I've been thinking about last night's post (and the fact that I invited several people to check it out) all day. While I can't really say I regret writing it, I probably would prefer had I not ranted quite so much at the time.
Politics is such a hot-button issue, and many of us take it pretty personally. So I'm perfectly comfortable with that part of the post. However, I can't STAND it when someone with an opposing view takes a condescending or insulting tone with me just because we disagree. And it seems to me that I'm a little guilty of that in this case, so that is something I wish I'd done differently.
Truth be told, I'd been collecting those speeches for a couple of days to show them to a couple of people. Once I had them all, I wanted to put them out there right away rather than waiting until it was convenient. As I did, I got all wound up and indignant. I get frustrated that others don't see things that seem very plain to me in the same way. So I ranted and railed.
My apologies if I took it too far, but the overall message of the post remains the same. And I have a feeling there might be folks out there who'd like to see the videos all in one place like that, so I'm leaving it as it is.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Ahh the '08 DNC
Where to begin?
I'm really excited, but scared as hell at the same time.
I feel like I know just enough about all there is to consider, but am surprised and disgusted by the fact that I am pretty much the most educated person I know (locally/personally) about the impending election.
Day in and day out I encounter people who just don't get it. By which I mean they're making decisions based on myth, not that they disagree with me.
I've given up on trying to reason with them. I'm embarrased about this, but it is a fact. I simply don't have the time to de-brainwash Bushies any more.
I have YET to encounter someone who actually discredits Obama. However, I've come across many people who just don't want to vote for him. And to a one, they say it's a "feeling".
Bullshit.
Your "feeling" has been created for you. Do some research. We're talking about the most powerful office in the world. Take a couple of hours and study the candidates. If after doing so you still prefer the alternative - then we can talk. But PLEASE stop parroting the right-wing pundits without an original thought.
If you're uncomfortable with the fact that he has a funny name... admit it. But don't claim that his name makes him a Muslim extremist. He is neither. Which you would know if you had paid even a moments attention over the past 18 months.
Holy fuck... white people are freaking out 'cause he's black - and black people are claiming he isn't black enough. Whatever group you are in... if you've had either of those thoughts - you're a fucking Racist.
Arrgh! I could rant on like this all night, but the reason for this long-overdue post is to discuss the convention. So let's go to the videos, whatya say?
Sorry for the ads on the MSNBC clips, but it was the only way I could get them. Most are less than 30 seconds.
First: Michelle Obama's Keynote address -
Hillary's Convention Speech -
President Clinton's Speech -
Senator Biden's Speech -
Smartest Candidate Ever?
Al Gore's Speech -
Obama's Speech -
And while I would love to comment ad nauseum about the DNC - an email that I've been working on for a friend of mine has led me to make an admission and include further content on this post.
I've said before on this blog that Keith Olberman has big, clanky brass balls for saying what he does on TV every night. I'm now saying that I often feel like he is putting my thoughts into words. With an eloquence and indignation that is beyond my ability at this point in my life. So I want to include some "Special Comments" from his show "Countdown" before closing this post. These are comments he made that have struck me to the point that I've watched each of them over and over again. Sometimes looking for chinks if the arguement... other times just wanting to hear another open-eyed person as frustrated as me. I give great thanks to Keith for his willingness to risk his career by openly offering his personal opinion on-air like this. And I further thank him for putting my thoughts out there as eloquently and with as much ferocity as he does:
Olberman to McCain: "Grow Up!"
Olberman to McCain: "Not too important?"
Olberman to Bush: "This is your sacrifice? Really? Golf?"
Unfortunately, viewership of this blog is SO strictly limited that no one will ever challenge the assertions of this post. And anyone who does - I guarantee - will be someone who hasn't taken the time to watch the posted videos in their entirety.
I'm not making any of this up. Yet if anyone were to read this, I would surely be accused of doing so. I am amazed and saddened that there are people in this country (some who I consider friends) that truly believe in the Bush/Cheney/Rove/McCain bullshit. And that no amount of contrary evidence will sway them. I am petrified at the thought that America might chose to allow them to continue their deflowering of our national pride.
And if they succeed in their desire for a sequel... I can't even imagine the damage.
I am so disgusted with the current state of affairs, and so excited about the possibilities for the future that I am wary of making any declarations.
However, I think it is worth noting - for the people who believe Obama's vision is overly optimistic - that on May 25, 1961 John F. Kennedy made a speech declaring his intention that an American would walk on the moon within that decade. Many people thought he was nuts. That his optimism was over-extending the bounds of reality. Yet Neil Armstrong set foot on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969.
If not for JFK's optimism and refusal to maintain the status quo - America would have been forced to play catch-up in the space-race, instead of setting the standard for the world.
We would be well-advised to permit the visions of Barack Obama the same leeway - as it applies to the deep, dark hole Dubya's administration has dug for us.
We would be equally well-advised to be leery as hell of John McCain's "more of the same" platform.
More on this later, but please don't force me to say "Don't blame me, I voted for Obama"... the stakes are too high this time.
Yours,
~Kev
I'm really excited, but scared as hell at the same time.
I feel like I know just enough about all there is to consider, but am surprised and disgusted by the fact that I am pretty much the most educated person I know (locally/personally) about the impending election.
Day in and day out I encounter people who just don't get it. By which I mean they're making decisions based on myth, not that they disagree with me.
I've given up on trying to reason with them. I'm embarrased about this, but it is a fact. I simply don't have the time to de-brainwash Bushies any more.
I have YET to encounter someone who actually discredits Obama. However, I've come across many people who just don't want to vote for him. And to a one, they say it's a "feeling".
Bullshit.
Your "feeling" has been created for you. Do some research. We're talking about the most powerful office in the world. Take a couple of hours and study the candidates. If after doing so you still prefer the alternative - then we can talk. But PLEASE stop parroting the right-wing pundits without an original thought.
If you're uncomfortable with the fact that he has a funny name... admit it. But don't claim that his name makes him a Muslim extremist. He is neither. Which you would know if you had paid even a moments attention over the past 18 months.
Holy fuck... white people are freaking out 'cause he's black - and black people are claiming he isn't black enough. Whatever group you are in... if you've had either of those thoughts - you're a fucking Racist.
Arrgh! I could rant on like this all night, but the reason for this long-overdue post is to discuss the convention. So let's go to the videos, whatya say?
Sorry for the ads on the MSNBC clips, but it was the only way I could get them. Most are less than 30 seconds.
First: Michelle Obama's Keynote address -
Hillary's Convention Speech -
President Clinton's Speech -
Senator Biden's Speech -
Smartest Candidate Ever?
Al Gore's Speech -
Obama's Speech -
And while I would love to comment ad nauseum about the DNC - an email that I've been working on for a friend of mine has led me to make an admission and include further content on this post.
I've said before on this blog that Keith Olberman has big, clanky brass balls for saying what he does on TV every night. I'm now saying that I often feel like he is putting my thoughts into words. With an eloquence and indignation that is beyond my ability at this point in my life. So I want to include some "Special Comments" from his show "Countdown" before closing this post. These are comments he made that have struck me to the point that I've watched each of them over and over again. Sometimes looking for chinks if the arguement... other times just wanting to hear another open-eyed person as frustrated as me. I give great thanks to Keith for his willingness to risk his career by openly offering his personal opinion on-air like this. And I further thank him for putting my thoughts out there as eloquently and with as much ferocity as he does:
Olberman to McCain: "Grow Up!"
Olberman to McCain: "Not too important?"
Olberman to Bush: "This is your sacrifice? Really? Golf?"
Unfortunately, viewership of this blog is SO strictly limited that no one will ever challenge the assertions of this post. And anyone who does - I guarantee - will be someone who hasn't taken the time to watch the posted videos in their entirety.
I'm not making any of this up. Yet if anyone were to read this, I would surely be accused of doing so. I am amazed and saddened that there are people in this country (some who I consider friends) that truly believe in the Bush/Cheney/Rove/McCain bullshit. And that no amount of contrary evidence will sway them. I am petrified at the thought that America might chose to allow them to continue their deflowering of our national pride.
And if they succeed in their desire for a sequel... I can't even imagine the damage.
I am so disgusted with the current state of affairs, and so excited about the possibilities for the future that I am wary of making any declarations.
However, I think it is worth noting - for the people who believe Obama's vision is overly optimistic - that on May 25, 1961 John F. Kennedy made a speech declaring his intention that an American would walk on the moon within that decade. Many people thought he was nuts. That his optimism was over-extending the bounds of reality. Yet Neil Armstrong set foot on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969.
If not for JFK's optimism and refusal to maintain the status quo - America would have been forced to play catch-up in the space-race, instead of setting the standard for the world.
We would be well-advised to permit the visions of Barack Obama the same leeway - as it applies to the deep, dark hole Dubya's administration has dug for us.
We would be equally well-advised to be leery as hell of John McCain's "more of the same" platform.
More on this later, but please don't force me to say "Don't blame me, I voted for Obama"... the stakes are too high this time.
Yours,
~Kev
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