Barack Obama’s official tweeters tweeted this today.
The President is launching a new initiative called "My Brother's Keeper." Watch the announcement at 3:25 p.m. ET: http://t.co/RlRwUf9vRY
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 27, 2014
The program being promoted is this one, which is about educational and economic opportunities for young men of color. Young men of color have suffered disproportionately in the Obama economy, so perhaps he will begin to address that.
But let’s talk about the phrase, “My brother’s keeper.” It’s from Genesis, first, so where are the usual suspects to howl about the separation of church and state?
Second, “my brother’s keeper” doesn’t mean what Barack Obama seems to think that it means.
“My brother’s keeper” comes from Genesis 4. Cain had just murdered his brother, Abel. God knew what had happened, but quizzed Cain about the murder. Cain knew exactly where Abel was, and replied dishonestly and defiantly. God was not persuaded.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.”
Cain wasn’t necessarily saying that being his “brother’s keeper” was a good thing. He was either mocking and sneering at God after committing a terrible crime, or he was sheepishly lying to cover up his crime. Either way, he wasn’t being honest. Another way of understanding “keeper” in this context is “guard” or “watcher,” and implying that he could no longer hear Abel (because he was dead). Or, owning a pet. Is that how Barack Obama sees adult American citizens? If so, given the military force cuts he is proposing, he has a funny way of showing it. “Here’s more welfare, please pay no attention to how much more dangerous the world outside is getting.”
Now, the central phrase untwisted, let’s talk about a couple of Barack Obama’s brothers.
One of the president’s half-brothers is named Malik Obama. He leads the Barack H. Obama Foundation, which the IRS fast-tracked to tax-exempt status, and that status was back-dated illegally. Maybe Barack was his brother keeper in that instance. If he, he may have broken the law. Malik Obama also either publicly sympathizes with terrorist groups that want to destroy Israel, or unwittingly wears the terrorist groups’ symbols. Shouldn’t Barack Obama have a cautionary word about this with Malik Obama?
One of the president’s other half-brothers is named George. George Obama never hears from his rich and famous brother, Barack. George, 32, lives in a shack in a notorious slum in Africa.
One would think that a man who publicly calls on others to “keep” their brothers, would make some attempt to lead by example.
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