Bush’s speech in 2000 wasn’t entirely the same as Obama’s. But those similarities found are enough to rise up and challenge this system instead of allowing our energies to be directed into a broken, rigged, corrupt electoral system that keeps the vast majority of Americans in a state of civic adolescence.
In the End
As Obama brought his speech to an end, he followed American tradition by invoking Martin Luther King Jr. and ignoring the fight MLK Jr. had waged against militarism.
The final bit had me feeling like I had just listened to a Republican give his acceptance speech. I didn’t feel like I had just heard John McCain but definitely I felt like somebody like Ronald Reagan had just spoken.
A country music song by Brooks & Dunn titled, “Only in America” played as Obama left the stage to bring his family and others on to the stage with him to bask in the glitz and glamour of the moment.
Obama also closed his speech with a bit from Scripture (“hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess”) and brought out megachurch pastor Joel Hunter after he spoke to lead those in the stadium in a prayer.
Those in the stadium continued to shout and frenetically wave their flags.
After seven years of theocratic policies from Bush, after seven years of blurring the line that separates church and state, this country does not need another president who might impose Jesus-based policies upon Americans.
Even worse, this country does not need a president who will evangelize while waging “war on terror” crusades in the Middle East that directly affect predominantly Islamic countries. America must not continue Bush’s policies of holy war.
When all is said and done, the most alarming part of the speech was the fact that Obama’s biggest response from the crowd came when he stated this:
“As commander-in-chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm's way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home.”
The response was louder than the response to his pledge on health care, education, and anything he said about McCain. If anything else was louder, it was the part where Obama declared this campaign has been "about you." Such a remark was surefire indication of more wars of terror.
Obama has talked about not having to take the patriotism or God test, but it seems like he deliberately chose to take it. Or, it seems the DNC set out to make Obama take the test so they could prove he is capable of passing it.
Despite the presence of populism in his speech, this was a defeat for all those I stood with in IVAW and all those who came to the protests in Denver to call upon Barack Obama to truly pledge to end all Bush policies.
But, we who are morally righteous and who have courage must fight on. We must not succumb to the so-called politics of the possible.
Remember the part of this article that discussed how people were getting stuck after moving too fast without looking where they are going? I think that was a metaphor for what could happen.
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