Figmentations

Regarding Barack Obama’s nomination speech at the DNC ‘08, was it focused on too many unfulfillable promises and unrealizable dreams? Some would say so.  Did it consist of just more talk that we’ve already heard before?  Or, did we witness a message that was something more than just words spoken by a charismatic eloquent speaker?

Even Barack Obama himself mentioned that some would consider it just “happy talk”.

To me the message was sincere, unifying and about how true change can happen.  It was about what policies he hopes to pursue.  The journey ahead will no doubt be difficult no matter who wins this election.  To me it helps to know where we’d like to be going.  In these uncertain times, I think Obama gave the best vision possible…about a unifying direction that we want and need to strive towards.

The Democratic role of government was clarified as not being about guarantees or entitlements but about personal responsibility along with looking out for others; described as follows:

• The purpose of government is to
  • “do for us what we can not do for ourselves.”
  • “insure opportunity for every American willing to work”
• We are responsible for ourselves and we are our brothers’ keeper
• We must do our part
• It’s about “individual responsibility and mutual responsibility.”

Barack Obama spoke about the type of policies he plans to pursue:

• to end the war responsibly
• to pursue tough direct diplomacy
• to build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century which include: terrorism, nuclear proliferation, poverty, genocide, climate change, and disease.
• to “restore our moral standing so that American is once again that last best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace and yearn for a better future.”
• that positions aren’t taken for political purposes
• that patriotism has no party…we all love this country

Barack Obama spoke about what he believes the “American promise” to be:

• that what has been lost is our sense of a common purpose
• that part of America’s promise is: “the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.”
• that “change doesn’t come from Washington; change comes to Washington; change happens because the American people demand it.”
• that we must march ahead into the future (toward that what is unseen)…we can not turn back…we can not walk alone.

Online, I came across a clip of Howard Dean  at the convention communicating a very similar message, i.e.,: “Would you please stop fighting about the things that you can’t agree on & actually get something done about the things that you do agree on”…such as the issues of: poverty, climate change, and Darfur. 

I don’t know about you, but I found Obama’s acceptance speech to be inspiring!  What if it could be true?  What if such a future could actually be possible to achieve?