OK class, who can tell me what "apotheosis" means?

 

It's a theological tearm meaning "The exaltation and elevation of an individual to godlike status". Anyone who's ever picked up a history book or a modern newspaper will immediately recognize where we've seen it before. The greatest modern example would be "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-Il of North Korea; all state-controlled media portrays Kim as some kind of a god: A conduit through which all of the citizens' hopes and dreams of the future can be personified. It even goes so far as to remake the education system in that country, with a significant portion of the curriculum devoted to teaching the children how Kim's father, Kim Il-Sung created the world.

 

Of course, there are other examples. Another noteable modern example was Adolph Hitler. While Hitler did not specifically pose as a diety, his handlers and propagandists did go to great lengths to make him appear as "Der Führer", using levels of media saavy unheard of in the 1930's, to portray him in a "Christ-like" manner.

 

Fast forward to today's announcement of the 2009 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize:

 

Now, setting aside for a moment the blatantly political and decidedly anti-peace nature of the Nobel Peace Prize for a moment (Henry Kissinger? Seriously?), not to mention Obama's personal track record (I know nobody in the mainstream media has mentioned it lately, but the Iraq war is still going on), we have a serious problem on our hands. This is another blatant apotheosis.

 

Everywhere this man shows up, he is surrounded by throngs of adoring...there's no other word for it...he's surrounded by throngs of worshipers. School children are being taught to sing his praises in school and in some cases, swear allegience to him! His rallies are filled with videography stolen directly from "Triumph of Will", complete with classic from below "god shots" and messianic symbolism. Listen to what Professor Robert Wistrich had to say about the film:

 

"[Triumph of the Will is] the supreme visualisation in cinematic form of the Nazi political religion. Its artistry, reinforced by the grandeur and power of the Nuremberg decor, is designed to sweep us into empathetic identification with Hitler as a kind of human deity. The massive spectacle of regimentation, unity and loyalty to the Führer powerfully conveys the message that the Nazi movement was the living symbol of the reborn German nation."

 

And here's what American film critic Frank Tomasulo (you may not know the name, but he's basically the Babe Ruth of film critics) said about the film:

 

"Religion is a major theme in Triumph. The film opens with a Point Of View coming godlike out of the skies to alight on twin cathedral spires. It contains many scenes of church bells ringing, and individuals in a state of near-religious fervor, as well as a prominent shot of Reich Bishop Ludwig Müller standing in his vestments among high-ranking Nazis. It is probably not a coincidence that the final parade of the film was held in front of the Nuremberg Frauenkirche. In his final speech in the film, Hitler also directly compares the Nazi party to a holy order, and the consecration of new party flags by having Hitler touch them to the 'blood banner' has obvious religious overtones. Hitler himself is portrayed in a messianic manner, from the opening where he descends from the clouds in a plane, to his drive through Nuremberg where even a cat stops what it is doing to watch him, to the many scenes where the camera films from below and looks up at him, as Hitler— standing on his podium — will issue a command to hundreds of thousands of followers. The audience happily complies in unison. Hitler is cast as a veritable German Messiah who will save the nation, if only the citizenry will put its destiny in his hands."

 

Sound familiar? I've been hesitant to draw this comparison in the past because of the blatantly inflammatory nature of such a comparison, but how can I not do so now?

 

And now he's a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. I'm forced to wonder how long it will be before he's nominated for sainthood.

 

Someone recently put forward the idea of retasking Obama's trademark "O" thusly:

 

 

But frankly, there's nothing funny about it.