Guiding Vision

Friday Fun: Marines Like to Dance too

With thanks to Tim at Be the Change: “Have you ever wondered what a bunch of Marines doing the Cha-Cha might look like? Wonder no longer.”

Take These Words to Heart: Bono’s Prayer Breakfast Speech

Recently another blogger reminded me of one of my all-time favorite speeches, given by  my all-time favorite rock star and activist, Bono.  He is one of the most outspoken advocates for the poor and marginalized.  This speech, which can more rightly be called a sermon, cuts to the heart and soul of the matter.

The one thing, on which we can all agree, is that God is with the vulnerable and poor. God is in the slums and in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them. 6,500 Africans are still dying every day of a preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drug store. This is not about charity, this is about Justice and Equality.

~ Bono, Speech at National Prayer Breakfast February 2, 2006

The full text of the speech can be read at USA Today.

The book “One the Move” based on the speech can be read online for free, courtesy of the ONE Campaign

Or purchased from Amazon

Bono gave another major speech more recently at the California Women’s Conference on October 22nd.  In it he promotes ONE Campaign and its plan, which is, as he put it “a serious plan, supported by some of the sharpest minds in this country, and around the world.”

Here’s a clip with a few highlights:

The full speech can be seen at the ONE Website.

Quotes from Barack Obama’s Speech

One of the best speeches ever… not just words, but truth we can take to heart. Regardless of party or ideology.  At this time, of economic struggles and global challenges we need to come together, “in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.”

I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how theyll make the mortgage, or pay their doctors bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who wont agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government cant solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way its been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand….

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, its that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

~ Barack Obama, Victory Speech November 4, 2008

Full text and videos at Huffington Post

Cross Posting - Blogger Observations from Election Night

We went to an election night party last night and enjoyed seeing the results come in.   It was amazing to see all the crowds that came out, several commentators said it looked more like New Years Eve in Chicago and NYC.  Later on at home we were still glued to the TV.

As we watched the commentary after the speech I was right there with my laptop.  I had to rewind the DVR at one point and Troy looked at me with a hint of an accusation in his voice saying, “you’re blogging aren’t you?”  Yes, of course!

Election Night Blogging - Let Congress and President Obama know…

It’s We, Not Me - For President Elect Obama; For Your Fundraising Letters