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Video of President
Obama's speech at NAACP convention and
commentary |
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President Obama gave
a powerful speech at the NAACP Convention yesterday. A full
text of the speech can be found here and a video of the speech appears
below. The crowd and moment seemed to draw out of Obama the
same energy and passion we saw during the Presidential
campaign. It is that spark that made even Republicans fear
his communicative abilities. I sense that the President has
gotten bogged down and dismayed in the politics of Washington and
has lost that inspiring vision and voice that once made people
believe "we can." This speech gave a short glimpse of the
Obama of old who captivated audiences and made them believe in "The
Audacity of Hope." |
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The next part of President Obama's speech was
directed toward the need for increased personal responsibility
amongst Americans. While once again emphasizing the proper
role of government in making opportunity available for all the
President stressed the need for people to do their part.
Particularly enlightening was the President's attack on a mindset
of victimization and hopelessness when he said: |
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We have to say to
our children, Yes, if you're African American, the odds of growing
up amid crime and gangs are higher. Yes, if you live in a poor
neighborhood, you will face challenges that someone in a wealthy
suburb does not. But that's not a reason to get bad grades, that's
not a reason to cut class, that's not a reason to give up on your
education and drop out of school. No one has written your destiny
for you. Your destiny is in your hands - and don't you forget
that. |
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To parents, we
can't tell our kids to do well in school and fail to support them
when they get home. For our kids to excel, we must accept our own
responsibilities. That means putting away the Xbox and putting our
kids to bed at a reasonable hour. It means attending those
parent-teacher conferences, reading to our kids, and helping them
with their homework. |
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There, reflecting on the dungeon beneath the castle church, I
was reminded of all the pain and all the hardships, all the
injustices and all the indignities on the voyage from slavery to
freedom.
But I was also reminded of something else. I was reminded that
no matter how bitter the rod or how stony the road, we have
persevered. We have not faltered, nor have we grown weary. As
Americans, we have demanded, strived for, and shaped a better
destiny. |
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