Americans have often been told that we are capable of accomplishing "anything we put our minds to". The short history of our nation is a testament to the truth of that statement. We have fostered intellectualism as an engine for economic growth by investing in science, the arts and our educational institutions. Great thinkers have emerged to lead us through dark periods of lesser humanity into times of opportunity and equality. We look at a man like Martin Luther King Jr. in awe but also with a sense of pride. We are proud that such a powerful force for good grew out of our society, and that we share a type of collective identity with him and other great men and women of the past.
And yet when we are voting for the President we seem to value the power of the mind less than we should. This is the man who we are trusting with our money, our physical safety, our reputation and our future! It's unthinkable to me that we would dismiss a candidate, as some have dismissed Obama, because he is too articulate or too intellectual. I don't care that he can't connect with uneducated people if he represents their interests in office. What I care about is that he can persuade other heads of state to work with us. I care that he can develop diplomacy with the Theocrats of Tehran. I care deeply that he has a vision for sorting out the healthcare and education deficiencies in our country. We should seek out brilliant Americans who can do these things and bring them into leadership roles immediately.
I support Obama in this election because he is more intelligent than his opponent. He was the editor of the Harvard Law Review. He was a Constitutional Law Professor. He was a civil rights lawyer. He is a very smart man. His vocabulary is expansive and it enhances his ability to speak eloquently and in complete, logically connected sentences. I value those abilities and I think that educated people around the world do as well.
Just take a look at this clip and see what I mean. I could've taken any 5 minute segment, but this one clearly displays Obama's intellectual dominance over McCain:
Let's elect someone who's smarter than we are and see how it goes for 4 years.
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1 comment:
I agree. It is not like when you are looking for a doctor to perform a major surgery you seek out some one you "would like to have a beer with." You look for someone who is well educated and has a good track record. Why should choosing a candidate be any different.
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