History Made and Dream Fulfilled
Posted by Todd Porter on August 28, 2008
Michael Phelps has been dubbed the greatest Olympian ever after winning 8 golds in a single Olympic games as well as 14 golds lifetime. That is more than any other Olympian and quite an accomplishment for someone who has at least one more Olympics to go.
And since he is a Michigan Man, I am all the more happier to have seen him win those golds. There was only one race I missed on the TV, but I got to see it online, and it was the first relay race when the team came back at the end. Everyone of his races had me cheering and the best had to be his .001 win in the Fly. It had me cheering right along with him and I loved his families reaction. It was as the MasterCard commercials say “Priceless”. It was a truly historic moment and it fulfilled a dream that Michael had since he was young.
However, that is not what this post is really about, but I wanted to mention it because it was historic in it’s own right. But what I am talking about is the nomination of Senator Barack Obama as the first African-American to a major party.
I don’t care what side of the aisle you sit on or even if you sit on the fence. You have to admit that what happened last night, and even tonight with his acceptance speech, that it is great to finally see that race barrier starting to fall even more. Heck, even the fact that Senator Hillary Clinton had a serious run at it as well was also a great thing to see. You don’t have to like them to at least respect those things happening.
I honestly thought that the Republican Party would be the first to nominate an African-American candidate and not the Democratic Party. Not sure why, but just a feeling I always had.
I find it very fitting that Senator Barack Obama is accepting the nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech, because it is a significant step towards seeing that dream achieved. I am looking forward to hearing Senator Barack Obama’s historic speech on this historic night, because as someone who still considers himself undecided I want to gather as much information as I can.
The sad part about all of this is how people are trying to use race as an issue in this election. What I respect about Senator Obama is that he has chosen to try and leave race out of it for the most part. I have yet to see him play the “race card” as some people have claimed him for doing. Mostly it is people looking for it or even race baiting, in my opinion.
What bothers me the most is that while people accuse Senator Obama for using the “race card” I see no one blaming Senator John McCain for using the “victim card”. I have really struggled with even blogging my thoughts about this and before I do let me say that I respect the sacrifice that Senator McCain has made for our nation. He suffered horrible things at the hands of his captors and served his country with pride.
However, if I have to hear him say one more story about his time as a POW, I think I may puke. I swear that during the Saddleback Civil Forum that he talked about his time as a POW after just about every question. Don’t get me wrong I respect his service to our country, but if Senator Obama can’t bring up his race, which has had a major influence in shaping his own life, then why should Senator McCain be allowed to bring up an experience that shaped his life ad nauseum? And someone else isn’t allowed to bring up theirs which just as much shaped their life and still continues to shape it to this day, because it is an ongoing experience. I know that people will label me “un-patriotic” or “un-American” and that just simply isn’t the truth. I am just merely pointing out that it should go both ways for both guys. The comment button is below so go ahead and fire away.
I have made no secret that I will not be voting for Senator John McCain. But I will change my mind if he declares that not only will he get rid of frivolous spending on things like studying the DNA of black bears in Montana, but that he will also not take a salary while he is President or make tax payers pay for the catering service in the White House or maid service or gas for Air Force One, etc. After all, the guy has a wife who is worth $100 million dollars and has more homes than some small countries. So I think he can afford to help out the country for 4 years by doing that. He will then have my vote. So, Senator McCain, if you are listening and want my vote then that is what you wil have to do to get it. Otherwise, you can keep on living in your myriad of homes and dream of living in the White House.
But for now I just want to focus on Senator Obama helping our country achieve the dream and shape history.
I DVRed the Saddleback interview, but have yet to watch it. I’ve seen some transcripts and articles about it, though. One thing about Senator McCain’s time as a POW: just how much exactly is his talking about his time in Hanoi a response versus him just offering up the information without being asked about it? Also, I’m going to assume the Saddleback interview delved into the candidates’ faith, and like it or not, Senator McCain’s time while in captivity was when he “found God” (for lack of a better phrase). One of the most remarkable stories I’ve ever heard about keeping faith in times of trial is when one of his captors came up to him in a courtyard on a Christmas morning and carved a cross with his foot by Senator McCain and gave him a quick smile. The same captor who had loosened McCain’s bonds overnight. If the interview wanted to find out more about the candidates and their faith and beliefs, it’s only natural that he would have talked about his time as a POW. Try reading “Faith Of My Fathers.” You’ll find out more about this: that is, if it doesn’t cause you to puke. If you really respected his service, surely there’s a better way to express your disagreement with what he’s been talking about than saying “I think I may puke.” That’s quite disappointing coming from someone whom I recall sharing enjoys taking his kids to air shows to see military aerial displays.
“I have made no secret that I will not be voting for Senator John McCain. But I will change my mind if he declares that not only will he get rid of frivolous spending on things like studying the DNA of black bears in Montana, but that he will also not take a salary while he is President or make tax payers pay for the catering service in the White House or maid service or gas for Air Force One, etc.”
Just out of curiosity, does Senator Obama plan on doing the same? It would make sense if he does, since he’s all about change and not being politics as usual. Were you asking the same questions of John Kerry in 2004, with his heiress-to-a-fortune wife?
By the way, you know that Phelps never actually swam for Michigan, right?
Senator John McCain mainly shared about his time as a POW willingly and not because he was asked. I don’t believe he was even asked that during the Saddleback Civil Forum. I was referring to more than just one event and only using it as an example. It feels like every time he talks for a length of time he brings up his time as a POW and if Senator Barack Obama ever brings up his race suddenly he is using the “race card”. My question was when does it come time that we say Senator McCain is using the “victim card”? Both of them were shaped by their individual life experiences and the reality is that Senator Obama’s still shapes his life whereas Senator McCain’s is pretty much done.
You are right that using the words “I think I may puke” is strong, but like I said I do highly respect his service and sacrifice for our country. I just wonder how many times it has to come up when it seems that it is mainly being brought up to gain a political edge and garner sympathy. And the other guy can’t bring up something like that without being accused of using it as an advantage.
Senator Obama made something like $5 million dollars last year from the sales of his books and hardly even close to being the millionaire that Senator McCain is, so I don’t expect that of him. However, someone who between him and his wife are worth $100 million can certainly afford to reimburse the country for the usage of our taxpayers money when they have the wealth that they have. It is comparing apples and oranges. And jus thow long has Senator Obama ever claimed a salary of more than a million dollars? I believe only the last couple of years, whereas Senator McCain probably has for the past 2 decades or more.
Michael Phelps swam for Club Michigan and had a lot of help in developing the Michigan swim program. I never said he swam for them. I said he was a Michigan Man and he is also a devoted fan and has been for a long time. Check out the tattoo on his right hip.
No thanks. Based on what I’ve heard from people who live in Baltimore and are involved in the “swim scene,” I don’t think I particularly care to get that close to him.
“Both of them were shaped by their individual life experiences and the reality is that Senator Obama’s still shapes his life whereas Senator McCain’s is pretty much done.”
Well, if it’s a life-changing and life-shaping experience, I would certainly stop short of telling anyone that just because it’s “pretty much done,” it’s not really a salient point anymore. I know that my wife and I learned a lot from our past relationships, for example, and we still talk about how those experiences shape where we’re at today, even if those relationships are now years past, or “pretty much done.”
So, reiterating the previous question: did you ever feel the same about Senator Kerry, or have you felt the same about President Clinton after his Presidency? After all, he’s made far more money than he ever did as President–surely based on your view as it stands, he should reimburse the country?
Why not open Camp David to retreat groups? Air Force One for public travel? Privatize the Secret Service as a private security firm? Sounds silly, doesn’t it? Fact is, the office of President of the United States carries with it a whole lot of perks and privileges, and taxpayers aren’t exactly ignorant of them.
If this really was an issue, then perhaps a movement should be started to create federal legislation that outlines how a sitting President, depending on level of income prior to their Administration, should assume the job and the responsibilities that come with it and foot their own bill out of their own pocket. I guess Rick Warren would be the perfect role model for this, what with how he’s chosen to forego his salary at Saddleback. Then again, being President is not really a ministry, is it?
You do have a valid point about learning from the lessons of the trials you experienced, but my point is that the experience is done. Senator Obama’s experience is still ongoing, but yet he is not allowed to talk about it without being accused of using the race card. And I still ask when can it be said that Senator McCain is using the “victim card”? Still no answer on that one.
Yes, I did feel the same about John Kerry because he and his wife was filthy rich like Senator McCain and his wife are filthy rich as well. I never had the same opinion about President Bill Clinton, because I honestly didn’t even know much about how much money he and his wife had when he ran for President. And President George Bush could probably pay back some because he has quite a sum of money. But that is besides the point because I was specifically referring to Senator John McCain and how he could earn my vote. Not that I think the should have to do it.
Opening up Camp David and Secret Service as a private security firm is an absurd idea and I have no idea how you pulled that out of what I was saying. I mentioned that they should pay for or reimburse the government for their usage since they have more than enough money to cover their costs and not burden the tax payers since he wants to cut frivolous spending. Well, anything that is frivolous other than the frivolous “war” we are waging in Iraq. He thinks it is okay to spend billions and billions of dollars a day occupying a country that wants us out for the next how ever many years he feels.
I am only suggesting that McCain offer to do this, not that it be mandated by the government. And, yes, Rick Warren is a perfect example of this. Maybe if our President’s saw this more as a ministry or as if they were serving the American people than it being their right we would have a different mindset in the White House.
“And I still ask when can it be said that Senator McCain is using the “victim card”? Still no answer on that one.”
You want an answer?
Of course that’s using the “victim card.” He was a prisoner of war. Not that facing racism and racial discrimination is any better (I do know a thing or two about that from firsthand experience, after all), but having your arms bound behind your back and tied to your ankles and beaten and tortured has a way of making things real.
Opening up Camp David and the Secret Service absurd? Perhaps. But balanced against the idea of the President reimbursing the country for perks of the office, is it really that absurd?
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