"I Have A Meme": From Katrina and Septembereleventh to Mustard and Relish [View All]

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At the 2004 Democratic convention, Obama showed the nation that he was a smooth communicator, relaxed and basic in his message and delivery. To a nation drowning in spin and truthiness, his refreshing clarity caused a stir. More amazing than the speech was the reaction to it. Barack basically repeated and rephrased one concept: We're. All. In. This. Together.

The excited and relieved audience hadn't heard that in a while. They'd even forgotten we used to say it about ourselves as a nation, not that long ago.

Barack has the calm, focused delivery of an attorney making a final argument. He speaks in simple terms, singsong cadence, a storyteller's tone, as if the jury box is filled with very bright 5 year olds. The language is colorful, memorable: hope and change, Kenya and Kansas, blue states, red states, mustard and relish sandwiches.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama gave a speech to answer critics of his association with a preacher of inflammatory rhetoric. He used his soothing storytime talents to dazzle the Bush-fatigued American people yet again. He calmed us down and tucked us in with visions of the hope for the change of the possibility of the potential for a national discussion about race in America.

Instead of "I Have A Dream," it was a repeat of "I Have A Meme." We're All In This Together. Obama wove his magical web of words and sailed away from the pastor's fiery message.

We're all in this together. Let's hope for a change in the national discussion, hope for an honest acknowledgment of our different experiences and our common cause. The amazement that Obama's speeches inspire show how far we have fallen from the track of progress traveled by those heroes Barack is often compared to. He's not necessarily a trailblazer. It's enough that he's pointing at the road sign. And the people are astonished.

"Oh. Yeah. There's a road!!! Let's get out of this mucky ditch and start getting somewhere. Together!!"

And when we do, let's hope for a change in our ability to look honestly at the crimes, hypocrisy and genocide that Obama's passionate pastor dared to mention.