Category — Commentary

Much to take away from Sarah Palin’s speech the other night but one thing I like to touch upon which has been the subject of much commentary is the comment about community organisers which was also mentioned by Rudy Guilani in his speech preceding hers.

From the take from the speech and the commentary that followed, it appeared that the whole concept of community organization is some radical liberal program which should be stamped out at the first chance the Republicans get in returning to the White House. But as we all know, community organizers are part of the non-governmental organizations that step into communities when no one else will.

We know of Barack Obama’s background as a community organizer and it is featured in his advertising and his speeches. We also know that some of the resistance to him in polling comes from various blue collar groups. Perhaps, this criticism provides an opening for the Obama camp in terms of new advertising in a way as an outreach to those groups. To show other community organizers making a difference in towns across America; ordinary people making an extra-ordinary difference in the lives in others.

For example, feature a true community organizer like this:

Jane: My name is Jane Wilcox of Anywhere USA and I am a community organizer and a single mother of two.

[feature scenes of Jane working in her role]
VO: My life is dedicated to my community in making a difference doing [counseling, teaching, support]. When I hear Republicans like Rudy Guiliani and Sarah Palin knocking community organizations down, I wonder if they know what it is like in the Real America where people are struggling to find jobs and keep their homes. It is a tough job but Barack Obama knows what it is like working to improve the lives of his fellow Americans and that is why I am supporting him.

There is much to work with from those critical and truthfully vicious speeches from Republicans as a counter attack but I think a approach like this will help reinforce the difference between Democrats, who build people up, and Republicans who only seek to tear people down.

Birthplace: North Africa
Date of Birth and Death: 322-387
Feast Day: May 4th

Notable: Patroness of Wives and Mothers

Life: Monica was born in 322 into a Christian family in Tagaste in North Africa. She was selected as a bride to a pagan man and for many years had to endure personal indignities from him and his mother. She ignored all of that and instead, concentrated on practicing good works by giving to the poor and helping the sick.

She had three children the eldest of whom caused her much concern despite being a talented scholar. She prayed constantly that her husband and son join her in worship. eventually, her faith and kindness ere partially rewarded as her husband and mother in law converted to Christianity. Still, her son lead a disreputable life. She sought the help of her local bishop who encouraged her. Eventually, Monica turned to Bishop Ambrose of Italy who brought her son to God by appealing to his intelligence instead his emotions. The son became so strongly drawn to the faith that he himself was canonized as St. Augustine.

St. Monica did everything in her power to ensure that her son, St. Augustine, grew up to be a good decent man. While despairing at times, she realised that she could not do everything on her own and was not afraid to ask others for help.

Prayer:

O Lord who taught Monica to persevere for the good of her family, help me
to be a better parent to my children.
Help e to have patience with them when they misbehave and give me
the strength to guide them gently to the right path. Permit me always to
forgive their misdeeds and keep me from speaking harshly or punishing unwisely.
Please help me to be a beacon of goodness for them as they grow to adulthood
and to be a good example to them in all that I say and do.

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It has been several days of non-stop information flooding the news with new revelations of Sarah Palin’s past and her political philosophy. Yet, other than a statement released today by Robert Gibbs that focuses on her reformer credentials, the Obama camp has been quiet. Why?

Given her statements and decisions on things like the Bridge to Nowhere, pork barrel politics than even McCain would never countenance, her strong fundamentalist beliefs, goofy statements on being vice president and so forth, there are plenty of things that the Obama can launch advertising on without even bringing up her family and or anything related to gender.

It seems to me that the Obama is allowing the media to do all of the work so as to avoid getting caught in the fray. So far that is working out fairly well. All of the commentary talk is about her rather than him or even McCain and initially that has worked to his benefit.

Thing though is that the information is coming out scatter shot. There is no defined overall narrative about her. The only one that is going on is the lack of vetting by the McCain camp and the rush to decision. That may be a good thing but we would not know for sure until much later. But will it be enough to rely on that narrative to show how poorly McCain makes decisions?
Or should the narrative should be about her in one or two lines which are not so much about her but rather cast uncertainty about McCain and what he stands for and what kind of government he would run as a President?

For this is what the Obama camp should do. Give focus to the media to concentrate on one or two aspects of the Palin vice president candidacy and let that drive the narrative much in the way McCain created a narrative about Obama’s so called celebrity status with just one or two ads.

At some point, perhaps very soon, the well will be dry of any new revelations about Palin and the media will move on. If the Obama camp waits too long, an opportunity will be missed to define Sarah Palin and by inference a McCain presidency.

It’s time to take the initiative.

How this video of an event 45 years ago today

 

made this moment possible

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A drizzlily day today which is quite welcome after a long dry period. Coolness is appreciated too. Starting to feel a bit like fall… Speaking of fall, yesterday was the start of the new school year. Christen is now a freshman at Parkland High. Seems it was not too long ago she was just starting first grade…. Bookmarks is coming back to Winston again on September 13th. Definitely need to check it out and I plan to stay longer than last year where it was just two hours of time. Really nice lineup of authours. Last year’s highlight was Elizabeth Edwards which upon reflection, seems a bit more poigant now considering what has happened to her since then… Speaking of politics, the Democratic convention kicked off last night. Full bore coverage on all of the cable news networks though the coverage seems to be endlessly fixated on the so-called dispute between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But I think for the moment, all of that was overshadowed by seeing Senator Ted Kennedy stride onto the stage to give a speech speaking to the themes of the night. But by far the night was  Michelle Obama’s. She gave a superlative speech on family, values and what it is like struggling against the odds and succeeding. It was leavened by heartfelt emotion and vivid imagery that everyone can relate to. As the pace of the election quickens, her ability to reach out to women will be invaluable.

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Even though there is one day of competition yet for the Beijing Olympic Games, Canada’s involvement has ended on Saturday with one more medal, silver for Adam Van Koeverden in the men’s 500m kayak race. That brings Canada’s medal total to 18 overall, its third best showing ever after the 44 medals won at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and 22 at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

By all measures, Canada as a team, exceeded expectations and predictions. Not everything went right for Canada. There were many disappointments like Marie Premont having to leave the women’s cross country race that she was favoured to win a medal. But these few disappointments were more than offset by the athletes who through skill, determination and in a few instances, a bit of luck, were able to exceed their best hopes for themselves.

I tried to keep up with most of the successes of the Canadian team as they occurred. What I could not see live or on delayed basis I followed up with the video section of the NBC Olympics site. My long nights and Internet surfing for Olympic results will take a spell now for 18 months until the 2010 Vancouver Winter games. Television as they say, will return to its regular braodcasting schedule.

What is for me, the most singular Canadian Olympic moment for these Games. There are several good moments. Seeing Eric Lamaze winning individual equestrian jumping gold after a history of failed chances dued to drug abuse was undoubtedly a feel good moment. So too was seeing his teammate Ian Millar finally winning an Olympic medal, silver in team jumping, after so many appearances in the Games since 1972. Carole Hyunh’s win emotional response in winning her gold in women’s wrestling was also gratifying.

Still, the moment that is indelible for me and one that will linger on after these games are long gone was seeing Simon Whitfield charging on the final stretch of the triathlon run, catching up with the lead group of four which included the world champion and then passing them to take the lead but then found himself overtake by a lanky German thus giving him silver. More than anything else, Whitfield’s drive to excel at these games which started immediately after a subpar Athens Game showing in 2004, showed what it takes to be the best in the world. In his mind, he was not satisified with just a personal best or a decent placing but rather he set out to win gold which he nearly did. With that determination, he showed other Canadian athletes that they should never be satisified with second best but drive always for the top of the podium. More often than not, they will not suceed in doing so but be never accused of giving anything else but their very best.

This has been a good Olympics overall and not just for Canadian athletes. There have been some great performances from athletes like Michael Phelps and Ursain Bolt. Quite a few good moments for viewing along with the ability to catch up with some sports that one sees just every four years like modern pentathlon and volleyball. There are quite a few sports that deserve more time on broadcast television like diving, rowing and some of the team sports. Problem is that American audience are conditioned to just getting the major league sports and college football on television. It is a pity that people do not have time for sport compilation shows like ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

Now, the clock starts anew for London in 2012.

Canada’s medals at 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

Gold (3):

• Carol Huynh - Freestyle Wrestling Women’s 48 kg (105.5 lbs.)
• Canada - Rowing Men’s Eights
  
• Eric Lamaze - Equestrian Individual jumping

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Filled up the gast tank with premium gas at $3.65/gallon. I think it was that price sometime last winter I believe. It is about 40¢ off from the peak in the summer time. That works about $4 less per fill-up. Does not seem like much but over a month that works about $30 less for gas for two cars. That means we can eat out one more time for the month.

Not sure how long it will last though. A few more tropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico or more disruption in Nigeria or Iraq and we are back to $140/barrel oil prices again.

Note

Not all the happening things in Winston-Salem occur downtown. There is plenty to do in all parts of the city. While this is a city of 200K plus, it is like most cities, a collection of neighbourhoods and areas that maintain separate identities and customs. If you drive around many parts of the city, you will find many areas have a distinct rural flavour. Earlier this year, I moved the family to the southern part of the city and one of the things I like about the area were many of the family establishments that have been around for years. One of them is the Old Orchard Diner found on Old Salisbury Road, a great family diner with decent meals at decent prices and great breakfasts served all day.

In the summertime, there is an ongoing event held every 2nd Friday whereby local people bring their classic automobiles to show off. A relatively informal gathering where everyone seems to know everyone else. The cars are fantastic showing the dedication that the owners have in keeping them maintained and looking like the day they were built. Classic 50’s music is played and people just fetch meals and ice cream from the diner and just sit on their chairs and engaged in conversation with anyone who is interested. This is a very relaxed event that sometimes you think no longer exists in these days but in the outer parts of the city and county, life goes on at a different pace.

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