Book #2 - Barack Obama - Odacity of Hope

I completed my second book night before last. I am guilty of judging this book by its cover and assuming it was a Barack Obama biography. Instead, I read about Barack's political agenda and critique of the current state of American politics. He discusses the lack of meaningful factual debate between the two political parties. Instead, Democrats and Republicans ignore the factual content of their opponents arguments and push forward their own agendas.

"I am convinced that whenever we exaggerate or demonize, oversimplify or overstate our case, we lose. Whenever we dumb down the political debate, we lose. For it's precisely the pursuit of ideological purity, the rigid orthodoxy and the sheer predictability of our current political debate, that keeps us from finding new ways to meet the challenges we face as a country. It's what keeps us locked in "either/or" thinking: the notion that we can only have big government or no government; the assumption that we must either tolerate forty-six million without health insurance or embrace "socialized medicine." (BARACK OBAMA, The Audacity of Hope)

He talks very openly about his opinion on Democratic and Republican politics. He does not withold blame from his own party, but definitely lays significant blame to the Republican blame, which is in part to the fact that the presiding President is in his second term representing the Republican party and in several years gone past, the House was a Republican majority. But enough about politics, Barack has quite an interesting vision of America.

His ideology appeals to a logical conclusion that we can not simply rely on the open-market to cure all the ailments of America. He states that America is "...based on the simple idea that we have a stake in one another, and that what
binds us together is greater than what drives us apart, and that if enough
people believe in the truth of that proposition and act on it, then we might not
solve every problem, but we can get something meaningful done." (BARACK OBAMA, The Audacity of Hope) I think this is part of the reason why I am here. I feel a sense of obligation to help people I may never see or know, but yet, their struggle is - at least partly - mine as well.

There is one other area that I wanted to highlight from the book. The American Dream is the belief that anyone who goes to the USA empowered with discipline, tenacity, and a willingness to assimilate to the American culture, can succeed in building a life which can benefit their children. They do not have to be priviledge to royal bloodlines, bribe corrupt government officials, or degrade themselves in acts of indignity. America is the land of opportunities.

The possibility that I could have been born from parents in some far off place like Maputo, Mozambique where quality health care and education are a luxury absolutely terrifies me. What makes me so lucky and priviledged to grow up in a country like Canada where I enjoy the freedom to do nothing at all and still be guaranteed service at the hospital. Before I digress into a rant on the spoiled and ungrateful let me stop myself.

Anyway, the book was great. Barack is without a doubt a verbose lawyer and eloquent speaker. He embodies the face of the new emerging America. If elected as President, I feel he could help salvage the image of America imprinted on the rest of the world.