Dems are praying for a "I have a Dream" moment tomorrow in Philly...should be interesting.
Not "just another speech" in Philly
by catchaz
Mon Mar 17, 2008 at 01:28:31 PM PDT
Barack Obama is set to give what could be one of the most important speeches in American history on Tuesday. Obama, who has been seen by many as the messenger who can bring this country together above the divisions such as race that divide us, is expected to address those divisions explicitly. this may the time when we find out if Obama is indeed the person who can motivate Americans to come together and create needed change, on a variety of issues.
Obama has shown he sees clearly the problems that we must address to fulfill the dream of America as the land of freedom. he has certainly shown the abilty to move people with his passion and his intellect. and he's shown the willingness to speak difficult truths to audiences that may not be prepared to hear it. i believe that the generation that Obama represents, and those younger, are ready to hear it. i hope some of those who are older are also moved, and act accordingly.
Contrary to the claims of our those who resist Obama's campaign, speeches are not useless exercises in "hopemongering." a democracy is a battle of ideas. you cannot hope to change a democracy without changing people's minds, and hearts. the "bully pulpit" may be the most vital aspect of the presidency, Obama will have a big pulpit Tuesday, for some sacred work.
catchaz's diary :: ::
Speeches have played a crucial role in American history. they have done this in two major ways. one is by reflecting an important American ideal and holding it up for all Americans, and others worldwide, to emulate. the other is to move public opinion in a needed direction or educate Americans on an important topic. the second is obviously more difficult, and is what Obama will attempt Tuesday.
I'll end with just a very small sample of important instances where speeches made a real difference in America:
the Gettysburg Address
as many Americans don't know, the purpose of the Civil War was not to free the slaves. that changed after Gettysburg, the battle, the deaths, and the speech delivered by Lincoln. he called on a nation to do something it had certainly not been ready to do previously. and his short oration changed the course of American policy.
"ask not what your country can do for you"
JFK used "only words" to move an army of young people to public service. even today we are reaping the benefits of this day to day activism these inspired youngsters, now older, are still doing.
"i have a dream"
again, armed with only words and the righteous truth, MLK moved a nation to begin to address the inequality that rendered the American Dream unavailable to a large segment of society.
RFK, Indianapolis, April 4, 1968
on the night of Dr. King's assassination, Robert Kennedy gave what many consider to be the best speech of his life. while much of America burned, Indianapolis wept and prayed.
In each case, it was "just pretty words" as some derisively call them. but they were words that changed America. their power, and the results of these words - the good they they brought about should be a lesson for us all. and a lesson that anyone who wants to president should know.
i am praying (which is saying alot because i am an agnostic) that decades from now we may remember March 18, 2008 as a moment when America took a huge step forward, following Obama's example of not dismissing, but addressing racism as the only hope to overcome it.
i pray we shall overcome. i pray it starts again tomorrow.
dailykos.com |
