December 10, 2009

"I Face the World As It Is"

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I listened to this twice, as well as part II at work while I created program descriptions for the Calgary Public Library. One of North America's largest public library systems.

Why did it soothe me so? The hum of a voice...Imagine being ABLE to address the world in a speech. And the world really might have been listening.

Anonymous said...

I want to add (after reading the above) that Im not necessarily a huge fan (or not a fan) of Obama, I just liked the harmony of the speech. I did not completely hear what it said totally, bits.

Plafter Christmas said...

You have been deemed worthy. You will been summoned...

s$s said...

Forrest:
Yeah, being ABLE. I like that.

Plafter Christmas:
Summoned? Okay.

Jon Coutts said...

Weird, I didn't have the comment option the last few times I came on here. Thought you didn't want any! I listened to the whole thing (thanks for posting it, I don't have TV and didn't bother trying to find it). Was really moved by it. Thought it a brutally honest (and thus refreshing) speech, and thought it was a very accurate assessment of the world "as it is". Very curious about the JFK line which asks us to hope in the "evolution of institutions" or something like that, and of course also in the "faith in human progress" which he holds out, in striking contrast to the entire dismal portrait he's already presented. Seems an unreasonable faith to me.

But that's not to say I disagree at all with him or his enterprise. In fact I can't say as I'd do anything but support him! I just think he's only got the one motivation available to him, this faith in human progress, in appealing to the world. And many will take it as an alternative to pessimism, apathy or anarchy. Good. I just don't think it is satisfying grounds for what is otherwise some brilliant brilliant stuff.