This particular moment actually did get me:
Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 10:15 pm"I believe we can keep the promise of our founders.
The idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are, or where you come from, or what you look like, or where you love, it doesn't matter whether you're black or white, or hispanic or asian, or native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you're willing to try.
I believe we can seize this future together."
-In his acceptance speech this year, President Obama made the effort to be more inclusive in this integral piece of the closing statement. Listening to the speech as I was completing my Drawing and Anatomies homework, I found myself suddenly emotional and teary. I've grown up part of a generation and geographical area in which my peers are either relentlessly dogged about politics or anti politics, patriotism, everything to do with it if they can help it. I can sympathize with both sorts-- I have strong opinions, but I also can't stand the blind fury that politics has become in the USA.
Well, for a few years now I've been trying to be part of this conversation where we work on being more inclusive. I really do think it's worth it to mention everyone to make it clear that you mean it when you say "liberty and justice for ALL"-- not some secret re-interpretation of that so-called pledge where only some people get liberty or justice. I'm not perfect and I'm still working on my own hang-ups, some of which are me, some of which are me responding to outside pressures.
It's a conversation I always feel is a losing battle. I think we need to include everybody and I want to work for a bright, Star Trek Utopia style future where all peoples live in harmony, and we work together for the betterment of the world because we can UNDERSTAND the value of caring about other people's fate. I know this isn't a popular outlook. For one thing, you're a lot "cooler" if you cynically decry the world as already lost, and you're a lot funnier if you can turn off the intensity sometimes and just take it less seriously.
I take this all pretty seriously; I truly want people to seek to be better, to be good people. I strongly reject the idea of organized religion because I think that people need to choose to be good people because it is the RIGHT THING TO DO, and not because they believe it gives them moral superiority to other people. I disagree with the carrot and stick theory of humanity.
Anyway-- to see the President of my home country taking the time to acknowledge so many of the people that are frequently silenced, ignored, and set aside in our discourse as a nation-- to hear him mention us, in his final statement, to hear him take the time and care with his words that I want all people to take was really moving for me. I felt so happy to hear those words, even if they weren't all-inclusive or perfect. They were trying, they were a good first step. I got tears in my eyes. I felt really proud and happy and hopeful. This really meant a lot to me.
That's all I wanted to say.
The idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are, or where you come from, or what you look like, or where you love, it doesn't matter whether you're black or white, or hispanic or asian, or native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you're willing to try.
I believe we can seize this future together."
-In his acceptance speech this year, President Obama made the effort to be more inclusive in this integral piece of the closing statement. Listening to the speech as I was completing my Drawing and Anatomies homework, I found myself suddenly emotional and teary. I've grown up part of a generation and geographical area in which my peers are either relentlessly dogged about politics or anti politics, patriotism, everything to do with it if they can help it. I can sympathize with both sorts-- I have strong opinions, but I also can't stand the blind fury that politics has become in the USA.
Well, for a few years now I've been trying to be part of this conversation where we work on being more inclusive. I really do think it's worth it to mention everyone to make it clear that you mean it when you say "liberty and justice for ALL"-- not some secret re-interpretation of that so-called pledge where only some people get liberty or justice. I'm not perfect and I'm still working on my own hang-ups, some of which are me, some of which are me responding to outside pressures.
It's a conversation I always feel is a losing battle. I think we need to include everybody and I want to work for a bright, Star Trek Utopia style future where all peoples live in harmony, and we work together for the betterment of the world because we can UNDERSTAND the value of caring about other people's fate. I know this isn't a popular outlook. For one thing, you're a lot "cooler" if you cynically decry the world as already lost, and you're a lot funnier if you can turn off the intensity sometimes and just take it less seriously.
I take this all pretty seriously; I truly want people to seek to be better, to be good people. I strongly reject the idea of organized religion because I think that people need to choose to be good people because it is the RIGHT THING TO DO, and not because they believe it gives them moral superiority to other people. I disagree with the carrot and stick theory of humanity.
Anyway-- to see the President of my home country taking the time to acknowledge so many of the people that are frequently silenced, ignored, and set aside in our discourse as a nation-- to hear him mention us, in his final statement, to hear him take the time and care with his words that I want all people to take was really moving for me. I felt so happy to hear those words, even if they weren't all-inclusive or perfect. They were trying, they were a good first step. I got tears in my eyes. I felt really proud and happy and hopeful. This really meant a lot to me.
That's all I wanted to say.
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