comment #1

ketut says ...

I don't see how any self respecting PERSON could steal someone's prayer.

comment #2

Michael says ...

A disgusting invasion of privacy. Almost unforgivable.

comment #3

CinemaPhreek says ...

Yet you couldn't help yourself by wallowing in the affair yourself by posting a picture of said note instead of just reporting the story.

I'm not a believer, but I still feel "unclean" having seen what was always intended to be a private matter of faith. Reminds me of those supposed liberals who pissed on the 5th amendment in order to look in Bob Packwood's journal.

Which means on a very fundamental level, this puts you in same pit with the hoi polloi you are always mocking and abusing. Actually, you're worse - at least "their" paparazzi are after fluff like celebrities eating yogurt. You're violating someone's religious practices.

comment #4

Rich S. says ...

If this proves to be authentic - it sounds kind of, I don't know, generic to me - some unfortunate elements in this country are going to take him to task for not including "God Bless the U.S.A." or some more eloquent equivalent. Book it.

comment #5

BurmaShave says ...

Sometimes I wish there were a God just so he could smite some motherfuckers.

comment #6

GonePostal says ...

Taking the prayer is so wrong on a fundamental level it's actually makes me a bit ill. I also agree that the photo does NOT belong on this site, or any reputable news site. This isn't like Edwards hiding in a broom closet and fathering a child out of wedlock. That's sensationalist, but still can be called news. A personal rayer is no one's business but his and God.

comment #7

chappiesan says ...

Can't say I'm a believer either, but this is all sorts of messed up. It takes a unqiue kind of cretin to invade a person's privacy like that.

comment #8

chappiesan says ...

Comment of the year goes to BurmaShave. Well done, sir.

comment #9

Scott Feinberg says ...

It's absolutely despicable that the note was taken from the Wall... and very disappointing to see that it has been posted here.

comment #10

115thDreamer says ...

Actually, what you can count on, if this is really Obama's actual note, is the wags at Fox News seizing on the mention of "sins", probably as I type this, actually. I can just hear them now..."What sins are these, Senator? Shouldn't the American people know what you mean by 'sins' if you want them to vote for you?"....and the like. They're looking for any opening at this point - they know McCain is looking like more of an ass with each passing day.

comment #11

Howlingman says ...

Kinda torpedoes that whole "he's a secret Muslim" conspiracy the Faux News nutters keep pushing doesn't it?

comment #12

mutinyco says ...

I'm disappointed it didn't turn out to be a drawing of a guy with a hard-on like in Lebowski...

comment #13

otakuhouse says ...

im done with this site. this is supposedly about movies, not violating one of the most private moments a person can have. passing along the story is one thing, reprinting the note is another. and i say that as an atheist.

comment #14

broadstreetbully says ...

"And make me an instrument of your will"

Yikes. As an atheist, those are words that genuinely frighten me.

And I wonder why the double-standard: when Bush says that sort of thing, as he has in the past re: God speaking to and through him concerning foreign policy matters, the whole secular-left world is up in arms (and rightfully so!). I wonder if the same will happen for Obama.

comment #15

broadstreetbully says ...

Oh, and also...."protect my family and me"...?

3rd Graders know that's incorrect grammar. Looks like Obama is a rube, eh Wells?

comment #16

televisiontears says ...

This is reprehensible. What a bunch of cretins. And Wells, you're no better for posting this.

mutinyco, I just got a few looks for my spontaneous giggle over your post. I'm still trying to choke it back.

comment #17

nickborg says ...

jesus (pardon the pun), otakuhouse... don't be such an icky baby. you'll be ok; it's a piece of paper with some words on it. and how dare you suppose that you know the type of content that this site is 'supposed' to run? and why do i have the suspicion that you're still around to read this? spineless goof...

comment #18

Richardson says ...

"when Bush says that sort of thing, as he has in the past re: God speaking to and through him concerning foreign policy matters"

Asking God to make you an instrument of His will is quite a bit different from standing up and saying that you *are* acting as an instrument of His will.

One is a harmless prayer that, if meant devoutly, is essentially a mulligan -- if God exists, then we are all instruments of His will. The other is worst kind of delusion of grandeur.

comment #19

George Prager says ...

Craptastic [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

That's it. I'm done with this site. Wells just infuriates me too much.

Wells, you are a Grade-A asshole hack. Good thing you started your own site-- that way you can't get fired again.

Goodbye all... I've enjoyed reading all of your thoughts on movies and such. There are some really intelligent minds that come here-- some of you should seriously think about starting your own blogs!

Keep on keepin' on and all that jazz.

- Craptastic!

Posted by Craptastic [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 20, 2007 11:08 AM

comment #20

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Outraged Sensitivos: I think it's foul to steal someone's prayer note, agreed, but once it's done, it's done! The New York "Intel" guys have run it. It's out there! Toothpaste out of the tube!

Wells to Craptastic: It's everywhere, you fucking Luddite! The culture is the culture, the flow is the flow, the tide waters are up and over the tide walls, and you can't stop them.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07252008/news/worldnews/israeli_newspaper_publishes_obamas_weste_121564.htm

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/07/israeli_paper_publishes_obamas.html

comment #21

TheJeff says ...

Oh, and also...."protect my family and me"...?

3rd Graders know that's incorrect grammar. Looks like Obama is a rube, eh Wells?

You wouldn't make a very good third grader. Since it is the object of the sentence, "me" is correct. You wouldn't say "Lord protect I."

If it were the subject of the sentence (i.e. "My family and I went to the store."), "I" would be correct.

Just something to think about next time you decide to be an arrogant fuck.

comment #22

televisiontears says ...

Wells, just because the toothpaste is out, doesn't mean you have to rub it into the carpet. If the Vulture guys jumped off a bridge, would you? And if you think it's so foul, why didn't you voice that in your original post?

comment #23

chappiesan says ...

I think everyone would agree that's it's wrong to STEAL someone's prayer note. The better question seems to be whether you thnk it's wrong to read someone's private prayer note.

And not to harp on you too much, but the notion "the culture is the culture" and "the flow is the flow" seems strangely out of character for a guy who's such an ardent supporter of change.

comment #24

gruver1 says ...

Wells to televisiontears I didn't express my own distaste for this sort of thing because...well, Raveh did so himself. The interesting thing is that he allows that it's a blunt invasion of privacy, but notes that it happened anyway because Obama is not Jewish.

comment #25

clancy says ...

All of you who think Jeff should be held accountable for posting the prayer are out of your minds. This has already been published, its already news, so fuck it

Nor do I think it was wrong for the Israeli paper to publish it. Do you think for one bleeding second that Obama did not know the wall be rushed for the prayer? Come on.

I, for one, am happy that Isreal may be the least religious country on Earth and that it would, in fact, print such a thing.

And as for what can and can not be printed on this site? Seems to me that only one person decides that. You, of course can decide whether or not you come here.

comment #26

Mgmax says ...

"Do you think for one bleeding second that Obama did not know the wall be rushed for the prayer?"

I'm having fun imagining the late-night session to compose an appropriate prayer.

Who wants to bet his handwriting is normally nowhere near this clear?

comment #27

Rev. Slappy says ...

TheJeff beat me to the punch, but "protect my family and me" is correct.

comment #28

AndrewOwens says ...

I wish he had written "please forgive those who steal this note".

comment #29

T. Holly says ...

When you are at the wall, you're not allowed to read other people's notes? The notes somehow have to be collected or allowed to scatter or disintegrate by natural forces in order to make room for new ones. He couldn't have written a better note if he had known it would be revealed; it's quite beautiful, well done (and I hope Michelle reads it).

comment #30

p.Vice says ...

I wish he had written "Jeffrey Wells doesn't kid around. Well, he does kid around, but mostly he just loves movies."

comment #31

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Chappiesane: Is it wrong to read it, you ask? You mean, the good person would have averted his/her eyes when he/she read it in the New York Post? Like those who averted their eyes when Lady Godiva rode naked through the town on horseback?

comment #32

chappiesan says ...

Shoot, in that case, I'd ogle with the best of them. Hell, I might even snap off a couple of photos (and if I wasn't present, I'd probably ask my hombre who was to send along some of the better naked stills).

But I certainly wouldn't stare at her naked through her bedroom window. Or, at a reproduction of the same. In that case, yes, I would avert my eyes.

comment #33

CinemaPhreek says ...

Outraged Sensitivos to Wells: did you think any of us read the fucking NY Post? In other words, you are admitting you are just as common and unconcerned about ethics as the rest. I really thought when I checked back later you might have had the grace to remove the photo.

As to this paranoid theory that Obama wrote it specifically as some sort of stealth press release, guess some have started their weekend brewskis early (I picture buckets of Miller Chill). As the article puts it quite plainly, there is every expectation that the notes are private. But seeing that most these days seem to feel entitled to whatever they can justify on the flimsiest of grounds, it's not surprising there those who support Wells for no other reason they wanted to read the note themselves.

comment #34

nemo says ...

This is private stuff. The Jerusalem cops should have arrested those assholes.

"protect my family and me"

That IS grammatically correct. "My family and me" are the objects of the verb "protect". Just replace it with "protect me" or "protect us". You wouldn't say "protect I" or "protect we".

Since a lot of people have the idea that "me" sounds wrong in places where it's correct, it's a common mistake to say "protect my family and I". It's over-correcting a non-mistake and turning it into a mistake.

It's like nails dragging across a blackboard to hear people say things like "protect my family and I".

comment #35

nemo says ...

"I wish he had written "please forgive those who steal this note"."

"I wish he had written "Jeffrey Wells doesn't kid around. Well, he does kid around, but mostly he just loves movies.""

Those are both pretty funny.

comment #36

nemo says ...

Compare "Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair" with Luke 18:13 (and compare both with the public utterances of all those right-wing Bible thumpers):

9 And he [Jesus] spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get.

13 But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.

14 I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

comment #37

SaveFarris says ...

It takes a special kind of psychopath to pray for "guarding against pride" 24 hours before his Berlin show.

comment #38

supertaster says ...

Taking it and publishing it is reprehensible, if not predictable. Reading it is pathetic. Trying to rationalize why you would read it without simply admitting you're an emotion-driven animal with no self control is delusional. And Wells' excuse for reading and posting it?? SHAMELESS. I could just see him in Berlin in 1936 goosestepping around saying "go along, go along!!!"

comment #39

Bob Violence says ...

I propose abolishing the object pronouns altogether, given that they lost their entire raison d'être about eight centuries ago and now exist just to confuse native and non-native speakers alike and to provide a bit of extra work for proofreaders and grammar teachers. Anyone wishing to hear more of my fascinating and practical ideas should send five cents in a self-addressed stamped envelope to my P.O. box, c/o "Newsletter."

comment #40

berkguru says ...

I like Obama but let's get real here. As any politician, he is very smartly pandering with this crap. He KNEW his prayer would be exposed and that it would make him look like some godly great wonderful person. It is all BS. Who believes in this religous nonsense anyway? Maybe I am too cynical but I cant stand any of this and dont blame Wells at all for posting it even though he seems to fall for the B.S. also.

comment #41

Yves says ...

Non-news. What next? Raiding Obama's bathroom for used toilet paper? I pondered the dilemma-- to read or not-- for a few seconds before curiousity got the best of me. Celebrity culture has jumped the shark.
@mutinyco-- awesome.

comment #42

Joe Leydon says ...

Jeff:

Shame on you. Shame on you.

J

comment #43

broadstreetbully says ...

To all those assholes correcting my assholic grammar correction.....bah humbug says me!

comment #44

broadstreetbully says ...

"One is a harmless prayer that, if meant devoutly, is essentially a mulligan -- if God exists, then we are all instruments of His will. The other is worst kind of delusion of grandeur."

Nonsense. and bullshit. Many theologists believe that even if God exists, there is the possibility of free will.

Asking to be the instrument of HIS will is scary, no matter what. Obama clearly knew his prayer would be publicized and was sucking up to religious rubes.

comment #45

Jimmycrackcorn says ...

Broadstreetbully: There must be a God, because apparently He made you post a thoroughly stupid attack on Obama's correct grammar to prove what an all-around asshole you are.

comment #46

Jimmycrackcorn says ...

"Many theologists believe that even if God exists, there is the possibility of free will."

Really? "Many" theologians believe this? No shit? Thanks for the breaking theological update, broadstreetbully!

"Asking to be the instrument of HIS will is scary, no matter what."

So, wait. You're saying that if "many theologians" believe in the concept of free will, it is still scary, even as a theist, to believe that God has a will of his own? Humans are granted free will by God, under this theological scenario, but God doesn't grant himself that privilege, or, if he does, doesn't have a will any better or more followable (to use grammar you would no doubt approve of) than Joe Schmoe's? Okay, I think I am going to stop getting my theological updates from you after all.

If you find Obama "scary" on this level, God help you. Sorry.

comment #47

iamwhoiam says ...

As an Israeli and a Jewish, i could not be more ashamed, embarrassed and disgusted by this fiasco. Shame on the person who took out the note and shame on the newspaper that published it. Disgusting.

comment #48

Josh Massey says ...

I love that some people are finally beginning to grasp that Obama is - shock! - a politician.

comment #49

Mgmax says ...

"As the article puts it quite plainly, there is every expectation that the notes are private."

One reason Obama will become president, and John Edwards won't, is that he's a realist about how every act might as well be happening on the front page of a newspaper.

comment #50

nemo says ...

"One reason Obama will become president, and John Edwards won't, is that he's a realist about how every act might as well be happening on the front page of a newspaper."

William Ruckelshaus, Nixon's pretty good first head of the EPA, made a interesting comment on ethics that also applies to politics.

He told his EPA employees that when you're thinking about doing something a bit iffy, you should ask yourself how you'd feel if that thing you were about to do got splashed all over every newspaper and you got to hear about it every time you turned on the TV or listened to the radio while driving to work. If you don't feel comfortable with that, maybe you shouldn't do that thing.

Ruckelshaus, a lifelong Republican, endorsed Obama a few months ago.

comment #51

Zimmergirl says ...

Obama is clearly a very religious man - he probably knew it would be taken and reprinted and as a politician he was glad about that but as a religious man it was still a legitimate prayer. And it's personal. Notice it doesn't say "please bring peace to this unholy world" or anything nutty like that.

I really hate, though: "make me an instrument of your will." You know, we already had a president who thought he was doing God's work - can we keep God out of it for a while?

comment #52

hardlanding says ...

berkguru is 100% correct.

comment #53

BurmaShave says ...

Wait, did Mgmax just say Obama will become President?

comment #54

Mgmax says ...

Well, it seems likely at this point-- if not the walk that many assume.

comment #55

Mgmax says ...

Who'd have guessed William Ruckelshaus was still around?

comment #56

Movie Watcher says ...

Tomorrow Obama will be on Meet the Press. I am sure Brokaw will ask him about the prayer. Of course he wants people to read it, he is a politician, after all. McCain did not have a good week, with Obama on all the channels. It's sad the way McCain is talking lately. Maverick my ass.

comment #57

broadstreetbully says ...

Jimmycrackcorn,

Hey, you submoronic religious rube, just because you believe in a big man in the sky controlling all things doesn't make it real, and it doesn't make it any less scary that Presidential candidate is asking a big floating ghost-man to "make him an instrument". It's the same sort of thing Bush said, and I'm sick and tired of hearing this shit in American politics, be it Republican or Democrat.

comment #58

Adonis says ...

TheJeff rocked my world tonight... grammar police are awesome. Especially when others reveal just how poorly educated most Americans are.

comment #59

DarthCorleone says ...

Not being a religious person, the whole Wailing Wall tradition was not fresh on my mind, so I read the note before I could fully process the ethics of reading it. Had I thought about it, I would not have read it.

That said, now that I have read it, I am also mildly unsettled by the concept of being an "instrument" of God's will. If a religious person wants to believe that "God's will" simply implies that one does good, moral things, that is one thing. However, the word "instrument" implies a more active role that God is taking, and I find the concept of a benevolent, omniscient God taking an active role in any specific situation in our lives to be completely laughable.

comment #60

Jimmycrackcorn says ...

"I'm sick and tired of hearing this shit in American politics, be it Republican or Democrat."

Then you're sick and tired of the entire history of American politics and government. If you can only stand getting behind an atheist candidate, there are a lot of them in Europe. Or, if you want to pick the lesser of two evils, you may want to back McCain; he clearly is less religious than Obama.

comment #61

Mgmax says ...

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/07/28/is-anything-sacred.aspx

comment #62

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