Obama, Tebow and America's Hunger for Heroes

 

By Jeannie DeAngelis

Ever hungry for an authentic hero, Americans have turned to Tim Tebow. Greek columns and Teleprompters have schooled us on how to discern the sincere from the bogus, and with Barack Obama as the measure, Tim Tebow's gold stands in contrast to Obama's dross.

One definition of a hero is "a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability; a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities; one who shows great courage; the central figure in an event, period, or movement."

The only way to explain the type of idolatry Barack Obama received when first emerging on the national scene was that America was longing for a national hero. Barack the narcissist recognized an opportunity, stepped forward, and accepted the accolades of a ravenous public who wanted to view someone they knew nothing about -- a legendary figure in the most basic sense.

Having done nothing but talk, Obama feigned heroic strength and ability and, with nary an achievement to speak of, accepted admiration for untested noble qualities and nonexistent accomplishment. Despite a shadowy past, in a stunning exhibit of egocentric self-delusion, Barack Obama even dared to align his razor-thin resume with true heroes like Abraham Lincoln; Teddy Roosevelt; and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Obama quickly became an object of mythological, almost divine adulation, and he reveled in it. So much so that he sowed the seeds of one possessing celestial abilities and promoted himself as the hope for future generations, with declarations such as "[t]his was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth."

After all the hype and verbose rhetoric carried Obama into the Oval Office, Charles Krauthammer aptly described him as a modern-day Icarus, "exhilarated by the thrill of flying" and buoyed above mortal man. But then superman Barack Obama got too close to a sun of his own making. Now with wax-wings melting, Obama finds himself drowning in a sea of his own false promises and incompetence.

Apart from Obama's non-accomplishments in politics or Tebow's impressive success in athletics, heroes are heroes not because of politics or sports. Lasting heroism is born not of style-icon status, but of the lasting genuineness that comes from inherent moral fiber.

Tebow is the type of champion who is everything Icarus-types like Barack Obama are not and can never be. Unlike Barack, Tim has claimed to be neither "mythological" nor "legendary" and yet, without self-promotion, has proven to be a man "endowed with great strength and ability" -- none of which he takes credit for, instead rather meekly giving glory to the One he views as greater than himself.

Unlike Barack Obama, Tim Tebow has achieved great things. For starters, his first stunning achievement was proving anti-life progressives wrong. Thanks to a loving mother and against the odds, Tim managed to make it out of the womb alive after abortion-minded doctors dismissed his chances. Tim Tebow's life is a living, breathing testimony for a world steeped in the selfishness and darkness that pro-abortion leftists like Barack Obama condone.

Through hard work, conviction, and dedication, Heisman Trophy-winner Tim Tebow actually won an award he earned, as opposed to Obama receiving and accepting a Nobel Peace Prize that both he and the rest of the world knew full well he did nothing to earn.

Quite different from pseudo-hero Barack Obama, Tim Tebow takes pride in personal responsibility and has yet to blame anyone for his failures, on or off the gridiron. Rather than make excuses for inadequacy and laziness, Tebow motivates and inspires others to look for the best within themselves and identify their God-given gifts.

Barack Obama talks the liberal talk about bettering the lives of poor children but then transfers the monetary burden of caring for the underprivileged onto the backs of taxpayers and makes it a governmental bureaucratic endeavor. For years, Tebow has made it a mission to go to Uncle Dick's Home, an orphanage in the Philippine Islands, where he walks the streets ministering -- not with empty words, but with life-changing deeds.

Upbeat and optimistic, having both physical and spiritual strength, unlike Barack Obama, Tim Tebow tends towards the positive and thus far appears to be doing a much better job of ensuring his team's victory than hero Obama is at ensuring victory for the Democratic Party.

Ironically, Denver Bronco number 15's home is the same Mile High Stadium where Barack Obama, positioned betwixt two Greek columns, made his celebrated acceptance speech, followed by the adulating roar of a packed house.

Yet the difference between Obama and Tebow is that, rather than wallow in the misguided adoration of star-struck people void of a relationship with God, true heroes exhibit an intrinsic reticence that issues forth from a heart that worships someone greater.

Tim Tebow speaks highly of others and humbles himself. He once said, "There are several things that keep me grounded and focused ... When you can humble yourself to say 'I'm no more important than anyone else. I just have a gift.'" That is quite different from Obama, who, in his first year in office, mentioned himself 1,200 times in 41 speeches.

Unlike Obama, who referred to his critics "purveyors of vitriol," Tim has yet to retaliate to his critics with harsh words or angry retorts.

Thus far, not humbled by shortcomings or failures, and as Obama prepares to inundate the nation with even more overconfident praise directed toward himself, the election season promises to bring personal exaltation to new heights, which is against everything Tim Tebow stands for. Yet hope springs eternal that America will not be duped a second time.

Regardless of the outcome, Tim Tebow could teach Barack Obama a thing or two about how heroes wait patiently for vindication to come based on the merit of their own character and performance. That patience may be why, after being told to discontinue writing Scripture references in his eye black, God stepped in and guided a dedicated servant's arm to write John 3:16 in the wind, an impossible occurrence that reminded a world searching desperately for a hero of the one achievement, in all of history, that really mattered.

Hence, if even for a season, while Icarus attempts to repair those melted wings, America has turned its eyes from Obama toward a young man who, with renewed strength, soars like an eagle; runs but does not grow weary; walks and does not faint; and whose hero is not himself, but whose hope rests solely in the Lord.

Author's content: www.jeannie-ology.com