Blessing the Good

Barack is a Semitic word meaning “to bless” as a verb or “blessing” as a noun. In its Hebrew form, barak, it is found all through the Bible. It first occurs in Genesis 1:22 — “And God blessed (ḇāreḵə) them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.”
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Now let us take the name “Hussein.” It is from the Semitic word hasan, meaning “good” or “handsome.” Husayn is the diminutive, affectionate form.

Barack Obama’s middle name is in honor of his grandfather, Hussein, a secular resident of Nairobi, Kenya. Americans may think of Saddam Hussein when they hear the name, but that is like thinking of Stalin when you hear the name Joseph. There have been lots of Husseins in history, from the grandson of the prophet Mohammed, a hero who touched the historian Gibbon, to King Hussein of Jordan, one of America’s most steadfast allies in the 20th century. The author of the beloved American novel “The Kite Runner” is Khaled Hosseini.

But in Obama’s case, it is just a reference to his grandfather.

Juan Cole | Salon

My middle name is from my grandfather. (1) I’m happy for the connection. (2) I had nothing to do with getting the name. (3) I suspect Barack Obama did not choose his name either.

For the record, McCain’s middle name is Sidney. That’s his father and grandfather’s middle name.

And “W” in Bush’s middle name stands for Walker, his grandmother’s maiden name.

8 thoughts on “Blessing the Good”

  1. And yet, people who I otherwise think are quite intelligent use his middle name to support the myth that he is secretly Muslim. Someone I used to respect told me today that he is hiding the fact that he took his oath of office on the Koran. Sigh.

  4. Maybe, Joey is correct, Ephriam.

    The following is from the link to wikianswers.com you provided:

    Barack Obama Swore in on a Bible

    In an attempt to smear Barack Obama it has been reported that he swore in on a Koran. This has been part of a larger attempt to demonize Obama among those who fear Muslims. The story is a complete fabrication.

    Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison is the congressman who swore in on the Koran. Barack Obama is a Christian, and he took the Oath of Office on a Bible.

  5. Anybody who is that lacking in intelligence and ignorant enough to believe that is already a Republican anyway. Therefore that rumor isn’t going to hurt Obama one bit.

  7. For the first time I really think Obama can win this.

    I mean, if the man can get *Ephraim* to come to this web site and post something in support of a Democrat…he can bring anyone to his side.

    (Sigh. I realize full well that Ephraim probably posted that link having no idea that it actually debunked the Koran rumor. We all know his reading comprehension is at pre-K levels. But…still…I dare to dream.)

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