Obama's Commencement Speech- The Path Of Service (please kick, cause Obama DID serve his country)

[KittyWampus]

Obama just stood in for Ted Kennedy delivering a wonderful commencement speech to the graduates of 08. I don't know if he titled his speech but my title for what I just heard was "The Path of Service".

Or perhaps "CHOOSE The Path of Service" would be an even more descriptive title. Because Obama challenged the students to forgo the Money Culture (his term). He asked those students (and all the rest of us) To CHOOSE to serve their communities and country in some capacity.

He didn't frame it as answering an obligation to others. Rather, it's about fulfilling an obligation to oneself. One individual's benefit depends on the well being of the entire group.

He warns of a "poverty of ambition". Suggests "Hitching our wagons to a higher cause than ourselves".

He told a funny story about organizing on the poverty stricken South Side of Chicago and how it wasn't easy or immediately rewarding. First starting out, he scheduled a meeting for principles to get together and when the time came, a few older people showed and eventually an old woman held her hand up and asked, "Is this Bingo?". :D

In the coming months, the GOP and John McCain will tout McCain's service in the US military. They will try to use this against Obama for his not "serving".

But here is the Golden Key for Obama, his supporters and America. Our way out of that mess. We need to understand this:

Obama sacrificed and served his country on the SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO rather than VietNam or Iraq

He could have had practically ANY job for huge money after graduating college but he CHOOSE to make $10,000 a year working in a broken down and depressed area many others considered a lost cause. Other leaders and politicians had given up on the people and the community and the place.

Obama didn't wear a uniform while serving the country in the South Side of Chicago. But he did wear shoes with holes, lived in unglamorous digs and went without.

Obama helped people help themselves. He ORGANIZED them and gave them the necessary tools so they could fight their own battles when he moved on.

My request, fellow DU'ers is that we begin a thread amassing photos of what the South Side of Chicago USED to look like. Were there any streets back then that looked like a war zone? I remember the South Bronx in the early 80's. Burnt out building after building with walls and roofs fallen in and looking like they'd been bombed.

Right now in Ohio and elsewhere, neighborhoods that up until a short while ago were safe working class areas are becoming crack-infested slums.

Older people who couldn't get a bank loan for $3000 to fix their roofs got a mortgage from some crook and end up missing a payment and THEN end up loosing their homes.

Houses in formerly respectful neighborhoods sit empty, organized groups come in and vandalize the houses by stripping out pipes & wire. The houses then get used by drugs dealers and users, prostitutes etc.

Meanwhile, SOME of the houses on the same street still belong to working class Americans. And they just want a safe place. They just want property values to stop plummeting.

It seems to me, today's graduating seniors do have an obligation to serve their country. Not in Iraq but on the streets of Ohio, to rebuild neighborhoods.

Obama sacrificed and served his country on the South Side of Chicago. I hope today's seniors choose to serve their country by taking jobs for less money but more spiritual fulfillment here at home. They don't need to go to Iraq to honorably serve their country.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

1. Thanks for posting this..

[K Gardner]

2. The speech was something these young men and women will never forget ! K&R

[anonymous171]

3. K&R

[Swamp Rat]

4. Happy to supply the 5th rec

:)

[Cha]

5. You're right..this is Gold.

Thanks for posting this and your analysis, cryingshame.

[Window]

6. K/R.

:kick:

[havocmom]

7. Hey! Leadership! I still recognize it, after all these years without any to refer to!

Real leadership. Wow, thought it has gone extinct!

Thank you, Senator Obama. You brought tears of joy to this old woman's eyes.

[WillyT]

8. K & R !!!

:kick:

[DemVet]

9. Obama served himself, not his country.

Obama is only looking out for himself...he's just a typical politician.

[SaveAmerica]

10. What's Ironic about your post is that he is just the opposite of the typical politician

That's what has so many people standing up and taking notice, that's what has so many people on the 'other side' shaking in their boots.

[KittyWampus]

11. let me guess, Ignored said something like Obama is only serving himself. Am I right?

it's so predictable. Hence my use of Ignore. Can't argue with Teh Stupid

[SaveAmerica]

23. Yes, the irony of it just kills me.

[Rhiannon12866]

29. What a terrific pic! Thank you!

I'm saving it, well, just to look at from time to time, LOL, because I was an Edwards supporter, but now I'm taking a chance on Obama. These are two great men and are both pretty inspiring. :-)

[SaveAmerica]

60. You're welcome! Yep, me too - Edwards then Obama, I felt he would endorse

Obama, I think they share many common factors (most important of them is a desire to help the little guy).

Polls very early on had Edwards winning amongst all the candidates when asked who people would like as President. I still would like to see him as Vice President with Obama, then going on to run and win in 2016 so we can have many uninterrupted years of Democratic leadership working to fix this country from the bottom up.

[Rhiannon12866]

63. I thought he'd eventually endorse Obama, too.

It just made sense, though I did get irritated at the media insisting that he needed to endorse someone, when he'd barely dropped out of the race. I was in the audience at David Letterman that day, and they had some intern screaming and running out, supposedly when he learned the news. They could have gotten me to do that for nothing... ;(

I honestly don't think that John Edwards is up for running for VP. He's been there and done that. But I do think that he could play a very important role in an Obama administration. That's my hope, anyway...:-)

[Cassandra]

15. Oh, you mispoke...

you meant to say Hillary.

[dcindian]

16. Why do you hate values Democrats cherish?

What kind of troll are you if you can't even pretend to share at least one Dem ideal?

[Bluerthanblue]

20. I wouldn't have expected a different

reply from you.

Sad- predictibly sad.

peace~

[ekwhite]

27. So he served himself by taking a job as a community organizer

instead of a high-paying job as a Wall Street lawyer? How selfish of him!

[me b zola]

33. Only a selfish elitist would take a job for $12,000/yr so they could help their community

:sarcasm:

[Blue State Bandit]

Service to ones country does not always require a gun.

That's a Democratic value.

[ErinBerin84]

12. did anyone catch Andrea Mitchell on Chris Matthews?

She was talking about the absurdity of McCain's response to Obama on the GI bill. "What war could Obama have served in, Grenada?!"

[KittyWampus]

14. And who is to say that the only honorable sacrifice and service to ones country need include

joining a branch of the military and shooting guns at strangers.

[ErinBerin84]

21. exactly

everyone on the Sunday Morning talk shows seemed to show disdain for McCain taking that cheap shot with Obama on military service.

[Barack_America]

45. I'll never serve in a war...

But I'm planning to devote my medical career to the VA.

Doesn't that count?

I think it should. We have so many great civilian doctors and nurses taking care of our troops, often decades after the "war" is over.

I wish more politicians would spend times in VA's. If they saw how war can truly shatter these young lives, they'd be much less likely to consider it a viable option, IMO.

[KSinTX]

53. Damn you! You owe me a keyboard

:spray: Spewage Alert!

[Berry Cool]

13. Excellent point, and it's not just here in Ohio that we need them.

I assume that CSPAN is going to show this address at some point. If anyone finds out when, I'm sure many would appreciate a heads-up. I know I would.

K&R

[KittyWampus]

17. Obama did mention the Peace Core, but I prefer talking about the USA right now.

[Bluerthanblue]

18. AMEN!--- there are many ways

to serve our country- ways that garner little glitz, admiration or attention.

My father served in Germany in the Army in WWII- along with 2 of his brothers, the fourth one always felt less of a person because he stayed stateside with his wife and babies- he worked in a factory, as a machinist. My Dad would often speak about how difficult it was to be one of those who stayed behind- rather than belittling those who served in a less visible way, he pointed out that they served in ways not often recognized or honored, yet still vital.

There are many 'battles' being waged in this nation today- with 'armies' of people who don't necessarily wear uniforms or march in formation- but who give of themselves for the good of us all.

peace~

[quantass]

19. .

[KittyWampus]

22. kick

[KittyWampus]

24. kick

[AllentownJake]

25. That needs to be a message

There are many ways to server your country. Serving in the armed forces is admirable but serving others in your community is no less noble.

[KittyWampus]

26. that is the entire point.

[Rhiannon12866]

28. Thank you very much for posting this. K&R.

It was an amazing speech... :applause:

[Gman]

30. Obama left his family, traveled thousands of miles, dodged bullets

and engaged in firefights, was nearly killed, was a decorated for valor, etc... by serving on the Southside of Chicago? I always heard the SS of Chicago was the baddest part of town, we know about Leroy Brown, but I don't think that argument is going to cut it in the General Election. It's another ludicrous argument from the Obama minions.

This is a pretty ridiculous thing to post on Memorial Day.

[ellacott]

32. How is that a ludicrous argument?

Is military service now a criterion for serving our country? Bush, Cheney, Rush and many others on the Right didn't serve. Even McCain said it shouldn't be an issue when he was referring to them. Now it's an issue?

[KittyWampus]

34. Also, after Hillary invokes Bobby's assassination, I'd say Obama has placed himself

in the "line of fire" by running for POTUS.

And somehow, I do think he misses his beautiful wife and 2 daughters.

[Gman]

37. You really need to do some stretching exercises before posting this stuff

you're going to end up with some pulled and maybe torn muscles if you're not careful stretching that hard.

[Gman]

36. Because they're two completely different and completely unrelated things

one does not substitute for the other in any form or fashion. That's what makes this ludicrous. My post satirically (if not sarcastically) describes why.

[ellacott]

57. They aren't unrelated

Military service is not the only way you can serve your country. That was the point made by the OP.

[Gman]

58. The point made in the OP starts from an incorrect premise

It's like saying "I'm going out to eat" and you go to McDonalds. Or you say "I'm going out to eat and you go to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse or Morton's of Chicago. Yeah, you went out to eat in both instances, but it's beyond logic to say they're the same thing.

[Kittycat]

55. If it is - then Hillary is Definitely out.

[trickyguy]

31. You are totally right to ask us to Choose the Path of Service. Yes, Obama did that. Read his book.

I lived in Chicago in the late 60's through early 90's and there were many areas

that looked like a bomb had gone off. Very depressed and in need of much help.

On this Memorial Day I have been able to find other Paths of Service to help others. I did not wear a military uniform

because I am a gay man and I was afraid I would get kicked out of the service if I volunteered.

But I have been able in my adult life to look around and find many ways that I can be of service to others. Many.

Today one of the ways I serve is to support the SLDN organization in their efforts to repeal "Don't ask, don't tell"

This is one of my choices on the Path of Service.

I don't make big bucks as a piano teacher, but I do find ways to serve my country. Just as Barack did back them.

And he continues to serve.

[Heather MC]

35. I think it's a nice sentimate, but it's not the same thing, as putting your life on the line

I think if this is going to be his angle he may want to re-think this.

I mean historically WW2 Vets didn't consider Vietnam a "real war"
Imagine how the vets would feel if they heard him compare south side chicago to the Jungle of the Viet-cong.

I am a stanch Obamabot (by the way I love that name) but I don't think this is a good way to apporach this. Veterans who lost friends, limbs, family, time are not going to consider this equal to wartime service.

[Gman]

38. And running against McCain who sat in a NVN POW camp for 5 years

Obama will be laughed out of the building.

[Heather MC]

42. I am not Bashing Obama

I just don't think this is a good Counter point andd it could piss off a lot of service men and women who had and continue to put their life on the line.

As I stated I am for Obama, this is just a line of thinking I do not agree with.
Community Service will never Compare to Military service

[Gman]

56. I am bashing Obama

and I think his people are dumb enough to put this out as a talking point.

[KittyWampus]

39. so you are saying that only those who served in the military during WARTIME

have served their country?

That even veterans who served but haven't gone under fire haven't really served?

The only service to ones country that is worth putting forth has to involve getting shot at?

If this rationale is to fly, that means we will perpetually have to send our children over seas to get shot at and die for their country, since it's the only service that counts!

[Heather MC]

41. I am saying that those who have will not like the campariason

and those who severed doing the rare moments of peace in this country, still understood, they were making a committment to put their life on the line at any moment for this country.

Please don't lump me with all the soon to be Hillary supporters coming in here to piggy back on my post.
I am not bashing Obama
I just don't think this is a good counter point, Military Service v/s Community Service
Military will always win.

[KittyWampus]

43. I understand you're not just being ornery. But the topic is serving ones country. Obama served.

And frankly, so has every American who has volunteered to help others or taken a lower paying job for the fulfillment it gives rather than the money it pays.

IMO, it's time to stop allowing the warmongers to dictate the terms of what "service to ones country" means.

[Heather MC]

44. You know people hear what they want, not what you say,

I understand his point, I am not sure others will, I hope I am wrong, but one thing we have seen in this campaign season, the truth is in the SPIN.

[KittyWampus]

46. Understood. But remember with Kerry. He DID service during wartime. You have to make your case

IMO, the thing is not to back down but to attack the divisive lies of those who choose to be deceitful and slanderous.

IMO, a lot of Americans are waiting to be called together for a Common Cause.

The GOP likes to talks about America being great, but everything they do is about tearing it apart and getting neighbors to fight one another.

[Heather MC]

48. well I just asked my Husband who us Active duty

and he said not everyone has to serve in the military, and he doesn't agree with the comparison but it doesn't bother him.

And I didn't mention that Obama said it. I just asked him if he felt that Community service was the same service to the country as military service?

Of course my husband is an extreme passivist <---is that a word? idunno!

[KittyWampus]

51. your husband sounds like a keeper. Thanks for your critique

[Heather MC]

52. That's why I Clubbed him on that head and dragged him back to my cave

:rofl:

[windoe]

40. Being of service is a state of mind

-and recognize there are many service professions, many ways people serve other people, parents, rescue workers, all quietly doing their jobs. What an inspiring leader he is.

[Barack_America]

47. I'd just like to point out how hard it is to break away from the Ivy League mold...

And do what Obama did.

When you do graduate/professional training at an Ivy League, the pressure to continue on the "track" and have some high-paying, high-power career is almost overwhelming.

Given Obama's status at Harvard (i.e. first black Law Review editor, etc.) I can only imagine the pressure he must have felt to either move onto the "right" firm or into academia.

That he held his own and stayed true to his plans, says a lot about the strength of his character, IMO.

And it's personally inspiring to me as I'm currently fighting the Ivy League "we have plans for you" battle.

[KnaveRupe]

49. Of course.

Low-paid alumni don't donate as much to the school. They want alumni rich and powerful enough to donate buildings.

Good on you for rejecting that career path. Working in the VA is noble, and IMHO qualifies as service.

Thanks, Kristi, for your willingness to serve our country.

[Stalwart]

50. Living Up to Our Own Expectations

Obama inspires the greatest motivator: Recognition of the obligations we establish for ourselves, committing to them and the things they require because we believe it is the right thing to do.

Not just our own personal obligations but those that we confirm are obligations of our country that we adopt as our own.

Great stuff to say to our youth as they seek the future.

[KSinTX]

54. K & R

[Gman]

59. This sounds too much like the Young Republicans who say they can best serve the counttry

by being here and working for the GOP

[AzDar]

61. Kick...

:thumbsup:

[fight4my3sons]

62. kick

[Tarheel_Dem]

64. Sorry, I was too late to recommend, but.....kick