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It Was A Good Speech
by James Glaser January 21, 2009 Barack Obama gave a good speech yesterday. At least I think it was a good speech, but truth be told, I can't think of any one line that stood out, or even what the main thrust of his message was. I thought it was going to be about change in America or at least change in Washington, but I have read that the word "change" was only used twice in the whole speech. The same place I read that said that in Clinton's first Inaugural address, the word "change" was used eleven times. I guess Obama's speech was good, because I listened to the whole thing. However, every speech by every President is just that, a speech. If Obama was trying to hit a homerun out of the park, he only managed a single. Yes, Barack Obama is the first African American ever elected President of the United States, but we have to remember, Barack Obama is a politician. Politicians give speeches to get people thinking the way they do. They promise things, they tell you what they want you to believe, and most of all, they tell you what they think you want to hear. Barack Obama talked to the black race in America, telling them what they wanted to hear about their suffering and their long walk toward equality. About the only line I can remember was the one about how just 60 years ago a black man could not eat in many restaurants. Well, if you think about that, that was happening before Barack Obama was born. Is something that was happening over two generations ago relevant today? Other than that, the rest of President Obama's is lost to me. Sorry, I can't seem to remember anything of importance. I wish the man well, but hope his communications with us goes better in the future. |
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