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BEWARE of the CULT of PERSONALITY

It is hoped that the enthusiasm of those millions of people gathered in Washington and other parts of the United States and the world who received transmissions therefrom via radio, television and Internet was generated by the good it perceives will be brought to the country and the world by the PRESIDENCY of Barack Obama—as opposed to a cazrte blanche endorsement of Barack Obamaper se. Recently, Ashton Kucher and Demi Moore participated in a tributary film in which several pledges were made, among which were: “I pledge to serve Barack Obama” and “I pledge to serve the president.” Now, these statements by themselves are innocuous—creepy, but innocuous.

Of course, our system has safeguards against the excessive influence of individuals in power. FDR’s four elections prompted the enactment of a constitutional amendment that limits a president to two terms of office. Richard Nixon’s runaway presidency caused his impeachment and resignation from office. Although he compromised a somnambulant congress, George W. Bush’s excesses would have been greater had he not been chastised by a conservative supreme court.

Nevertheless, within my lifetime the world was held hostage and almost destroyed by three countries that were controlled by cults of personality. In one case, an emperor’s word was divine law. In another, “IL Duce’s” black-shirted thugs would smother dissent. In yet another, brown-shirted thugs of “Der Führer” took care of dissenters. In the latter case the personality was elected and, through political machinations became the ultimate “leader” whose word could not be questioned.

For those who CHOOSE to live under the umbrella of the Constitution of the United States of America, the only requirement is that they not attempt to change it by force. It does not require a pledge to any person or thing. It does not require a pledge to serve a president or to pledge allegiance to a flag. As a matter of fact, it does not require adherence to anything tangible. The constitution requires only adherence to the rules contained within it. Those rules include the provision to change the constitution according to its own provisions therein, and without the use of violence.

Let’s not get carried away with any one particular person. History is replete with the death and destruction wrought by cults of personality. We have only to remember Alexander, Genghis Khan, Caesar, Jesus, Henry VIII, Mohammed, George III, Hitler, Pol Pot, Saddam Hussein and Bush-Cheney.