The first thing I need to point out is that Barack Obama was inaugurated last Tuseday. And he is officially the Commander in Chief. Finally!
Barack's Auto Biography. Dreams from My Father
Amazing. I really can only describe the way he writes by saying that it is dangerously captivating and descriptive. The way he writes literally makes you stop and imagine the scene, the given situation. I found myself staring at the pages of my book just imagining what is going on. It's very cinematic. I end up imagining the changing camera angles and different use of lighting.
His writing flows well, too. Each point he makes will link to the next and then the next, and back to something he mentioned earlier on. And, his personal voice is there. While I read it, I can definitely hear his voice narrating the text. It's really amazing. But, more than anything I think the auto biography is honest. That's saying a lot because it's hard to find honesty in politics these days.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Barack Obama and Me
I don't know why, but us teenagers don't focus on politics or even pay attention to it. I think it's important to know what's going on in our government, so, I've become very familiar with Obama's plans, values, and morals. Reading many of Obama's speeches and interviews, I am beginning to feel this cool connection with him. Even if we're not old enough to vote we should be looking at the issues and at least try and understand them so, when we do become old enough to vote, we will know what we are getting ourselves into.
Anyhow, I am really excited. This marks the first election that I will remember and the first that I am somewhat active in. What is so cool is that during the election I felt like a driving force, winning opinions on blogs and in school, even on the streets. Later on, more and more people started jumping on the Barack Obama band-wagon and I was among everyone else. Also, it was almost November 4th.
I guess I have that typical hipster mentality about this election. It's like: I was a supporter of Obama before it was cool and mainstream. Now, January 21st is approaching and, now, all these rando's (slang for random) people are on the Obama bandwagon and "it's all totally mainstream, man" (hipster voice). But, I'm happy for him but I can't help but remember when it was just me being all 'grassrootsy' and groundbreaking, supporting this really cool politician. But, I'm the only one who really gets him, "man" (hipster voice).
The bottom line is: I know he will win the election. I have no doubts. He will win not because he is a brilliant speaker or because he's hip and cool now. He is going to win because he is honest and his views are focused on bettering the lives of the majority of US citizens (lower and middle class); the bones and brawn of our country.
Anyhow, I am really excited. This marks the first election that I will remember and the first that I am somewhat active in. What is so cool is that during the election I felt like a driving force, winning opinions on blogs and in school, even on the streets. Later on, more and more people started jumping on the Barack Obama band-wagon and I was among everyone else. Also, it was almost November 4th.
The bottom line is: I know he will win the election. I have no doubts. He will win not because he is a brilliant speaker or because he's hip and cool now. He is going to win because he is honest and his views are focused on bettering the lives of the majority of US citizens (lower and middle class); the bones and brawn of our country.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
First Web Log of the Year. Happy 2009 Everyone =D... YES WE CAN SPEECH.
YES WE CAN
[First web log of the New Year]
This speech was great. It was truly inspiring. This speech was one of many he had given in New Hampshire and the way he does it is pretty amazing. So with the first few speeches he gives in any given state are given to gain the state's trust and to show them his credibility. Having authority, Barack Obama next floods his rally speeches with two things: pathos and logos (more so pathos). And there is another thing that I've noticed. Obama entered his campaign having a basic message to deliver to the people and if a group of people don't like it he didn't do what most campaigns do; try and figure out another way to get votes. He held as honest a campaign that I have ever heard of. And what is even better is that his campaign was partly held up by three words that really do ring from coast to coast now, and they are: Yes, we, and can.
YES WE CAN speech
[First web log of the New Year]
This speech was great. It was truly inspiring. This speech was one of many he had given in New Hampshire and the way he does it is pretty amazing. So with the first few speeches he gives in any given state are given to gain the state's trust and to show them his credibility. Having authority, Barack Obama next floods his rally speeches with two things: pathos and logos (more so pathos). And there is another thing that I've noticed. Obama entered his campaign having a basic message to deliver to the people and if a group of people don't like it he didn't do what most campaigns do; try and figure out another way to get votes. He held as honest a campaign that I have ever heard of. And what is even better is that his campaign was partly held up by three words that really do ring from coast to coast now, and they are: Yes, we, and can.
YES WE CAN speech
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Barack Obama has three words for you in his speech; and no it's not "Yes We Can"; it is ethos pathos and Logos.
I read two of Barack's Speeches in the past few days. One was Barack's Anti-war speech at the Chicago Anti-war rally in 2002, and the NH Primary Speech (more famously known by the name: the "Yes. We. Can." speech). It truly is wonderful rhetoric. Besides the fact that Barack is a great public speaker, his words have a clear, persuasive, emotional, and authoritative message. The fact that he speaks well is just a plus.
The Anti-War speech.
I read two of Barack's Speeches in the past few days. One was Barack's Anti-war speech at the Chicago Anti-war rally in 2002, and the NH Primary Speech (more famously known by the name: the "Yes. We. Can." speech). It truly is wonderful rhetoric. Besides the fact that Barack is a great public speaker, his words have a clear, persuasive, emotional, and authoritative message. The fact that he speaks well is just a plus.
The Anti-War speech.
In front of a large crowd of anti-war ralliers, Barack says that he is not, in fact, against war entirely. He comes out and throws this opinion to the crowd. I wonder what feelings ot stirred. Nonetheless, he claims authority right off the bat with that one line: "(published speech)Let me begin by saying that this has been billed as an anti-war rally, I stand before you as someone who is not opposed to war in all circumstances" (said at rally-added lib.-"and as I look over this crowd today, I see that there is no shortage of patriots or patriotism."). What he is opposed to is a "dumb war", a "rash war", a "war based on passion" and "not on reason". He is straight forward with his message. He cares about what he believes in. Barack also uses allusions; all the time. They give his speeches the emotion that comes with a strong message. His purpose is backed up with logic and actual occurrences.
Link: Barack Anti-war Speech
"Yes. We. Can." Speech... to be continued...
Link: Barack Anti-war Speech
"Yes. We. Can." Speech... to be continued...
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Why I Chose the Next President of the Uniteted States
Barack Obama.
I hadn't heard of this man until the late summer of 2007. The first Barack Obama speech I watched was his "Reclaiming the American Dream" speech on youtube. The second after the video ended I was inspired.
My mom, dad, sister, and brother all had been talking about Barack Obama and how he would begin his campaign for the President of the United States. I was interested right away and the color of his skin never crossed my mind. He is black and he is running from President. Later on, thinking about that I felt discouraged. His words were so inspirig and he was so confident, how could he loose? I instantly thought about racist people. Are we as a nation past our old destructive, immature, ignorant, arrogant, just plain stupid ways?
The more speeches that I saw and, while watching, the more diversity I'd see in the crowds, the more hope I got that America is good. That is America. When people come together no matter what race or color. Barack kind of helped me see that America isn't such a disgusting country after all. Sure we have our share of stupid, ignorant, racists, and white supremesits, but we are changing that generaton by generation. in the words of a great man, "Yes we can".
This is why I chose to follow Barack Obama.
I hadn't heard of this man until the late summer of 2007. The first Barack Obama speech I watched was his "Reclaiming the American Dream" speech on youtube. The second after the video ended I was inspired.
My mom, dad, sister, and brother all had been talking about Barack Obama and how he would begin his campaign for the President of the United States. I was interested right away and the color of his skin never crossed my mind. He is black and he is running from President. Later on, thinking about that I felt discouraged. His words were so inspirig and he was so confident, how could he loose? I instantly thought about racist people. Are we as a nation past our old destructive, immature, ignorant, arrogant, just plain stupid ways?
The more speeches that I saw and, while watching, the more diversity I'd see in the crowds, the more hope I got that America is good. That is America. When people come together no matter what race or color. Barack kind of helped me see that America isn't such a disgusting country after all. Sure we have our share of stupid, ignorant, racists, and white supremesits, but we are changing that generaton by generation. in the words of a great man, "Yes we can".
This is why I chose to follow Barack Obama.
Barack Obama on 60 Minutes
O.K.! Here it is! My first blog.
I wanted to start off with an easy source, so, I watched 60 Minutes with Barack Obama. It was an amazing interview. When I watched Barack respond to serious, tough questions about his plans and policies, I felt relaxed. Barack just gives off this sense of calmness. He never hesitates with an answer; never doesn't know what to say. It's almost like standing on a ship in a storm. The boat is rocking uncontrollably, waves crashing against the belly off the ship, and you feel like you could be cast off at any moment and left to the mercy of the raging sea. Then, all of the sudden, the wind stops whipping, and the sun pokes through the dark clouds warming your face and neck. There is no chance that you'll fall off the boat. You feel safe again. I don't know if that is just me and my crazy Obama "supportingness", but that's what Barack brings into the room when he steps in.
Barack spoke very smooth, controlled and with thought. Every response he made was concise and understandable, and more than adequate for that kind of interview. Of course I wanted him to delve deeper into explaining his plans but I took into consideration what the shows time constraint was (like the consideration that should be given to AP English students and their AP tests,=D). If it was focused on Barack's Economic plan, I'd set up camp. Kroft and Obama talked about how our economy is seeing the "worst [numbers and statistics that] it has since 1932-33". They could have easily talked for many hours on the economy and how it can be fixed, what are repercussions to different plans of action. A future with Barack as President looks very promising, as long as we work together as a united country.
Looking at Barack Obama sit next to Michelle you can see love. They have true love, love that reminded me of the connection that my Grandmother had with my Grandfather when he was alive. It also reminded me of my Grandparents in Peru. Both have this unspoken bond; well, it's more an unnecessary to speak of bond; It's there, everybody knows it and there is nothing left to say about it. The amazing thing about my Grandparents in Peru is that they have been married for more than 50 years, almost 60 years. When I see Barack and Michelle, I see the same things. When you look at the previous Presidencies, (i.e. Clinton[Bill's supposed committing adultery], Bush) there was a loving bond but as I watch videos of those couples together, I, personally, don't see a connection as strong as Barack and Michelle's. Their bond is a bond that isn't that "lovey dovey", young love bond. It's a "I'm sticking with you 'till the very end and I understand that you are as a part of my life as I am of your's" bond and that adds to the calmness that Barack as President of the United States gives me.
Thanks!
What do you think about Barack as President? How does he make you feel? The way he talks, his confidence, his rhetoric all come into play.
Barack Obama on 60 Minutes- 00:41:22<-- here is the interview! Its funny how the show 60 Minutes is actually 41 minutes of interviewing. (that means on TV there was 19 minutes of commercials, like o m g)
I wanted to start off with an easy source, so, I watched 60 Minutes with Barack Obama. It was an amazing interview. When I watched Barack respond to serious, tough questions about his plans and policies, I felt relaxed. Barack just gives off this sense of calmness. He never hesitates with an answer; never doesn't know what to say. It's almost like standing on a ship in a storm. The boat is rocking uncontrollably, waves crashing against the belly off the ship, and you feel like you could be cast off at any moment and left to the mercy of the raging sea. Then, all of the sudden, the wind stops whipping, and the sun pokes through the dark clouds warming your face and neck. There is no chance that you'll fall off the boat. You feel safe again. I don't know if that is just me and my crazy Obama "supportingness", but that's what Barack brings into the room when he steps in.
Barack spoke very smooth, controlled and with thought. Every response he made was concise and understandable, and more than adequate for that kind of interview. Of course I wanted him to delve deeper into explaining his plans but I took into consideration what the shows time constraint was (like the consideration that should be given to AP English students and their AP tests,=D). If it was focused on Barack's Economic plan, I'd set up camp. Kroft and Obama talked about how our economy is seeing the "worst [numbers and statistics that] it has since 1932-33". They could have easily talked for many hours on the economy and how it can be fixed, what are repercussions to different plans of action. A future with Barack as President looks very promising, as long as we work together as a united country.
Looking at Barack Obama sit next to Michelle you can see love. They have true love, love that reminded me of the connection that my Grandmother had with my Grandfather when he was alive. It also reminded me of my Grandparents in Peru. Both have this unspoken bond; well, it's more an unnecessary to speak of bond; It's there, everybody knows it and there is nothing left to say about it. The amazing thing about my Grandparents in Peru is that they have been married for more than 50 years, almost 60 years. When I see Barack and Michelle, I see the same things. When you look at the previous Presidencies, (i.e. Clinton[Bill's supposed committing adultery], Bush) there was a loving bond but as I watch videos of those couples together, I, personally, don't see a connection as strong as Barack and Michelle's. Their bond is a bond that isn't that "lovey dovey", young love bond. It's a "I'm sticking with you 'till the very end and I understand that you are as a part of my life as I am of your's" bond and that adds to the calmness that Barack as President of the United States gives me.
Thanks!
What do you think about Barack as President? How does he make you feel? The way he talks, his confidence, his rhetoric all come into play.
Barack Obama on 60 Minutes- 00:41:22<-- here is the interview! Its funny how the show 60 Minutes is actually 41 minutes of interviewing. (that means on TV there was 19 minutes of commercials, like o m g)
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