point of fact, Obama's reliance on the Chicago political machinery is an embrace of the worst of our obstacles rather than working to tear them down. His privileged upbringing and education are just a faint glimmer compared to the radiance of Marshall and Carver.

How can anyone with such minimal accomplishment or ideas or courage be said to be inspirational? Picking him to serve as the next President of the United States is one thing. Picking his name for your child is another. Reserve that for truly inspirational names like Thurgood or Martin or Rosa.

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