May 1, 2010
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Praying for the Death Of President Obama
A Facebook group is dedicated to praying for the death of President Obama.
Over a million members on Facebook have hit “like” on the group.
The group is called, “DEAR LORD, THIS YEAR YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE ACTOR, PATRICK SWAYZIE. YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE ACTRESS, FARAH FAWCETT. YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE SINGER, MICHAEL JACKSON. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT IS BARACK OBAMA. AMEN.”
There is also a group dedicated to asking Facebook to take the group praying for President Obama’s death down. Here is the link: Link
Should Facebook take the group down?
Comments (227)
wow it doesn’t really sound like he’s their favorite president
Yes they should. No matter whose death they are praying for unless the person is dieing already from some awful disease, the site should be taken down.
Wth is people’s problems? Sheesh. Maybe they should…but then they will go and fight against that and say: “Oh, we didn’t really mean that at all! It was just a joke. Gosh, can anyone take a joke these days?”
That’s not even funny.
Nah. When I open my group asking for Palins death I don’t want to be called a hypocrite.
(In a more serious note though: I still think it’s okay. Theres no problem wishing death on someone. It’s when you actually become active in that wish that it’s wrong. So saying “I wish he was dead” is a lot different from “Let’s kill him”)
The retardation level of Facebook is exceeded only by Mancouch. I am surprised the tea party contingent on Xanga has not done the same thing.
No, they should turn the list over to the Secret Service instead.
I’d say take it down out of respect. I disagree with alot of Obama’s policys and such, and I don’t like him, but I’m not praying for his death. Wishing death on anyone is wrong. True, the group is probably a joke, but still. Respect people, respect.
The FBI needs more people to add to their watchlist, and FB is here to help!
Yes, this group should be taken down.
I don’t think death should be wished onto anyone..
I don’t care how much you hate someone, it’s not right!
Interesting, considering God calls us to pray for our leaders.
Romans 13:1-6
Everyone must submit
himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except
that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been
established by God. Consequently,
he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has
instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for
those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free
from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will
commend you. For he is
God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he
does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of
wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the
authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of
conscience. This is also
why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give
their full time to governing.
I think the people who need prayer are the ones joining this group because they are bringing judgment on themselves.
HAHAHHA at the last part. “my favorite president is Barack Obama. AMEN” harsh, but funny!
I don’t like him either. But he doesn’t need to die…
I saw that group and noticed a couple of my Facebook friends were joining it.. It pisses me off. I don’t care if you hate Obama. It’s just rude and downright disrespectful to pray for someone’s death. How do you think his family and friends would feel if he died? They’d be devastated.
I bet those people have never had someone pray for their deaths before. I imagine it must be a shocking and hurtful experience to know that someone hates you so much that they want you dead.
Even if someone doesn’t like his policies, there is no reason to pray for his death.
I’m amused.
They should take it down though. Everyone knows there is at least ONE crazy person on any online social network. Someone is going to go “Oh look, all these people want ______ dead! I’ll go grant their wish!”
I think, no matter how against a politician’s polictics you are, wishing for their death is disgusting and incredibly unpatriotic.
I’ve been removing people from my friends list who like that page.
Yeah, that’s just pathetic, even if it is a president that one didn’t admire it’s still pathetic. Chances are many if not most of them are professed “Christians”.
It’s amusing, to say the least. It’s a freakin’ group, not a death threat.
Wow they have too much hate.
That’s just crazy, but even so it’s so sad! I’m sad that this kinda thinking is going on.
I mean it’s freedom of speech, whatever. It’s still realy freakin disrespectful though.
I think people need to wipe on more Vagisil and just chill the fuck out. I feel that everyone is entitled to their opinions and jokes, regardless of how butt-hurt everyone else may be about it. We don’t live in a society of monotony where everyone agrees on everything. If people want Obama to die, be it intentionally or in a joking way, they should be allowed to express that without someone else getting all offended like and forcing some major legislation to get it removed and some fancy new law that says you can’t badmouth the president or wish for his death. The simple solution? Leave it be and go live your own life. Don’t like it? Then don’t read/view/respond to it. >.>
@Rob_of_the_Sky - What’s sad is you actually have to “like” to group to comment. I “liked” the group so I could make a comment against their stupidity. Might want to check if they just joined to comment.
Free speech.
@NightCometh - amen.
How Rude…
Yeah, they should, but honestly it just helps me discern who on my friends list needs deleted. It’s so revolting to wish death on anyone, even as a joke. I don’t care how much you hate someone, it’s so…wrong. There’s no real words for it.
The group isn’t really hurting anyone. To my knowledge, the group isn’t actually threatening death or even harm against the president. Even though, the group is in very bad taste, in my opinion, it still should be protected by free speech.
Does anyone really want Biden as President?
A lot of people would say that this is just free speech. There were many many people saying things like this (even college professors teaching it) against George W Bush during his administration. However I do not think that this is a respectful way to show a difference of opinion. I cannot stand President Obama’s policies or views on things, however I would never wish death on him, and jI try to love him with the love of the Lord. When talking about whether facebook should take it down or not, there are probably many groups like this against many different people in power, and they would need to take all of them down.
Did we think of this for George Bush?
When Rush Limbaugh had his heart attack, half of my liberal friends posted statuses about hoping he would be next on the celebrity death list.
Yes such activities should not be encouraged,
that’s messed up
Free speech and it’s partly a joke anyway. He’s a crappy president, and worse than Bush.
Yes it should be removed. Free speech does not cover it just like you can not yell Fire in a crowded theater or say that you have a bomb on an airplane.
@Celtic_haven - NOBODY is worse than Bush.
yeah right, “free speech”…. it’s wrong. if people’s morals aren’t enough to see that this is wrong, then we are truly fu**ed. what ever happened to accountability for what we say?
I understand free speech, but I think somethings are just inappropriate. I might not agree with someone’s practices, but I’d never wish them dead. As a Christian, I think that goes against what God would call people to do. You can pray for him to change and follow God in an appropriate way, but to pray for his death might heap judgement on them.
@SpokenThruScott - agreed.
Obama can’t please everyone, but hoping he dies is a bit extreme. And using prayer….
Good grief, doesn’t anyone understand hyperbole? (And no, I’m not even a member of the group)
It’s not like the people in the group are actually praying for his death, or planning an assassination. It’s just supposed to be funny.
And if you look at it they are saying that Obama is their favorite president; they are not technically praying for him to die.
Religious people are lunatics. We all know it, stop being surprised by this stuff, peeps.
You’re goddamn right it should. Such a group could very feasibly incite violence against the pres.
Anyone calling themselves Christian who supports this is a big time hypocrite. This is NOT Christian.
I wonder if those saying “free speech” 1) realize that there are in fact limits to free speech or 2) would have said the same if there was such a group saying the same about Pres. Bush.
Well, if it was for George W.Bush, then people wouldn’t overreact, but because Obama is an African American and liberal president, there is controversy.
I find that rather sad.
Americans take for granted their ability to make these groups, to have free speech in this. If something like this were to happen in China (but not on facebook, of course) or another country that restricts these things, all hell would break loose.
Expressing extreme dislike for someone is not physically threatening. People who object to this sort of distasteful expression probably thought nothing of actual published threats against President Bush.
Here is an example. Those, good people, are what actual threats look like.
I don’t think the people hitting the like button on Facebook are doing so to pray for his death. I think they do it because they think it’s funny. I don’t think the group should be taken down but neither do I find it amusing. I mean, their favorite actor and singer already tell you they have really bad taste. Aside from that, the idea of genuinely praying for Obama’s death is abominable to Christians. I mean, even those few who might claim to be Christians but are on the ‘weird fringe’ in thier beliefs surely know that it would only make him a martyr and make his political agendas stronger.
Now that is a long name for a group. I think that they should be left alone, I mean shit, half the people in the USA don’t think prayer does anything anyways. I think if they start plotting something that goes beyond ‘praying’ then of course shut the bastard children down
@SpokenThruScott - Wow, you liked a group just to put in your two cents? That makes a whole load of sense…
If the group is no more than an indistinct clustering of partisan anger, then it should probably be left up for its free speech value; but if angry “praying” give way to concrete threats, then facebook should probably act.
@squeakysoul - I wonder if those saying “free speech” 1) realize that there are in fact limits to free speech…
Clear and present danger. ^_^
The danger, to me, seems neither clear nor present.
Let them have their group. I wouldn’t join it, but if it amuses them…Small things, small minds and all that.
@whereisichi - …you DO realize that they’re being sarcastic…right?
Of course! This is the same as issuing death threats to anyone else, which I’m pretty sure is illegal. Take it down NAO. Kthx.
I pray for them to find some common sense.
@NightCometh - Free speech.
The Free Speech obligations of Facebook is more narrow than that of the government with the general public.
Free Speech, in the public sphere, is broadly protected by the First Amendment. This protection, however, doesn’t extend readily to the patrons of internet services or graffiti taggers of private residences.
It is within Facebooks prerogative to balance the public relations and buisness impacts of Presidential death praying with free-speech value. Shitty speech, dangerous speech, and disasteful speech doesn’t have to be tolerated by Facebook just because you may characterize it as “free.”
The name of the group is funny so possibly it’s meant as a joke but It’s sad and more than a little disturbing to imagine anyone really praying for our president to die.
@summerdreams505Aa - Well, if it was for George W.Bush, then people wouldn’t overreact, but because Obama is an African American and liberal president, there is controversy.
Say this to Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy.
@HappyLemming - If you haven’t noticed, all of those presidents had some form of reform that some people did not like.
Lincoln-slavery issue
JFK-young and liberal guy, but then the “offcial killer” was psycho, that or a certain group of people didn’t like him.
Garfield and McKinley, not much of big reforms, just people didn’t like them.
Likewise, many people do not like Obama because they think he is “Muslim”, “non-born citizen”, or because he is African American
@Rob_of_the_Sky - Haha, yea… I know.
@Queen_of_You188Â - you DO realize I was being sarcastic right? lol
@whereisichi - ah. Irony. It has struck me. Grrr! Lol, I’m sorry.
Free speech, but if anything on there was in the form of an actual threat that would be a different story.
No, it doesn’t violate FB’s terms of service. A direct call for violence would be against the rules, but not this.
Freedom of speech doesn’t kick in until people are truly offended.
Yes it should be removed regardless of freedom of speech etc. Nobody has the right to wish someone else dead. It is also not funny. I have seen people on Facebook who claim to be Christians click on “like” that’s very UNCHRISTIAN. It is also childish and people need to grow up.
@boricua_chic_2008 - totally agree with you thats very wrong
Do you really think they’re praying for his death? I don’t think so. I think it’s just one of those silly Facebook “become of fan of” things. Most of them are humorous, and this one kind of is, too. I don’t think it’s meant to be taken seriously.
@Queen_of_You188Â - lol that’s cool.Â
btw I love haruhi suzumiya!
i was never able to watch the last episode though :’(
I don’t think it should be taken down. People are entitled to their own opinion. I personally do not like Obama and I would not be opposed to joining this group.
@whereisichi - yay, I’m forgiven!
Of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya?
So if they say they like him in hopes that God will kill him, isn’t that lying to God in a prayer? Seems to me to be the act of a desperate hypocrite. Not that I think it will do anything anyway, but it does show the mentality of some religious folk.
ugh, am I the only one that noticed they spelled Patrick Swayze’s name wrong!?
@TakingxOverxMe - EXACTLY! Bush was not my favorite President but I sure as hell dont pray for him to die. You NEVER want the leader of your country to fail because then we ALL fail & it puts us ALL in jeopardy!
I think the people in this group have no home training & probably are 3 years old because someone with common sense wouldnt do such an immature thing.
People suck, but I think it has the right to be there.
Christ turned the other cheek my ass. Christians are blood-thirsty creatures….
everyone has a right to their opinion. Hell yea for free speech. they ain’t hurting anyone so leave it up.
Aww, I think it’s just a silly joke. I’d have joined it even if someone I liked was in the White House.
sounds like cyber bullying to the extreme.
This could be seen as a conspiracy to take down Obama.
They should all serve jail time.
amen.
That is just awful. People need to get a life.
LET THEM PRAY haha. its their right after all. freedom of religion + freedom of speech.
however, if facebook does decide to take them down, then every other facebook page expressing religion should also be taken down.
No Double Standards!
actually religion is all about double standards… heh
I don’t like him but I wouldn’t join that group. It’s creepy.
A lot of groups pertaining to God taking other people are wrong…there’s a Justin Bieber ones where people pray for God to bring back Tupac or something and take Justin Bieber.
People are sick.
i “became a fan” / “liked” this group. i see it as a silly joke.
if they take this page down, they would have to take a million other pages down.
I’m sure Fred Phelps is proud of them. As for Jesus, maybe not so much.
hahaha,,, sounds like a joke to me…
id settle for a quick impeachment and deportation back to africa where he came from myself…
Offensive, perhaps, but nobody petitioned to take down any of the Anti-Bush or Anti-Palin groups that suggested their demise, or were just extremely derogatory, crude, or offensive in nature. People need to get over themselves and stop being so hypocritical. Wishing bad things on anyone is a terrible thing to do, so don’t do it to one person if you’re going to complain about it happening to another.
Freedom of speech, right?
facebook should take a lot of groups down, but it is never going to happen.
Liberals love freedom of speech… until they don’t like what they hear.
@SpokenThruScott - agreed
Free speech, yep.
In poor taste, yep.
Stupid, yep.
Not really worth people’s consideration. It’s just a joke, and not even one of the worse ones I’ve heard on the subject. I don’t approve, but technically I don’t think they’ve done anything wrong yet.
Ok not saying it is right but it did make me laugh..
Free speech.
There is an idiot “pastor” at ASU who prays weekly for the President to die, of horrible abdominal cancer. Wonder how karma works in such a case?
Naw, don’t take it down. Stupid people have a right to identify themselves.
I wouldn’t violate the freedom of speech for people talking to themselves.
This started being passed around through email as a joke…and then someone went ahead and made a FB group for it. I never forwarded it. I never joined the group. Do I think it’s appropriate? No, and so I’ve stayed away from it and don’t tell it to people. But still…I think folks have way overreacted on this one. It’s just a joke.
So my answer is no.
i think it’s a joke…it’s not a very nice joke, but a joke nonetheless
yuppp
Yes
No, I don’t think it should be taken down because then that would infringe on those people’s rights to freedom of speech. It’s not slander or libel because they’re not making allegations that he’s a terrorist, etc. Besides, by the looks of that group name, it doesn’t even sound all that serious. It’s like that group “Soldiers aren’t heroes” or whatever that I’ve been seeing on Facebook. Hey, they are entitled to their opinions, too, regardless of whether or not we agree with them.
I think death is a little extreme. I mean think of his kids! I do think he should be impeached though.
@NightCometh -
Yep. I was just about to type that.
Wow. Mature way to protest the choice of our President. This is the epitome of intelligence. Free Speech or not get over yourselves and find better ways to get your point across.
In a free society people have the right to say what they want, regardless of how crude it is. Maintaining that freedoms integrity is more important than reacting to petty statements on the internet. People need to grow up and respect the rights of others. No one has the right to pick and choose what other people say, so long as it’s not a threat of violence or property damage. Morons talking to the wind aren’t hurting anyone, they have the right to be morons. However, facebook is not a public forum in the sense that it’s owned by the people, it’s owned by individuals and in the end they have the right to operate it as they see fit, as it is their property.
It used to be a law long ago that no person should shy from controversy. When we hear ugly things like this, the question as to why it is being said should always be asked and an objective, unbiased answer found. Responding to slander with slander is the epitome of idiocy and hypocrisy.
it’s ok, I will just pray that all those praying for his death also die.
… Oh, no. A joke. On the internet. I’m so offended. I never see offensive jokes on the internet. I’ve never even heard of /b/ before. There isn’t offensive content on the internet. Especially not jokes. No, this is surely a legitimate ploy from religious leaders to make a move to an American theocracy. Surely, this reflects true religious values. Why would they joke? Religion is never used for comedy. Oh, no. Especially, not on the internet.
@SpokenThruScott - Tell that to the threatening facebook group! Maybe they will take notice. Well, more likely their pride will get in the way.
@NightCometh – Exactly what I was planning to say until I saw you had already said it!
This is horrible. I don’t care how much i would dislike a particular president of my country - I would never pray for his death nor even allude to it (not that I pray at all – but that is beside the point). That is just so hateful.
I disagree with them, but most people wouldn’t have lifted a finger to blog about a group praying for Bush’s death. Constitutionally, it could be argued it’s not an issue unless there is a threat made. Here’s how I see it, it’s likely that “religious people” in general could agree this is not an appropriate prayer and everyone else would be hard-pressed to think prayer could do anything to the president… thus I don’t think it’s a threat, it’s just stupid and disrespectful… although the last line DID make me laugh a bit.
That’s so not necessary. I hated Bush as a president, but I’ve never wished death on him.
I’ve wished someone else would throw a shoe at him, but never death.
That’s horrible. I wonder how those people would feel if they had death wishes on them.
Especially if they were left in charge of cleaning up someone else’s mistake.
Smh.
If you don’t agree with the president, just pray for him to make better decisions for our country..
That’s just not nice to pray for someone’s death. I’m not a democrat nor a big fan of Obama, but, he’s the president now, all we can do is pray for our leader
maybe I should send some demons after him.
I usually ignore them unless they don’t ignore me.
No, leave it. If it’s taken down, then they’ll become an oppressed group that’ll spawn out to other ends because they’re cranky. Obviously God is permitting him to continue on, so they should reevalute the situation.
I bet they were just trying to be funny. It’s stupid.
Yes it should be taken down, for the mere lameness of it.
@MangoWOW - Wishing death upon someone is serious no matter how you say it.
I think it should be taken down, because the group is highly offensive.
However, I doubt Facebook will because that would be infringing on the creator of the group’s rights.
@betweenrivers - I did, and your exactly right, their pride did get in the way.
No. That’s like having a group saying let’s resurrect hitler.
@HappyLemming - Actually my concern re violence towards the pres that wasn’t the limit I was talking about, but you already mentioned the one I was thinking of someone else so, we’re prob on the same page.
I’m getting too tired to keep responding to some of these questions lol. Gone are the days of my Xanga debating.
No. But I wouldnt join it.
Well, from what I know about “prayer”, is that those people, if they are actually practicing, are going to find out that NEGATIVE energy has a tendency to come back and BITE the sender in the ASS.
How can people be so ARROGANT and EARTH BOUND to NOT KNOW that GOD is DOING EXACTLY AS HE PLEASES.
You would have the NERVE to ask GOD to CHANGE THINGS? and then for something NEGATIVE?
This is like stupidity times infinity.
No FACEBOOK should let these people pray themselves into OBLIVION.
.
.
AND
I’m CERTAIN that TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE prayed for the death of George W. Bush for 8 years and that obviously didn’t work…
Of course those the were probably HEATHEN prayer so I guess that is the justification why.
People are so stupid.
Wow just wow, As a Christian, I loathe it when the name of God is used to wish the death of someone. I’ve read most of the comments and I can agree with all of the comments that say this NOT Christian. It isn’t Christian. I may not agree with everything President Obama has done, but I do pray for him.
i don’t care what political views an individual has, however, no one should ever pray for the death of another person.
No, freedom of speech…but it is a little rude. Granted I don’t like the guy but I wouldn’t pray for his death.
From the Facebook Statement of Rights and Responsibilities:
“You will not post content that: is hateful, threatening, or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence.”
“You will not use Facebook to do anything unlawful, misleading, malicious, or discriminatory.”
I can’t stand Obama and I wish he wasn’t my president. But the point is, he IS my president. And as such, he deserves to be treated with respect. Death’s of president’s should never be joked about. Besides, this group clearly breaks the Facebook rules and therefore should be taken down.
However, I do just have to say that nowhere does this group actually literally say anything about praying for Obama’s death. The group is named after a joke that involves praying to God about all the celebrities who have died in the past year, and then ends in a way that implies Obama’s death as well. Not quite the same thing as ACTUALLY praying for his death, and I think that the majority of the people who are in this group are not actually praying for that in any way. That being said, I still think that it violates the Rights and Responsibilities.
I don’t know if they should take it down– that’s just kinda battling one kind of stupid with another. “Ooh, we took down your fanpage,take that!”
I do agree though that this page is utterly ridiculous, rude, and disrespectful. I just lost a little respect for those who liked or joined the page.
although i think it is a joke and very few to no people in the group are probably praying for barack obama to die, yes, the group should be taken down. you can get in very big trouble for things like this.
I’m about as left and progressive as the come and I think even in jest that is wrong but I also believe in free speech, so no, I don’t believe it should be taken down.
I’ve watched as some people I know join that group. Funny thing, those dumb asses are most likely to be helped by his policies.
It is ok as long as someone doesn’t think they are doing God’s work and take action. It probably should be shut down on second thought. Do you really want a President Biden?
I don’t like the man but he WAS “elected” as president and until his term is up he is the one most people seemed to want. But I feel that he will be a one term president.
Dude! it’s a joke! you’re making it sound like some crazy religious cult! I’m on facebook , and I seen it.
Hello, freedom of speech? We’re still allowed to have opinions. He hasn’t outlawed that yet.
Well, this one of those things that resides is the unfortunate but valid realm of free speech. They’re not doing anything punishable until somebody comments or posts something hinting that they’ll try to kill the president. One of them probably will fuck up and do it, but until they do, no one has anything on em.
Otherwise, a part of our system’s free speech guarantees retards and hateful people their rights to free speech, just as much as anyone else.
Yeah… it’s a bit harsh. But the punch line is hilarious, and well, it’s freedom of speech. They have a right to their opinion.
They should really have took the time to make sure Patrick Swayze was spelled correctly.
I believe it’s really not the idea of the “Pray for Obama’s Death” that makes Republicans look bad (hey, Liberals do that stuff too), rather, it’s the fact that some 16 year old who can’t spell is now the leader of 1 million Republican/Obama Hater facebookers.
OMG interesting
yes, that’s disgusting
I compared it to KKK, so I decided that no, it shouldn’t be, because KKK still gets their “freedom of speech.”
Anyway, if president obama died, that’d be epic. I’m not saying I want him to die, I’m just saying that he’d go down in history…. Epic.
It’s a threat to his life, that’s not ok. Even if there is ‘free speech’ it’s just not okay to threaten their life.
For thousands of years, the people of England have been praying towards their health of their monarches– and history has demonstrated their inefficacy.
I don’ think pray-harming an American President wouldn’t do much either.
Not only is it hateful and disrespectful towards OUR PRESIDENT, but the celebrities mentioned in the title do not deserve to have their names trampled after their death in a cheap attempt at a joke.
I have to say yes they should take it down !! Just because we don’t agree with him, or like him as president prayer for losing his life is a total different story!
Praying is harmless. Chill out.
http://godisimaginary.com/i1.htm
@TakingxOverxMe - some of my friends joined too… instant loss of respect
lmao you’re an idiot for taking this seriously.
It kind of crosses the line, but at the same time it is just a joke (and a clever one at that). There are no calls for action so it doesn’t even seem illegal to me (does anyone seriously believe prayer works??).
they are not actually praying for the death of Obama.
Can’t you see it’s a joke?
damn.
Uh, its a joke. Calm down. They aren’t seriously “praying”. It’s a joke.
well on the one hand, they have the right to free speech to say they don’t like him. however, i think it could easily border on a threat and encouraging violence, which is illegal
Freedom of speech is our constitutional right and so is freedom of assembly. People have the right to speak out against our leader. And we have the right to form a group of people who feel the same. Hell, even white supremacists have the right to assemble and say whatever they’d like to about other ethinic groups. You may not like it, but that doesn’t make it illegal.
So, no. I don’t think Facebook should take the page down. These people aren’t planning a murder, they’re using a “witty” title to show their dislike of our president. This isn’t a dictatorship. We have the right to dislike our president and his actions if we want.
PS I’m not against Obama either. I just don’t believe in taking away someone’s rights just because we don’t agree with them.
@DarkYangofICE - Retards, really? I think you mean stupid people, because saying retard would imply people with mental retardation. And that’s a completely different group of people who probably shouldn’t be grouped together with “hateful people.”
Tacky? Yes. But it’s not done in a threatening manner. I agree with the people that said it falls under freedom of speech. I knew a lot of people that didn’t like Bush and voiced their opinions about it often and loudly. I don’t quite understand why people are so surprised, especially in what was really a close race, that not everybody loves Obama.
@Murphy_Rants - I agree.
@chrissiibear - forget all the bush groups or palin or mccain groups too, right.
Yes it should, lest the secret service find all these people and kill them. In which, they had it coming.
@DontTurnAway - Yes. I don’t think it matters who it is, all those kind of groups should be taken down just out of respect. I don’t like Palin, McCain, Obama, Bush, any of them. But I have RESPECT for them.
Wow, that’s messed up. Lot o’ sick people out there…
Don’t take it down, free to express their opinion in whatever way they see fit. it’s the action of speeding up his death that’s the problem.
It’s a shame people are so hateful with their anger or discontented-ness. They should turn what they disagree on into discourse.
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They should definitely take it down. Since prayer is a religious thing, I don’t think most religions would condone praying for someone to die. Oh, and America elected this president. Whether we like it or not, he’s in office. Where’s the respect?
No it is a joke get over it like seriously they are way more groups that facebook could take down than some stupid joke group
free speech.
It’s a joke. I mean, it seems like it’s supposed to be funny, not serious. lol, for god’s sake people.
QUIT BEING SO POLITICALLY CORRECT.
this is wrong on so many levels. of course they should take it down. geez. it’s a hate group, and the fact that he’s a public figure shouldn’t be regarded when coming to conclusions.
I hope they know that they just opened themselves up to possible federal inquiry into their background by doing this. People really need to think about what things they willy-nilly “like” before they start thinking they can play god or pray to god, even if they joined the group in jest. & strangely enough, free speech allows anything, but once that free speech is used to incite hate and mobilize an action of hate, the line will be crossed. think about it people. personally, i would have shut down the page but looking at the bill of rights, it cant come down.
Ye, the Secret service should step in: well, when you go to the extent of wanting someone’s death, that is right there enough reason to watch after you! You have the right to express discontentment, but wishing death…that’s the extra mileage putting you in culprit suspicious zone. Joking is one thing, life threat masked as a joke is criminal.
They should have the freedom to have whatever ridiculous “joke” group they like. You have the freedom not to look at it or give it another thought as it is ridiculous. “If we. the majority, don’t like it, we will take it away from the underdogs, no matter that one day the positions may change”. Idiocy. They didn’t threaten his life, only jokingly (poor taste) wished he was dead. Some of the comments on here are horrifying. Welcome to 1984!
@haloed - I don’t find it funny or like it either, but what the hell!?! You honestly believe that freedom of speech, no matter how “wrong” in our opinion what they said is, deserves death? I don’t care if they honestly mean this, and it wasn’t a poor “joke”, because they have not threatened his life, “only“ wished he would die. It is awful, but I don’t think they should die in turn, and “deserve” it. You’re worse than them because you are not only serious, but you are obviously doing the same thing as them and feeling haughty and justified about it.
If we say that people cannot express their opinions in words, then what is to stop us from governing what people think next? We have no right to force everyone else to conform to our personal views. So long as no one has hurt anyone else or threatened to, it is their bussiness what they think and say. Even in public places.
and again i need something..
Actually I don’t think they should. Let the fools reveal their inherent cruelty and petty vindictiveness for all the world to see. Plus, I don’t generally believe in censorship even in extreme cases like this.
How sick to you have to be to think praying for someone’s death is appropriate OR funny? Yes, Facebook should shut it down! There are plenty of people in the world I’m not that fond of, but I don’t pray for their deaths. Sick, sick, sick. I hope they get what they deserve.
Really? I thought it was funny… haha ;D People need to calm the heck down. It’s a joke.
Freedom of speech. Have people finally given up on worshipping our first black President?
No, that would be taking away from freedom of speech. Although, that is completely ridiculous. Praying for someone to die, that’s sick.
Wow, Democrats sure are getting butthurt over things they used to do when Bush was in office.
Feel guilty much?
umm wow.. because if President Obama dies, guess who becomes president? Joe Biden, democrat. It’s not like Sarah Palin or John McCain are next in line. Dur dur dur!
Last I checked there was a thing called freedom of speech. Also, the group is a joke and some people take jokes too seriously. Are they really praying for his death? No. People are naive. Anyone who actually prays does not pray for people’s death. Have some common sense and try to use some logic before you blow things out of proportion.
It’s similar to the joke that involves when farah faucett died she asked god to save the children and so then michael jackson died. A joke. In bad taste? Perhaps, but a joke none-the-less. Don’t freak out over nothing. Use your voice for something that matters, I mean really.
Free speech, as brought up before, is true. Honestly, I don’t think these people are praying for Obama’s death. They saw a group, got a chuckle out of it, don’t like Obama, and clicked like. I think this is a misleading blog-title, because I seriously doubt that everyone who clicked it is praying for Obama’s death, that’s ludicrous to assume. I will say that, for the Christians joining the group, they are NOT showing the Love of Christ in doing so, and one should not entertain ideas that Jesus Christ is anything like that.
That being said, I think the group is disrespectful, however it is still being taken way too seriously, and is protected under free speech.
I know a lot of people in that group actually. I don’t really like Obama much myself but I’m not about to wish death upon him..
Hmmm. It’s going to make people MAD. Freedom of speech. As long as they’re not radical and intend to band together and murder the man, let them say what they want. I don’t believe hoping your president dies and expressing it is considered treason, but I may be incorrect. I wouldn’t do it; I am not an Obama fan, but I do not wish a early death upon him. He has girls, and they need a dad. Even if it IS Obama.
I want to meet one of these people, just to try to understand who thinks praying for someone’s death is appropriate or funny. Cause it darn well isn’t. COME ON.
Obama is awesome. If Americans don’t want him you are welcome to have one of the rest of the world’s crappy leader instead. Almost everybody else would love to have him! Just don’t come complaining when the Republicans run your country straight into the ground. But hey, it’s what Americans seem to want and oh, boy are you going to get it!
What if someone made a group called ” praying for the death of ( your mothers name ) wtf would u say ?
this country was founded on the idea that people should be free to express their true feelings about our country and its leaders. you can disagree and think they’re rude or whatever. but, forcing it to be taken down for that reason is completely against what america stands for.
if the group was called something like “facebook group for the plot to kill obama” it would be a different story. but there’s nothing threatening about what is written there.
uhhh YEAH, my philosophy class was discussing this in our conversation about something that i cant remember loL! but it basically was whether death for whatever reason through media or otherwise and how its is portrayed justified in morals and or whatever. i believe its a stupid facebook thing and it should be taken down asap
Despite the piece of crap president that I personally think he is, that is absolutely horrible. They should absolutely take it down. I’m all for freedom of speech, but that’s pushing it. When someone’s life is threatened like that, it becomes tasteless and wrong.
@chrissiibear - I agree completely.
That is so sick. Wishing death on a president? Those people should bury their heads under the ground and live there for the rest of their lives.
Yes I know we live in a free country, but that does not mean anything goes. If anything goes, then we can say anything without any fear of consequences. I can say how stupid you are to your face and I won’t get in trouble. Why is that not okay and this is?
@loveandpolitics - Oh yeah, that’s not contributing to “running us into the ground”, making enemies of your own fellow citizens when we’re all supposed to be on the same side. People like you are the reason this country is run into the ground, not because of the Bush Administration or the Republican Party. Both of the mainstream political parties are flawed, but at the core they each have something to respect. Quit judging people based on what politicians they choose to support. You need to grow up.
And for the record, I do not look positively on a facebook group that does that. I believe it’s tasteless and stupid.
@mantiXcore - how is it threatening? all they’re saying (assuming anyone is actually taking it seriously) is that they wish he would die. that may be morally wrong in your eyes, but it isn’t threatening at all.
@Murphy_Rants - Exactly.
@yingforyouryang - Lol okay you’re joking.
I dont think so… it thier opinion…
It’s a facebook group!
They have so many others…If facebook won’t remove the one about hating the troops and praying for their deaths than this one shouldn’t be either.
It’s a JOKE!
Seriously?
I “fanned” it.
I don’t like Obama…But I don’t get on my knees and pray for his death, but it amused me as do the other 89754389593457 things I randomly fanned on facebook.
@mimosaceae - and if they do that, than they have to investigate the people who “hate soldiers” on facebook to see if they are terrorists….
Wow… People never cease to amaze me with their stupidity.
I personally think it shows their ignorance. I don’t care WHO the president is… you just don’t do that. All it does is weaken a country.
I’m certainly an Obama supporter. I voted for him once and I will do it again if given the opportunity next election. But, I don’t think this group should be taken off of Facebook. Its their opinion if they don’t like Obama, its their right to pray for whatever they want to (although it seems a little sacrilegious to me to pray for someone’s death in this sort of manner), and its the right of others to want to agree with them. Freedom of speech. I don’t consider this hate speech, but I do think it shows the ignorance of the people who are part of that group or who made the group. But, its their prerogative if they want to show their ignorance. :p
Likewise, its within anyone’s right to disagree or make a group countering that one. Is within their right to express their displeasure by asking Facebook to take it down. But, honestly, I don’t want Facebook to take it down. I don’t like the idea of stamping on anyone’s freedom of speech, even if I disagree with what they’re saying and think they’re being ignorant by showing their dislike of a person in this particular sort of venue (praying for their death).
I think they should forward the addresses, cell phone numbers and other personal info to the CIA to include in their warrantless wiretapping program. You know, to protect our freedom to have a not-dead president.
this is awful. facebook shouldn’t let them have that up there..even if it is a joke.
Personally i like Obama. I think that wishing death on someone is bad luck. What goes around comes around in one way or another. However, if they take it down it can become really serious. They will plead the first amendment (freadom of speech). So unless obama goes up on a press conference and says he will hunt everyone down, then its not a big deal. People just get too hung up on being politically correct and pollitically nice and such. i say: STOP BEING BABIES AND GET OVER IT. ITS JUST A STUPID FACEBOOK GROUP, HALF THOSE PEOPLE PROLLY JOINED IT CUZ THEY THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY. Jeez!!!
@millionofstars - I understand your point of view…however, becareful of sounding slightly hypocritical. You have an issue with people praying for obama’s death, but yet your telling them to go : “bury their heads under the ground and live there for the rest of their lives.” I’d watch it. it’s their oppinion and no one is criticizing you about how you feel a love for obama. It should be the same for them.
Free speech, they aren’t killing anyone, God doesn’t kill cause he simply can, neither can anyone prove he exists, just LOL wtf? and move on.
A group of people collectively acting stupid? Sounds like a church.
I saw that group as well, although he is a liar and I can’t stand his policies, I didn’t join.
That being said, if I’m not mistaken I think that originated from a liberal starting a group that read just like that, but it was about praying for a conservative to die. I’m thinking Rush or Beck, but I’m not sure.
@CrimsonxBallad - Nobody can prove that He doesn’t either.
@dropsofjupiterihh - Lady, there’s people on the net claiming to have super powers. Who cares? They just want attention.
It definately should be takin down….
ugh, damn this free speech. can we at least outlaw dumbass-ery, then? good compromise, no?
That’s disgusting.
Ha ha. Amen for the first amendment.
@TheMANinTHEyellowHAT - well, I guess that’s sensible
@The_Pyrate_Wenches_Ramblings - what a way to piss on the graves of those who defend their american ideals…
@mimosaceae - haha I “unfanned” it like a week ago. chill. I’m not pissing anywhere. It’s funny because we all freak out about this group…but it’s “ok” for them to have groups about hating the soldiers…the ones who actually fight for our country…
Facebook is pure idiocy on the biggest scale that I can imagine. The group that you’re describing is either a big put-on or a large assemblage of some of the most ignorant folks ever gathered in one place. Should Facebook take the site own? what difference would it make? I mean, really?
Did the President cheat on his wife? Who cares? To make a fuss over something like that is hypocritical pseudo-moralistic bullshit and reminds me of the time and resources wasted by the Starr Commission. As far as I know, Power does corrupt, and I would be surprised to learn of any Chief Executive who didn’t cheat.
I dont like Obama, but thats unfair for his children to have to be exposed to that. I grew up in a political family, and hearing horrible things about my father didnt just hurt him, it hurt all of us. I say, take it down
Regardless of political preference, the group is hateful and I disagree with it.
@The_Pyrate_Wenches_Ramblings - oh, i was talking about the people who fanned hating soldiers, not you. sorry for the confusion.
I don’t find that group at all funny, but it’s freedom of speech… all we got to do is make a counter page for that page, but I think whoever started that page is just immature. And it wouldn’t no difference who the president is… Not everyone is going to be happy.
@squeakysoul - actually, thats WHY i would call it free speach, eight years of presidences(sp?). now, that’s not to say that i would condone or agree with it, but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. i just think it’s hilarious to the point of making my eyes bleed that so many of the people who are pissed about this are the same people who often expressed the same sentiments about bush.(no, im not including you in that group.) frankly the only way i would wish death on obama is if he did something to undermine the protection and help of victims of human trafficking. and in that case i would wish it slow and painful.
first off i am part of this group. it is a joke we do not pray for his death just impeachment and 2nd facebook has said no they wont take us down we do not violate there terms. 2 it is r 1st amendment right to say what we please if you dont like it too bad its our right im sure u would wont that changed to but too bad. come look at the group dont be a troll and u could have fun too.
@mimosaceae - oh I see…it’s ok. yes…Gotta love those people…
I’m actually part of that group, so let me say: on the page somewhere the admin. says outright that he is joking, and does not really want Obama to die, but is expressing his dislike for the president in a humorous fashion.
Well, I mean, people dying is not necessarily humorous; rather, the way it was presented is.
I don’t want him to die either… I just want him to become somehow uninvolved with the U.S.’s politics.
anyone who “likes” that group is a complete asshole. including my own family members.
One of my friends liked that group to me I find it annoying yes you hate the man that’s great but guess what you can’t change it until re-election or he is impeached so just STFU and get over it.
Yes. It should be taken down. I doubt a group targeting an average person in the same way would be considered okay. Actually, if it was just a random person, the people who made it would probably have some criminal charges against them. (At least harassment) He may be president, be he is still a person.
This is so disrespectful to Christianity..
I’m no huge quoter of the bible, but I think the phrase we all know serves this well: YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF”. Jesus said
to his disciples: “Love one another even as I have loved you.”
One hell of a way to use the Lord’s name in vain. “praying for death”. Just disgusting..
When he was elected, kids at my school said they wanted him to die – and I was in shock, I don’t like Palin’s policies either, and I certainly would never wish (or “pray”) death on her.
Wow! They sound like wonderful christians. If praying is as strong as they believe then where does ‘thou shall not kill’ come into play? Or is the subject of prayer just grey enough to weasel your way out of that one, but defined enough to use as an excuse for other things?