First, please watch this video

Barak Obama

A few people have sent me the above link to this video telling me I should vote for Barak Obama. Due to a lack of options, I was misinformed into thinking that he is going to be the best option for the upcoming election, but after watching this video I have begun to reconsider.

When teaching my 9th and 10th grade students what propaganda was, I had to resort to Nazi publications that were anti-semitic and US military publications demonizing the Japanese. I never thought that many of my smart friends would fall for some of the best modern day propaganda I have ever seen. Granted, I don't think that Barak made this video, but it is posted on his website, which is good enough him to walk up to me and say "I am Barak Obama and I approve of this message."

The video is very subtle and smart. First, it paints the colors to be black and white which reminds me of some other famous black and white footage, while implicitly calling us to the black candidate. Next, they have the music overlay which is catchy and almost inspires you without even knowing what the content of the video is (Marshall McLuhan anyone?). In fact, the only things I remember from the video are "Yes we can" (Moulin Rouge anyone?) and something about justice and equality. Finally, we keep hearing inspiring, yet meaningless sound clips by Barak which should inspire us to vote for him?

The entire video is a shout out to JFK and MLK, with whom Barak would love to be equated. Unfortunately, as a senator in Illinois and a Harvard Law student, I don't think he can quite call himself a modern day JFK or MLK. However, it is very misleading to endorse this video and scary at the same time becasue it is powerful in a vacuous sort of way. He even says something about "we shouldn't offer this country false hope." Of course this video is morally compelling without saying anything, thus offering false hope. He says the these three words can "ring" from coast to coast--- "Yes We Can!".... Does that sound familiar? "Let freedom ring"

I am more disgusted at the audience among whom this video is going to be circulated. I have seen that the young people of the country dig Obama, and; that is cool. However, I don't think many of them could articulate one difference between his universal health plan and Hillary's. How is Obama's plan for Iraq different than Hillary's or can either of them really do anything to stimulate the economy? Does Obama know anything about foreign policy besides being raised by a Muslim dad? If Obama gets the nomination, and I don't think he will, it will be becasue of enough 20-30 somethings who vote for the cool candidate who puts out inspirational change videos not becasue he is the best candidate, though he may in fact be the best.

I spent a good amount of time the other day trying to see the difference between his and Hillary's health plans and had a hard time finding many areas of divergence. I guess I have also been swept up in the euphoria of change and the prospect of a non-Bush or Clinton in the White House. This led me to vote for Obama in the senseless FL primaries. However, come November this propaganda piece might just deter me from voting Obama becasue I don't like people who lie through media. I don't trust em!

McCain/Giuliani 08!

West Point Grad Wins Objector Status

2 days ago

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (AP) — A West Point graduate who cited his religious beliefs in a lawsuit against the Army while serving in Iraq has been granted conscientious objector status and given an honorable discharge.

Capt. Peter Brown, a 2004 graduate and member of the 10th Mountain Division, said his religious convictions prevented him from carrying a loaded weapon or ordering his men to use lethal force.

"I'm relieved the Army recognized that my religious beliefs made it impossible for me to serve as a soldier," Brown said in a news release issued Tuesday through the American Civil Liberties Union, which had intervened and filed a lawsuit on his behalf in U.S. District Court in Washington.

Brown was stationed in Baghdad for more than a year with the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment out of Fort Drum in northern New York. His conversion to a pacifist interpretation of the Bible began after his commission into the Army when he attended a civilian religious center in the Netherlands in 2004, the lawsuit said.

While in Iraq, Brown applied for discharge from the Army as a conscientious objector. Though a chaplain appointed by the Army and an investigating officer both concluded that he was sincere and recommended an honorable discharge, the Army disagreed and denied his request.

The ACLU and its New York chapter sued in July, asking a federal court to order the Army to reverse its decision. Before the court could act, the Army reconsidered and granted Brown's request Aug. 28, NYCLU spokeswoman Jennifer Carnig said. The announcement was delayed until after Brown's return from Iraq in September.

ACLU lawyers filed a voluntary dismissal of Brown's lawsuit Tuesday, said Deborah Karpatkin, the ACLU attorney who represented Brown.

"Peter Brown showed by clear and convincing evidence that he is a deeply sincere conscientious objector because of his religious training and beliefs," Karpatkin said. "It should not have required the filing of a lawsuit for the Army to recognize those beliefs."

Army officials at Fort Drum had no immediate comment.

Brown said he planned to move to the St. Louis area and continue seminary classes that he started by correspondence from the war zone.

According to government figures, there were 426 applications for conscientious objector status from 2002-06, with 224 approved, 188 denied and 14 still pending.

Has anyone seen a good movie lately??