[Vision2020] I saw Barak Obama in Boise

[Paul Rumelhart]

I'm glad you got to see him, even if he was a speck off in the distance.

I heard the most positive thing yet to come out this whole circus today 
on NPR.  I only caught a few seconds, but they were talking about how 
Obama was saying that he can relate to Muslims because of his unique 
background among the candidates.  He has lived in Muslim countries and 
can relate to them because of that.  However, he's a Christian, and can 
presumably relate to them as well.  He feels that he is in the unique 
position of being able to make some headway in closing the rifts between 
our two ways of life.

This is in direct opposition to the party line (for both parties), which 
seems to be that Muslims are potential terrorists and should be directly 
feared.  This strikes at the heart of many of our current problems 
today.  We've let the terrorists terrorize us.  We bought into the fear, 
and it has cost us.  We've had the exact reaction that was wanted, we've 
played right into their hands.  It has also played directly into the 
hands of those who wish to use a threat as an excuse to control us.  We 
were manipulated into attacking Iraq.  I, for one, don't appreciate 
being manipulated.  Our President, according to a news article I read a 
few days ago, had placed attacking Iraq and taking down Saddam Hussein 
on the agenda as a future goal as few as eight days after he was 
inaugurated.  Long before 9/11.

I appreciate McCain's point that (in essence) the toothpaste is out of 
the tube and there's no going back now.  However, I think Obama would 
bring to the plate ideas that would never occur to McCain.  At least 
McCain would stop the torture, and we might be able to get a shred of 
our dignity back.  I imagine Obama would do so as well, though I haven't 
heard his position on it.

Paul

Donovan Arnold wrote:
> I had the privilege of being able to get into the Taco Arena in Boise 
> and seeing Obama speak in person. Granted, I didn't get to meet him, 
> or even get close.
>  
> There was about 12,000-14,000 people that tried to get into the 
> building. I think about 2,000 people were left out in the cold. The 
> wait to get in was about 2 hours in the freezing cold. The line 
> outside stretched the entire campus. It was obvious that far more 
> people showed up then they had anticipated. As the place was set up 
> for only about 4,500-9,000 people. They had to open the whole 
> building, the largest indoor arena in Boise, completely.
>  
> The security was really tight. They would not let us bring anything 
> in, no bags, cups, purses, fanny packs, etc. I was afraid they would 
> not let us bring cameras, so I brought only a cheap $4 throw away one, 
> because I didn't want to have to choose between tossing an 
> expensive camera or going into the building. My cheap camera didn't 
> take very good pictures. You cannot even see him hardly on stage. But 
> nonetheless, the experience of seeing and hearing Obama live in 
> person, was well worth the hell and discomfort I experienced to see 
> him. : )
>  
> Here is a horrible photo of the event with my cheap camera. It looks 
> like he is 500 yards away, but he was only about two basketball courts 
> away from me. The people you see in the audience is only about 1/20 of 
> the people there, as there are three floors of seating on four sides 
> of seating of the building, all full, and more outside and standing in 
> the hallways.
>  
> Obama is in the middle of the stage, you can hardly see him. I tried 
> to move closer but the tight security frowned on people moving around. 
> I counted at least 8 Secret Service on the floor, and clothed officers 
> at every balcony door.
>  
> Best Regards,
>  
> Donovan
>  
>  
>
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