If you have not yet had a chance to watch Obama's well hyped speech, you should definitely set aside some time to so. In my opinion, about half the speech is excellent, while the other half is standard political rhetoric. Obama does a great job of summarizing 200 years of race relations in the United States.
Although I agree with Obama that we all have the same ultimate goal of making our nation better for ourselves and children, the problem is that we all have different approaches on how to accomplish this and what this even means. So, a call for "unity" is rhetorical and essentially meaningless. Our dreams are individual, not common. The beauty of America is that we can work together to further our own individual dreams and self interests. That, in my mind, is what freedom is all about.
For a candidate whose entire platform is based on "change", I saw much of the same rhetorical nonsense that is standard issue for presidential candidates regardless of party affiliation. He spoke of education, the economy, healthcare, so on and so forth and blah blah blah. But what is actually going to be done that is a refreshing change? School vouchers? Freer trade? Legalized drugs? Don't bet on it. Each candidate is the same thing in a different wrapper.
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4 comments:
Thanks for the reference to Obama's speech. I had only hear parts of it, and wanted to hear or really, I want to read it.
I think students will study this speech. I think it is better than Kennedy's speech defending his Catholic beliefs, and I thought Kennedy spoke extremely well.
America was beautiful before the white man came here, and since our arrival, we have pock marked it with our treatment of the American Indian, the blacks, those that followed us, and now those who are gay.
On C-Span a couple of weeks ago, there was a discussion on the greatness of countries. The 19th century belonged to England, the 20th to the U.S. and the 21st will belong to China.
Some one spoke up and said "Don't bet on China, America continues to reinvent itself"
I believe that. I believe that is what the voters are calling for. They don't just want change, but positive change, the type of change that happens when we reinvent ourselfs As we did with the Revolution, the Civil War, The Depression, WWII, and the 60's
No politician, from Washington on down has had everyones support, and not one of them kept all or even most of their promises.
It is my believe that the politicans can only lead us were we want to go.
It's not the candidate, it's not the wrapper, it's the voter that has to be different.
p.s. thanks for letting me vent F.M.
I disagree with Jim Adams. Obama wants change, though he hasn't indicated much about what that change will be. It's great rhetoric for the non-thinkers who are frustrated with the status-quo.
However, politicans are ruled by special interests and political donations. They will do whatever they need to do to get that next dollar towards their next campaign. They know the average constituent has no clue on how they voted for issues.
A politician can say, "Illigal immigration is a problem and I want to protect the boarders." However, if you look at their voting record, like all the current candidates, they all voted in favor of guest worker visas and have voted against deportation and in favor of some sort of amnesty program.
Votes follow the dollar trail, not the will of the people. Don't be fooled.
Eludius for President.
Eludius, I would like to address your point were I believe we may differ. You said, in reference to the speech" It's great rehetoric for the non-thinkers who are frustrated with the status-quo."
I feel It's a great speech for the critical-thinkers who are frustrated with the status-quo.
The man is speaking directly to the issue of race. I am surprised
you don't read it that way. I ask you to read it again, slowly, critically.
I don't expect you to come back to me saying - Oh ya, Jim your right, and I don't even want you to do that.
I want you to see Obama addressing head on the need to discuss race, the issue with Rev. Wright, his expression of the black experience, the value of what Faulkner wrote, the immigrant's experience, and maybe some nuggets of wisdom that I may have missed.
Obama is not the best man for the job, Hillery is not the best woman either, and the guy who wants us to fight for 100 years isn't winning me over. There is no one ready for the job, but one of the three are going to win, and I have a feeling he or she is going to lose because of winning.
The rest of what you said, reminds me of a quote from a Clint Eastwood movie. After a long bus ride, just him and some complaining blonde on the bus, with the cops shooting up the bus, he looks at her and say's
Bitch, Bitch, Bitch.
Stop complaining Eludius, run for office and make it a better place for me and my Grand Children.
I might even vote for you, if you promise me I don't have to pay taxes, and you don't expose the names of all your doners.
p.s. I know you understand satire, I am part of that "special interest" group that reads your blog.
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