Name That Source: Democratic Convention 2008
This, from the Summer of '08:
He talked about “The world as it is” and “The world as it should be.” And he said that all too often, we accept the distance between the two, and settle for the world as it is – even when it doesn’t reflect our values and aspirations. But he reminded us that we know what our world should look like. We know what fairness and justice and opportunity look like.Hint: It's an American politician, speaking of another American politician.
So — what do fairness and justice and opportunity look like? Do we all agree on that? Really? Is it worthwhile to break these things down and discuss them, a concept at a time?
Do you think "the other side" is ignorant of what fairness and justice and opportunity look like? Are they trying to deny Americans these things on purpose?
What does fairness look like? Fairness of what? Do we define fairness? Is it like the "that's not fair!" cry of a schoolyard kid, which more often than not means, "I didn't get what I wanted" ?
What is justice? Do you want it? Really? Even for yourself? Are you willing to live under the law you prescribe for everyone else?
"Opportunity" — to do what? Try? Succeed? Fail? Is failure an option?
People who work the day shift, kiss their kids goodnight, and head
out for the night shift — without disappointment, without regret — that
goodnight kiss a reminder of everything they’re working for.
The
military families who say grace each night with an empty seat at the
table. The servicemen and women who love this country so much, they
leave those they love most to defend it.
The young [?] people
across America serving our communities — teaching children, cleaning up
neighborhoods, caring for the least among us each and every day.
People like Joe Biden...
All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do — that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.
Erm — people like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden? I'm just sayin'. Do Senators ever get outside of their own circle?
***
And there's that "world as it should be" thing again. I suppose as long as we don't actually sit down and hash out what we all think the "world as it should be" should be, we can all agree to do anything to achieve it.
Can we start by saying that the "world as it should be" should be one where "opportunity" to improve one's lot be available to all — although the word "opportunity" seems to imply that improvement is not guaranteed but is something for which to strive?
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