THE OBAMA-EFFECT.
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Posted By: Marta Fernandez on November 19, 2008 Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy Stunning Break with Last Eight Years In the first two weeks since the election, President-elect Barack Obama has broken with a tradition established over the past eight years through his controversial use of complete sentences, political observers say. Millions of Americans who watched Mr. Obama's appearance on CBS' "Sixty Minutes" on Sunday witnessed the president-elect's unorthodox verbal tick, which had Mr. Obama employing grammatically correct sentences virtually every time he opened his mouth. But Mr. Obama's decision to use complete sentences in his public pronouncements carries with it certain risks, since after the last eight years many Americans may find his odd speaking style jarring. According to presidential historian Davis Logsdon of the University of Minnesota, some Americans might find it "alienating" to have a President who speaks English as if it were his first language. "Every time Obama opens his mouth, his subjects and verbs are in agreement," says Mr. Logsdon. "If he keeps it up, he is running the risk of sounding like an elitist." The historian said that if Mr. Obama insists on using complete sentences in his speeches, the public may find itself saying, "Okay, subject, predicate, subject predicate - we get it, stop showing off." The President-elect's stubborn insistence on using complete sentences has already attracted a rebuke from one of his harshest critics, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. "Talking with complete sentences there and also too talking in a way that ordinary Americans like Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder can't really do there, I think needing to do that isn't tapping into what Americans are needing also," she said. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wiley Brown's Letter to the Editor Recently, a white friend of mine invited me, a black man with shoulder-length locks, to a Sunday Los Angeles Philharmonic concert. We decided to meet for lunch beforehand. As we were leaving, my friend overheard a white boy of about 4 or 5 years old say, "Look mommy, there goes Barack Obama!" I think it is probably safe to say that that was the first time in American history that a black man with locks was mistaken for the president-elect of the United States of America. For black men, a redefining moment? I would answer yes -- for one black man and one little white boy. Wiley J. Brown Marina del Rey --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Editor: In response to your article on whether Barack Obama will have an effect on how people view black men, my friend Wiley Brown has written to you of his experience being mistaken for Barack Obama, despite his obvious physical differences other than his being a black male. As I told him when pointing out what the young white boy said, “You see: You have to represent.” Wiley has, for a long time, represented more than just himself. We met when he taught a grant-writing workshop for teachers at my school. He introduced me to grant-writing, and I introduced him Obama’s Audacity of Hope. Half a year later, I introduced him to the campaign. We drove together to Las Vegas along with a student from East Los Angeles College, Miguel Haro, who had asked for a ride to help reach out to voters for the Nevada Caucus: Black, white, and brown, forming a friendship around a campaign. Wiley and I stayed with my cousin, Shannon, who deals blackjack at one of the clubs. That day, we all met Barack. And that night, Shannon confessed that, though she had many African-American friends at work, Wiley was the first black man ever to cross her threshold. We all crossed some thresholds that day. And what the little boy showed in seeing Obama in Wiley is that we all represent. We all can raise each other up by having a high regard for each other. Yes, Barack represents black males. But, it is more important that black males represent him. And, of even greater importance is that we who worked for this change know that, as Americans, we all represent each other. That's what makes Obama's election a truly redefining moment. Best regards, Gregg Heacock my note: Obama is not the only BLACK man who is eloquent..but he is there to represent. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Marta Fernandez
From Queens, NY CUNY -Queens College class of 1985 Member Since July 2008 |
Comments
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Amazing..so all of us and there are many on this network who speak English gramatically correct are now "elitist" lol, what is wrong with this country??
Wednesday, November 19th 2008 at 2:01PM |
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I believe that Gov. Palin's statement should be regarded by Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder as both demeaning and insulting. She has the nerve to insinuate that these two gentlemen, used unsuccessfully by the Republican Party to illicit the votes of the 'ordinary' people, are somehow educationally lacking and are unable to apply the basic rules of grammar when speaking. With regard to the elitists, the people that vote for the Republican Party are primarily rich and White, especially in the 'poor states'. The above comment from her only demonstrates that SHE is the one lacking those basic skills. Does the term 'run on sentence' mean anything to you? Well, maybe I shouldn't use that term since there isn't a complete coherent thought anywhere in her statement. But the thing that baffles me the most is that many members of the Republican Party SERIOUSLY feel that Caribou Barbie should run for President of the United States in the 2012 election. This woman, who has already hinted that she wants to be a Senator for Alaska, has demonstrated on more than one occasion that she has a 'Space For Rent' sign between her ears and lacks the sense that God gave a brick. But, I digress. I don't know what 'ordinary' people they are speaking of when they say that these people have the inability to speak in complete sentences since the people that I talk to on a daily basis consistently use complete sentences. She MUST be talking about herself. Let's face it, George W. was a 'C' student, so the chances of him speaking in complete sentences are fifty-fifty at best. Remember, we had eight years of this lying, devious, back-stabbing and self-serving man, not the usual four. But, the one good thing that can be said is that now, since all Black men look like the President, it will be noted that we will all be perceived as eloquent and intelligent simply from speaking in complete sentences. There goes another stereotype down the drain. (music in the background) Well we're moving on up! Wednesday, November 19th 2008 at 5:25PM |
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George..you are one of the few that crack me up when I am alone in front of my computer. "Rent space between her ears?" hahahaha!! You make my day!! Thank you!! (still laughing)
Wednesday, November 19th 2008 at 5:34PM |
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