Barack Obama Speech at 2004 DNC Convention

Barack Obama Speech at 2004 DNC Convention

            “For alongside our famous individualism, there's another ingredient in the American saga.  A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's that fundamental belief? I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper? That makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. "E pluribus Unum." Out of many, one.” Barack Obama

            Barack Obama’s keynote speech at the 2004 DNC convention was meant to introduce John Kerry to Americans as the chosen democratic candidate. Instead he captivated viewers and introduced himself to the world. The main point of his speech was that everyone in America is truly equal. That even if you came here for a better life or your family has been here for generations we should all have the same rights. That we are all family. It doesn’t matter what kind of life you lead we all deserve to achieve the American dream. Because we are family we should take care of each other and help each other prosper. Some of us have healthcare and some of us don’t. Some of us have homes and some of us sleep outside. This should not be the case. Essentially he’s saying we aren’t right as a country until we are right as a whole.

            This part of this speech in particular spoke to me because I see injustice every day. Is it possible to get everyone on the same playing field in America, in regards to things like healthcare, education, housing, and employment? No obviously not everyone but the percentage of those lacking these basic benefits are too high. Barack Obama feels that the people without can have a better life if not only the government gets involved but American people as well. I agree. Our government can sure do a better job of taking care of Americans. Perhaps saving money by not bailing out banks and giving tax breaks to companies that don’t need them. But we as people have become detached I feel and care more about we immediately encounter friends, family etc. When helping others can actually help your community and the nation as a whole.

America's Most Gerrymandered Congressional District

"This election year we can expect to hear a lot about Congressional district gerrymandering, which is when political parties redraw district boundaries to give themselves an electoral advantage.

Gerrymandering is at least partly to blame for the lopsided Republican representation in the House. According to an analysis I did last year, the Democrats are under-represented by about 18 seats in the House, relative to their vote share in the 2012 election. The way Republicans pulled that off was to draw some really, really funky-looking Congressional districts."

Gerrymandering is a technique political parties have increasingly used over time to gain control of the government. By gaining electoral advantage they get more votes which in turns gives them more power. It is quite extrodinary how theyshift control which wouldnt ordinarily be theirs by moving boundry line for districts giving the other party seats while giving themselves enough seats to gain control.

I chose this passage because it shows directly one of the reasons Americans don't trust the government.  Politicians are constantly legally and illegally change things for their personal gain. When you have to use these tactics in order to win instead of gaining the vote by normal means it make us the people feel manipulated. Even though gerrymandering in sweetheart situations can be beneficial to parties who are under-represented or who have been gilted in the process before. More often this practice of gerrymandering just misrepresents an area and makes the people feel manipulated.

Citizenship and Social class

British sociologist T.H. Marshall once stated, “Civil rights gave legal powers whose use was drastically curtailed by class prejudice and lack of economic opportunity.  Political rights gave potential power whose exercise demanded experience, organisation and a change of ideas as to proper functions of government.  All these took time to develop. Social rights were at a minimum and were not woven into the fabric of citizens. The common purpose of statutory and voluntary effort was to abate the nuisance of poverty without disturbing the pattern of inequality of which poverty was the most obviously unpleasant consequences.”

Marshall spoke of the progress of civil, political, and social citizenship as a gradual sequence. One coming after the other. Civil Citizenship came first and established the laws and equality of the laws.  

Political rights followed with reform. The right to vote came to working people, women, and people of color. Marshall thought of social citizenship not just of belonging to a certain state or nation, but being a full member of the community. Otherwise known as being a part of society. It is often assumed that that social rights automatically happens, however it is something not so easily established and maintained. Because like Marshall stated it’s not “woven into the fabric of citizens”. This can be applied to us because there is a lack of community amongst Americans. People do not care enough about each other, try to walk in their shoes, or try to help each other.

I chose this passage because I feel like we as Americans need to progress more socially. Many problems we have whether it be with the government, police, or just personal. Result in or can be attributed to crime, discord, homelessness, hunger etc. Our government boasts patriotism but doesn’t take care of all its citizens. Police brutality is a constant subject. A source of conflict within the minority community because they feel like they are being judged and discriminated against. Then us as people never want to pay more taxes because we feel like it wouldn’t benefit us. But what about the others that may need? While there have been advances there is still more work to be done civilly, politically and socially. Because all children don’t receive the same education, health care isn’t uniform, and there are people who have no place to sleep at night. While these differences are still among it is hard for everyone to treat each other the same.