Before reading on, I would really encourage you to read the entire speech online at www.whitehouse.gov.  Many people have accused the President of being a skilled orator, with a dynamic speaking presence that can mesmerize an audience, whatever the subject matter may be.  So please, take the time to read it yourself, so that you are not hearing his voice or seeing his actions, but just the content of his message.

Well…. what did you think?  Pretty chalk-full of liberal propaganda right?  Most of the uproar about this speech has come from Americans who do not believe that a (insert adjective here) President should have an audience with young, moldable minds.  Is it because he is a Democrat?  Is it because he is young?  Is it because he is (gasp)… black?  I really don’t know.

I really believed that the President has the right to such a request to speak to the nation’s youth.  I wondered why people would be against it.  After reading the speech myself, I am even more convinced of his intentions to encourage America and promote American ideals.

Having some background in preaching myself, I was reminded of some of the better sermons that I have listened to in my life.  His call was not to judge the world and everything that is currently besetting our country.  He didn’t bemoan the financial crisis or speak ill of past leadership.  He spoke directly to the student, and put the responsibility right on the individual to take charge and make right the world in their own unique way.

Encouraging kids to continue their education to reach their dreams?  Propaganda!

Sharing stories from his own life to illustrate what perseverance can result in?  Brainwashing!

Building up children to set high goals and understand the work needed to achieve them?  He is the antichrist!

Now, these answers have come from people of varying degrees of political extremism.  But they are real responses to the idea of the President speaking to America’s children.  If you have a problem with the speech, is it because you are an American, or because you are a Republican?  Would you be opposed to a speech made by John McCain (whom I voted for….TWICE!) under similar circumstances?

It’s almost been a year since we officially voted a young, black, democrat with a background in Islam to the White House.  When will more of us treat him with the respect that his office commands?

Thank you for your investment in today’s American youth, Mr. President Barack Obama.  You have earned these 15 minutes with my children.

I found a great couple of videos on Youtube today that I wanted to share here.  Billy Wingrove watched this Nike commercial about the 1998 Brazilian soccer team at the airport when he was barely a teenager.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=munMGzeqCQE

After seeing this, he was inspired to become like the players he saw.  He felt that he didn’t have a strong chance to become a pro player, but he did aspire to a level of freestyle soccer where he could complete those moves.  After years of visualization and determination, Nike released this video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvTwE3sUr9E

Just a great example of what can happen when one sets a HUGE goal and stays with it despite all obstacles thrown in the way.  I love it.

How it all will happen, I’m not sure.  But it is a real dream and one that I swim in from time to time.  If you’re not sure why hanging out with Steve Nash would be such a great thing, just check out some of his commercials assembled below.  I love this guy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxE4Urt2pHs

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzqO5csAhhc

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zcE1q4J7PQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP2NfkKoqjw

www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9ZBGmTlp2g

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zwk0d-WkCg

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E88VThXVlI

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv9CBaeTXYo

We will see if my dream becomes a reality.  Until then, I’m going to keep dreaming.

As I watched this clip for the fourth time today, I still got goosebumps.  I even welled up a bit and may have dropped a few tears.  There is something so universally beautiful about this.  The humble confidence in her comment: “I’m gonna make that audience rock!”  The ache in my heart about her never being kissed in her 47 years.  Her regained composure after momentarily blanking out at Simon’s question.  The crescendo of approval and applause that bubbled forth from the audience.  I loved all of it.

She mentioned how she always wanted to perform in front of a large audience.  Perhaps we have heard others say this, and we have labeled them as self-centered or egotistical.  But with Susan, I feel a tremendous sense of healthy pride that she is good enough and able to do such a thing.  It is what she has rehearsed in her mind over and over again, creating an extremely vivid picture for her.  One that is full of emotion.

It’s fantastic (to use her word) to vicariously experience her triumph over a judgemental world (and audience).  Al Bandura talks about how we go through our successes to quickly and too lightly.  Here’s to hoping that she spends plenty of time reveling in the joy that she gives to others with her performance and her personality.