For an event that is likely to affect the lives of people in many countries at least for a few years to come, the US Presidential Elections (whatever of it that has transpired till now) largely passed me by. Although I used to read an article here and there and watch a speech on YouTube once in a while, I was not really into it (unlike the rest of blogosphere which just seems to have been possessed by the elections). From whatever little I knew about the elections, though, I'd deduced that Obama would be my man for the hot seat. However I wouldn't have fretted over it too much as long as it was a Democrat taking oath on Inauguration Day.
That was until I watched this video:
[Click here if the embedded video doesn't work.]
This video turned me into an unequivocal supporter of Obama. That the man is way more intelligent than the average American president is obvious. But the kind of clarity of thought and insight he has on issues is just amazing! After 8 years of evangelical right-wing rule, America (and the world) deserves a US President who has the ability to think. He may not have the answers to all the questions that presidency may throw at him. But he possesses a brain which thinks right and takes refuge in reason. He may make mistakes, but unlike leaders fettered by dogma he will have the courage to correct his mistakes.
"Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation, at least not just – we are also a Jewish nation, and a Muslim nation and a Buddhist nation... and a Hindu nation and a nation of non-believers."
Aah! A warm fuzzy feeling filled my heart when he said that. If I were an American citizen, I'd make sure I'd vote for him on Election Day – come rain, snow, cyclone or diarrhoea.
But the best lines in the whole speech for me were these:
"Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific values...It requires that their proposals be subject to argument and amenable to reason. I may be opposed to abortion for religious reasons, but if I seek to pass a law banning the practice I can't simply point to the teachings of my church or evoke god's will. I have to explain why abortion violates a principle that is accessible to all faiths, including those with no faith at all."
There is hope yet for the world. Go Obama!
[YouTube link courtesy Pharyngula]
8 comments:
Yup, this guy is making waves, all right. He seems cool, collected and genuine unlike the mongrel we are forced to see on that chair now...
Obama certainly has got the huge gift of speech. I myself liked the way he is getting the crowd behind him. Aaah, lets see what he can make out of the US in this turbulent times, if he makes his way to the seat.
Is that him or his speech writer talking?
scorpio: Much has been written about his oratorical skills. What has impressed me, though, is the ideas and thought process leading to the speech rather than the actual speech itself.
silverine: Valid point. It could have been his speech writer. Even then, he wouldn't have lent voice to the speech had he not believed in it. I'm assuming that the speech writer only gave words to Obama's thoughts.
He is treading on dangerous waters here. Some religious conservatives will be infuriated after hearing that speech .
go obama indeed! if they elect mcCain, they'll prolly have to deal with a rice in the price of oxygen cylinders to go along with the oil prices :D
You have been tagged!
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Nicely written. Though faith might form the basis for some of my choices in life, I still believe in respecting a person who doesn't share that belief.
Whether a statement like this will actually win him the Presidency remains to be seen....
[Sorry for the delay in replying. Was on a short vacation which included forced abstinence from the pleasures of the www]
sidthekid: Thank god *wink* somebody is infuriating the conservatives.
g-man: Finally, somebody who thinks I'm right in thinking Obama's the guy :))
rada: Will be my pleasure to do the tag.
zahra: Very true. I have no problems with people making personal decisions based on religion. But when people start ordering invasions claiming that god asked him to do so, there is something seriously wrong.
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