Taylor: When he said, "For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — AND NON-BELIEVERS." I really like that, especially the part about non-believers. I've never heard that in a speech, but it was important because he was including everybody, even if it might make other people mad.
Hi Taylor! Its Aidan. and that part of the speech was my favorite too. In school we had the TV on all day! I am really amazed that you guys drove!! I flew when I went last summer and it still took a whole day!(although we were running around most of the time.) The actual flying time was 3 hours. How many hours did you guys drive?
Becca: I remember when he said "... 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." It was thought provoking and powerful. Straight to the point on things he is going to change.
Stormi: I liked Rev. Lowery when he said, “... we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- when yellow will be mellow --when the red man can get ahead, man -- and when white will embrace what is right.” It was especially funny because he was so old and he was rhyming like that.
Hugh: Well, I'm not one of the kids, but I will remember the metaphor of the unclenched fist. "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."
The clenched fist is especially significant because of the black power movement, but in this speech there was a variation. White power's clenched fist has caused problems throughout history and throughout the world. I remember the "black power salute" of Smith and Carlos at the 1968 Olympics. At that time, I thought that was great, and necessary. We needed the clenched fist.
Now I am hopeful this is a time when we all can release our clenched fists. And it felt to me like the community as a whole--not just on the mall but throughout DC--was unclenching its fist. This is great. This is a step forward for everyone concerned with race and race relations.
It also is important that President Obama used the metaphor in a global context in his speech; I heard the metaphor as a statement about our relations in the Middle East, as well as elsewhere. It also spoke to me about religion in the U.S. It seems the churches have clenched their fists during our cultural wars. We need a reciprocal unclenching of the fists in that way, as well. Maybe the juxtaposition of Rev. Warren and Barack Obama symbolizes some of that.
To me, Obama's use of the metaphor unites, or at least opens up the possibility of uniting, as opposed to dividing.
Taylor: When he said, "For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — AND NON-BELIEVERS." I really like that, especially the part about non-believers. I've never heard that in a speech, but it was important because he was including everybody, even if it might make other people mad.
ReplyDeleteHi Taylor! Its Aidan. and that part of the speech was my favorite too. In school we had the TV on all day! I am really amazed that you guys drove!! I flew when I went last summer and it still took a whole day!(although we were running around most of the time.) The actual flying time was 3 hours. How many hours did you guys drive?
ReplyDeletewe will defet you
ReplyDeletethat was awesome
Becca: I remember when he said "... 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." It was thought provoking and powerful. Straight to the point on things he is going to change.
ReplyDeleteStormi: I liked Rev. Lowery when he said, “... we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- when yellow will be mellow --when the red man can get ahead, man -- and when white will embrace what is right.” It was especially funny because he was so old and he was rhyming like that.
ReplyDeleteAnton: It was very important and exciting. After he was sworn in there was a huge applause.
ReplyDeleteHugh: Well, I'm not one of the kids, but I will remember the metaphor of the unclenched fist. "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."
ReplyDeleteThe clenched fist is especially significant because of the black power movement, but in this speech there was a variation. White power's clenched fist has caused problems throughout history and throughout the world. I remember the "black power salute" of Smith and Carlos at the 1968 Olympics. At that time, I thought that was great, and necessary. We needed the clenched fist.
Now I am hopeful this is a time when we all can release our clenched fists. And it felt to me like the community as a whole--not just on the mall but throughout DC--was unclenching its fist. This is great. This is a step forward for everyone concerned with race and race relations.
It also is important that President Obama used the metaphor in a global context in his speech; I heard the metaphor as a statement about our relations in the Middle East, as well as elsewhere. It also spoke to me about religion in the U.S. It seems the churches have clenched their fists during our cultural wars. We need a reciprocal unclenching of the fists in that way, as well. Maybe the juxtaposition of Rev. Warren and Barack Obama symbolizes some of that.
To me, Obama's use of the metaphor unites, or at least opens up the possibility of uniting, as opposed to dividing.