A few weeks back there was a big drama because ASU said that they wouldn't give Obama an honorary degree when he gave the commencement speech at the 2009 graduation, because he hadn't done enough to deserve it. So when Obama spoke yesterday I wondered how he would handle it. And he came through to deal with it using humor, class, and to turn the situation into a teaching point and a seriously inspirational speech. Here's the humor part:
Now, before I begin, I'd like to clear the air about that little controversy everyone was talking about a few weeks back. I have to tell you, I really thought it was much ado about nothing, although I think we all learned an important lesson. I learned to never again pick another team over the Sun Devils in my NCAA bracket. And your university President and Board of Regents will soon learn all about being audited by the IRS.
The rest of the speech was fantastic. He talked about how we define success and how that focus on materialistic gain needs to be changed. It was insanely inspirational and I have a hard time understanding how people can hate him so much if they are openly listening to him. I guess the haters just don't listen, and that's the problem. I understand disagreement on policy, but the demonization of Obama is just ridiculous and it's moments like these where I sit and think "how the hell can people think this guy is the devil?"
In the face of these challenges, it may be tempting to fall back on the formulas for success that have dominated these recent years. Many of you have been taught to chase after the usual brass rings: being on this "who's who" list or that top 100 list; how much money you make and how big your corner office is; whether you have a fancy enough title or a nice enough car...
I want to highlight two main problems with that old approach. First, it distracts you from what is truly important, and may lead you to compromise your values, principles and commitments. Think about it. It's in chasing titles and status - in worrying about the next election rather than the national interest and the interests of those they represent - that politicians so often lose their way in Washington. It was in pursuit of gaudy short-term profits, and the bonuses that come with them, that so many folks lost their way on Wall Street...
The trappings of success may be a by-product of this larger mission, but they can't be the central thing. Just ask Bernie Madoff.
If you have some time or if you're feeling down, or downswinging, or depressed, then I suggest watching the speech as it's top notch.
1 votes
InnovativeYogis.com
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chris United States. May 14 2009 18:01. Posts 5504
do you touch yourself to obama or something? everything you ever post is dick sucking and jocking obama.
5 minute showers are my 8 minute abs. - Neilly
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WalcottEntp United States. May 14 2009 18:36. Posts 117
On May 14 2009 16:29 k2o4 wrote:
[quote]Now, before I begin, I'd like to clear the air about that little controversy everyone was talking about a few weeks back. I have to tell you, I really thought it was much ado about nothing, although I think we all learned an important lesson. I learned to never again pick another team over the Sun Devils in my NCAA bracket. And your university President and Board of Regents will soon learn all about being audited by the IRS.
WIN
In the face of these challenges, it may be tempting to fall back on the formulas for success that have dominated these recent years. Many of you have been taught to chase after the usual brass rings: being on this "who's who" list or that top 100 list; how much money you make and how big your corner office is; whether you have a fancy enough title or a nice enough car...
I want to highlight two main problems with that old approach. First, it distracts you from what is truly important, and may lead you to compromise your values, principles and commitments. Think about it. It's in chasing titles and status - in worrying about the next election rather than the national interest and the interests of those they represent - that politicians so often lose their way in Washington. It was in pursuit of gaudy short-term profits, and the bonuses that come with them, that so many folks lost their way on Wall Street...
The trappings of success may be a by-product of this larger mission, but they can't be the central thing. Just ask Bernie Madoff.
^ He is being "demonized" by the people he is slamming. Most people agree with him, (thats why he got elected) but most politicians/republicans hate him because he is pointing out all of the stupid shit they do, thats why I especially like the IRS quote
Its about damn time that we got a decent President who knows what the hell is wrong with this country. If Obama wasn't elected I would have moved to Costa Rica
Donking is like the Fall Out Boy of the new pokertards. Everyone thinks its sooo cool but theyre just retarded
On May 14 2009 17:01 chris wrote:
do you touch yourself to obama or something? everything you ever post is dick sucking and jocking obama.
not true, I also post about switching seats. You just are so anti-obama the only thing that registers in your mind is when I post about liking him.
InnovativeYogis.com
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NewbSaibot United States. May 14 2009 22:29. Posts 4946
I think there is one real motive driving those who lambaste obama so much. It's the whole *fuck you* attitude. Allow me to illustrate--
I'm going to drive the most gas guzzling vehicle I can find. Why? FUCK YOU! THATS WHY
or
I'm going to dump this vat of melted styrofoam and oil down the gutter. Why? FUCK YOU! THATS WHY!
Theres a certain level of insecurity amongst the general conservative/republican populace. You know, the one that makes you want to drive a big truck so you sit up higher than everyone else on the road. Yea, that gutless little boy inside, fearful of dad's hand, an alter-ego that resides in those who think anyone who disagrees with the representative of their party is inherently some pussy treehugger. This is called projection. The people who vote against their own best interests such as supporting industry's that will only outsouce their jobs for tax breaks, and voting to have their incomes crippled so their paymaster overlords can buy another vacation home. It's like they have this fantasy that if they support the clowns that they so desperately wish they could be, maybe one day they will become them, and then they too can sit atop the hill sipping iced tea watching their slaves toil in the fields below. They admire the wealthy, even though they stand no chance at becoming so. And they feel weak succumbing to defeat. They would rather go down with the ship than ever admit defeat.
Wrap all of this into one little ball and what you get is someone who just lashes out at every mention of the man who has shamed their party and shown it for the worthless failure that it is. Every day the republican party becomes more and more of a sham, and every day they say or do something more pathetic than the last. It's like this reciprocal downward spiral with no end, until the entire party is written off as some evangelical extremist group that nobody takes seriously anymore.
Look, the republicans had some good ideas, they make good businessmen. But the USA can no longer be looked at nor managed like a business. The world population is now one giant organism. This whole "fuck the rest of the world, USA! USA! USA!" attitude is not going to hold in the future. Yea yea yea america is the greatest nation on earth, now go hang a flag in your front yard. The global economy has shown just how interconnected we all are. It's time to put away the political and patriotic "secularism" and come to grips with the reality that we are not americas, or chinese, or europeans, we are members of the planet EARTH, and we need to work together to survive now.
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