So it's odd for me to point out any political statement, much less one from a party convention. But last night Barak Obama, a fledgling political figure who is quickly becoming a known entity, delivered one of the finest speeches given in a political forum that I've heard in many, many years. Eloquent, intelligent and hardly divisive, given he was touting the credentials of his party's nominee for President. (I tip my hat to TCF, who has been on board with Obama from the beginning.)
Remove the material about John Kerry and how he'll serve our country and you're left with a powerful speech that needed to be delivered. A speech that speaks to one important aspect of our nation's basic tenants that is inherent in our country's very name, "The United States".
Quoth Obama:
Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America-there's the United States of America.
There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States.
There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.
I don't care where you stand politically. Left, right, moderate, whatever. If you care about our country, the most troubling thing you've been watching over your lifetime is the deepening compartmentalization of people. You're either liberal or conservative. You either believe or you don't. You're a patriot or an enemy. You're with us or against us. You're a racist if you don't feel what I feel. Leave the country if you disagree with me. It's this type of poison that is destroying us from within. Hatred of one another because we look at the same issue in different ways is going to eat us alive.
The very nature of our political system tells us that we have two (or more) parties for a reason. No one truly has power, nor should they. Passionate believers from all sides should come together and create, interprets and enforce laws based on the common, united good of the people. Because the good of the people is what makes our country great.
Again, quoth Obama:That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can tuck in our children at night and know they are fed and clothed and safe from harm. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe or hiring somebody's son. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will be counted-or at least, most of the time.
The Flordia joke is thin, tired, and panders to the audience, but the rest of the statement is wonderful.
And with that, I'll shut up. No more political speak. Won't even mention it on the blog, because that's not with this is about. I just want to remind you to vote when the time comes. Vote with your heart, vote with your head and always stay informed. Your beliefs should never be so rigid that they are not open to change. For true wisdom only comes from a mind that allows for the possibility that it can periodically be changed.
If the American people heard more of this kind of talk from ALL parties (rather than "vote for me because I'm not them"), maybe we'd have an involved electorate again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the plug, Gary...
ReplyDeleteBut, I also need to disagree with Mike's comment! If more Americans paid attention to what their politicians are saying, they would hear a lot more of what Barack Obama was speaking about!
Its like those people who say there is no good music out today, when they only listen to the radio. Its easy these days, to dismiss politics as a badge of honor, because to understand it or debate it, takes brains and a compassion for others not as lucky as you!
thatcoloredfella