On Jan 21, 2009, at 1:16 PM, [email protected] wrote: > I agree with that and with what David said earlier. But, I was also > interested in that it was balanced by other lines in the speech: > > " We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its > defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing > terror > and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is > stronger > and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you." > > And a line just before a line David quoted earlier: > > "To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame > their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge > you on > what you can build, not what you destroy." > > The first of these lines had Cheney rising from his wheelchair to > applaud. > One of the reasons that Obama has been elected, now enjoys 80% > approval, > and has a real chance to lead through difficult times is that he > appeals to > beliefs and convictions of many Americans in a manner that few > Democrats > since 'Nam have been able to. He has convinced those Americans that > had > been nervous about the Democrats being soft that he has steel. He > called > out the various terrorist groups, such as Hammas, AQ, and Hezbollah, > and > told them they can never beat the US. But he did it in balance with > lines > y'all have quoted. That keeps his strong challenges as statements of > strength, not bravado.
Nothing in this part of the speech (which absolutely necessary to begin to sway those who voted against him and would vote against _any_ Democrat, _anyone_ who smelled the slightest bit "liberal") had the slightest ring of "bring it on" braggadocio. > my hope is that he will do this by requiring everyone to give up a > sacred > cow for the common good. This is another thing that's been lacking for a long time (not to blame it on anybody in particular): a call to shared sacrifice. We are all in this together: if any of us suffers, we all suffer. It is not only those who lose jobs (or houses or other wealth) in the current financial turmoil who must bear the burden, but all of us, together: "It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours." Dave _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
