Blog #9

Ola Omar
                                                                        Blog #9
        The quote that I have selected is from the Barack Obama speech at 2004 DNC Convention. The quote that I selected is "In a tolerant America, your name is no barrier to success." (Obama, 2004).
         This quote means that if U.S citizens live in an equal and justice America, then where you come from has no negative impact in the way your life will be. Barack Obama's parents named him a black name because they came to America for a better life through hard work and perseverance and they believed that naming their child a black name such as Barack would not have a negative impact in how far Barack Obama would get in his life. Barack said this in his speech in the DNC convention because he wants to let Americans know that it does not matter where you come from or how you look like, if you work hard and have faith in the American system, then you can be any successful person you want to be here in America. Through the speech at the DNC convention, Obama wants to let U.S citizens know that America is more diverse than it has ever been in the 21st century and there are more opportunities in America for all of the people if we (the people) just keep pushing ourselves to be successful.
         In this speech, Obama also wants to let the people of America know that you do not need to be rich in order to be successful. Obama did a good job in achieving Neustadt's way of a president having power because Obama really persuaded his audience when he said that even non wealthy people can still be successful. I think that all Americans are looking for someone to represent America that has a mindset of all Americans having a chance at holding high positions in our society, no matter where our backgrounds or culture may be. Obama had an advantage in the speech that he gave because his parents were not wealthy and came from working class families. His mom's side of the family were oil farmers and his dad's side of the family were British servants, but yet Obama still managed to go to Ivy League schools and become the president of the U.S. Therefore, Obama's personal story is a great example of how U.S citizens can overcome the odds if they just believe they can, no matter what race, family, or background they may come from.
      I chose this quote because I believe that with the right person representing America, America can be a place where your name and where your name comes from does not determine your status in this world. I like how Obama said that we are all one because I think that that statement is very true. I believe that if U.S citizens stand as one and look out for each other, then less problems would emerge and also if the congress or the government see us clashing with one another, then they will take advantage of us by empowering their class only. Even though Obama gave such a persuasive speech at the convention, he failed to abide by the promises he made such as not being able to receive massive victories.
       I think that one of the reasons why America does not have such a strong political history is because of the people as well. People complain about the government, but yet they believed Trump when  he said he would get us more jobs. To me, American citizens made one of the worse decisions when they let Trump become president. I know that the electoral college had a big impact in Trump becoming president, but some of those votes did not come out of no where. Spanish people saw him calling them racist names, but yet he won more votes from them than other presidents in the U.S. American citizens need to judge who they want to represent them better. We need to stop looking at the candidates race or sex and start electing our leaders based on their moral values, their knowledge, or how well they carry themselves. I know the Clinton's do not have a strong reputation with political insiders, but I do think she was more fit to take on the job as being president of the U.S.A.