The time has come for more than words
Obama should stop talking and start acting on campaign promises
Two years ago, during the Democratic primary, then-candidate Barack Obama borrowed some words from his friend, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, in defense of his theatrical tendencies.
“Don’t tell me words don’t matter. ‘I have a dream’— just words? ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal’ — just words? ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself’ — just words? Just speeches?” was how Candidate Obama put it in 2008.
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At the time, his argument resonated. We looked back on great moments in oration and agreed. Words mattered; words could bring change.
But two years later, all we have are the words. We don’t have the change. This is where the president and Governor Patrick got it wrong. All of those iconic phrases were just words.
Dr. King didn’t change the world by saying “I have a dream.” Dr. King changed the world with actions; the words just embodied those actions. Words represent change, they don’t bring it.
You cannot change the world with words. Your words go down in history because you changed the world.
President Obama has strung together brilliant phrases during his tenure in office. He opened his first State of the Union address powerfully. This president is adept at creating a moment with his vocabulary, but greatness doesn’t come from creating a moment.
Greatness comes from understanding your moment and doing what is necessary. On the evening of Sept. 11, 2001, President Bush spoke from the Oval Office.
While most of America was struggling to make sense of evil, the president uttered his most memorable line: “We will not tire. We will not falter. We will not fail.”
That day was President Bush’s moment. Civil Rights was Dr. King’s. We remember how each of those men handled their moment, the words are mere reminders.
You cannot move mountains with words. You cannot feed the hungry with words. You cannot care for the sick with words. You cannot defend our borders with words. They’re just words.
This columnist is tired of hollow words. This president promised to close Guantanamo Bay within one year, yet it remains open. He promised to repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” during his first year, yet it continues to discriminate. He promised bipartisanship, yet we remain divided.
His words have been inspiring, yet his actions have been pedestrian.
Communication is not and has never been this president’s problem. His problem is his governing ability and his policies. It’s time for our commander to take responsibility for a bad year.
It’s time for our leader to stop hiding behind his words. They won’t help him get this country moving in the right direction. After all, they’re just words.
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by Gary Burnaska
When it comes to Obama and speeches, I’d like to ask what the f** happened?
He won the election with inspiring and motivating speeches. Then a year later he loses his mind in Copenhagen and gives one of the most self-centered pitch for the Chicago Bid. Instead of talking about his hometown and its great sports heritage that gave pro sports such greats like Michael Jordan he pleads for the committee to “let his daughters see the world in their backyard”. I was cringing when I heard that. It came as no surprise when Chicago was defeated in the first round of votes.
Flag for moderationby Kenneth Barna
Well, here we go again,
Flag for moderationIt doesn’t matter what President Obama says, who he is speaking to, about any particular subject, or where he said it, the right wing of this country will complain that it is not fast enough, should have said it there, or he is not speaking to the right audience.
I have said on other blogs that we are a society that thinks everything can just happen immediately, and that statement by itself is not true and never has been true.
Republicans said President Obama is trying to do too much, too soon, and he should just concentrate on one or two issues.
You cannot have it both ways – you either want the president to tackle many issues at once, or you don’t. He cannot solve all the problems he is faced with in six months. I would love to see any republican stand up and give the American people a specific policy with a specific deadline and all the ducks lined up ready to go, but we all know that is never going to happen.
So, please, let’s stop calling the kettle black.