I Also Have a Dream – Start Seeing Barack Obama’s Real Character

During Obama’s ascent to the presidency, I have heard people try and connect King’s “I Have a Dream” speech with Obama's success. I emphasize “try” because I believe that the idea behind that amazing speech and the ideas that led to the election of Obama are diametrically opposed. King’s dream was for people to see past the color of another’s skin and see the person’s character. I believe the exact opposite of this dream happened in this election. The reason that this is so difficult to see is because as Americans we are not accustomed to seeing an individual benefit from being black.

Obama didn’t win the election based on his character; people never looked past his color.

Many supporters voted for Obama simply because he was black and they wanted to see such a “historic moment” in their lifetime. Other supporters would not admit to voting for Obama solely because he was black, but instead just refused to honestly examine his negatives because they did not want the facts to confuse them. Either way, it was not King’s dream of looking past a person's color to their character.

In trying to get others to pay attention to Obama’s character before the election, I personally had many discussions with Obama supporters that followed this general script:

Me: How do you feel about Obama’s extremely pro-choice voting record?

Obama Supporter (race irrelevant): He’s not really pro-choice. No one wants abortions.

Me: Really? Because politicians don’t usually vote for something controversial like abortion multiple times unless they really believe in it. Given Obama’s numerous votes for abortion, it is clear he is strongly pro-choice.

Obama Supporter: Whatever. Being pro-life or pro-choice isn’t as big of a deal in this election anyway. I’m all about the economy this time.

Me: Oh. Ok. Sure. How about this then - given our 10 trillion dollar debt, the recent bailout, and current budget deficit, how do you think Obama will be able to pay for all his economic and social initiatives?

Obama Supporter: Um, well, hmm, not sure, BUT, won’t it be amazing that just 40 years after King was assassinated, that a black man could be president?! It will be so historic!! Once-in-a-lifetime event!!! When black children are told by their parents they can be president, it will actually be true now. Isn’t that wonderful?!!!!

Me: Actually I wanted to talk about his CHARACTER as shown through his voting record, not his COLOR and how important that is historically.

Obama Supporter: You don’t understand what I’m saying!!!!!

Me: Well, at least we can agree on that.
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As a senior at Harvard University I took a course on Martin Luther King Jr. at the Harvard Divinity School. After taking that class and doing further research on King, I obviously believe he would be displeased with the way his words and ideas are being used to support Barack Obama.
Despite being a young, well-educated African American I was not ready to make the most liberal senator in Congress my president simply because it would be “historic”.

Get the Facts!

AAAHHHH!

Today at a meeting I met a guy who I had to control myself from strangling. I was having a political discussion with him and we talked about Obama. Of course I discussed Obama's radical and crazy views on abortion, to which he responded, "Geez, if I had known that before I voted, I might have thought harder about my vote." AAAAAHHHH! And of course he is a Christian who considers himself pro-life. How often is this happening around the country? The media has done a fantastic job of keeping Obama's views out of the light. Ugh.

Do Rape or Incest Make Abortion O.K.?

Recently is has made headlines that Gov. Palin is opposed to abortion unless the mother's life is in danger, while others like John McCain's wife, believes that in cases of rape and incest an abortion is a viable option. I almost understand the latter point of view, but I don't quite. If you are opposed to abortion because it is the killing of a human being, then why does it matter how that human being came into existence? If Cindy McCain came across a healthy 20 year old who was the product of rape, I doubt she would want them killed. So what's the difference with an abortion? I know a mother's mental health is a factor in taking a baby to term that was conceived during rape, but is the mother's mental health more important than another person's life? Just thoughts.
I think it is an interesting discussion and I don't pretend that the answers are easy.

Stupid Fast

Did you see Usain Bolt during the Olympics? Great googly moogly, that guy is fast. Not like, I am going to lean harder than you at the tape to win fast, but I am going to stop, take a nap in the middle of the race, eat a cheeseburger, watch some T.V. and then get back up and still beat you fast.
If you did not see his 100m race, you have to. Find it online somewhere, somehow. If you have ever been in a foot race, been asked to be in one or ever even thought about running, you HAVE to see that race. It is stupid. Like, stupid stupid. The gold medals in the 200 and 400 relay were amazing, but the 100m race was the best I have ever seen. Period.
They say the 2008 Olympics are about Phelps. Phelps who? With faster pools and new swimsuits, one of my grandparents probably could have been close to breaking one this year. They were handing those things out like cookies. In comparison, Bolt's world record in the 200 was not wind aided, but was actually wind hindered. He broke Michael Johnson's record with the wind blowing in his face. He's fast.
Really, all I am trying to say is that I wish I was that fast. :)

Daily Thoughts - Matt 2

Matt 2
Joseph had a enviable connection with God. Besides the fact that he was chosen to be Jesus' earthly father, the Bible records that he heard from an angel through his dreams at least twice, possibly 3 different times, and potentially more times that just weren't recorded.

I'd like to have that strong of a connection that I have angels giving me instructions through my dreams.

That is my prayer.

Best Olympic Athlete Ever?

So Michael Phelps became the sole leader in Olympic gold medals today and will undoubtedly be referred to as the "greatest Olympic athlete ever". Well, that is great and all but I think that might be going too far. Besides the fact that I have enormous disdain for drunk drivers, Phelps is getting these medals in swimming, which is the best event to obtain multiple medals in. The next two being Athletics (track & field) and Gymnastics. Don't get me wrong though, Phelps is fast, really, really fast, but I am not sure he deserves the title of best Olympic athlete ever. Best swimmer ever, no doubt, but there have been a lot of great Olympians throughout the years.

Social Networking and Reunions

As class president senior year of high school I was and am entrusted with planning my high school reunions. I'll probably end up writing about that at some point, but in this blog I just have a simple question that I was throwing around with a good college friend, Meenakashi, this evening. Do social networking sites like Myspace and Facebook encourage or discourage people from going to reunions?
I can see it both ways:
1. You interact with friends more in between reunions so you feel closer to them and want to catch up in person during reunions.

OR

2. You interact with friends more in between reunions so you feel closer to them and do not feel like reunions will provide anything extra that the sites are not.

Thoughts?