Thursday, February 12, 2009

The Abraham Lincoln Analogy

President Lincoln's 200Th birthday was celebrated today, February 12, around the country. President Obama spoke about Lincoln at the Capital Rotunda. President Obama is a great admirer of President Lincoln and his work done as our 16Th president. He said he felt a gratitude toward Lincoln in making his own story possible. President Obama began his presidential campaign, two years ago, at Lincoln's home in Springfield, Illinois on Lincoln's birthday. Obama even had the same inaugural lunch served at his luncheon as Lincoln did served on china replica of what Mary Todd Lincoln picked out.

Many people wonder if Obama is trying too hard to keep Lincoln (and his beliefs) to close at hand. Harold Holzer, a Lincoln scholar and co-chairman of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, made the comment that Obama believes he is going to finish Lincoln's unfinished work. Lincoln is remembered for freeing some slaves and this may have been good for Obama to be accepted as a black candidate for president. Obama's message to our country has been, "one nation, one people," which he quoted during a speech at Ford's Theatre about Lincoln, that "he had an unyielding belief that were at heart, one nation, one people."

Some argue our financial crisis cannot be compared to the bloody battle Lincoln was faced with during his presidency, that Obama cannot be successful at mending it. Ross Baker, a political scientist, says "if you portray a Lincoln-esque style your actions should accompany it". He says, "as bad as the financial crisis, it's not the succession of half the union."

I think it's wonderful for people to have role models they admire and look up to, including our president. i really don't see why the media has such a time with making President Obama's admiration for Lincoln a big deal. President Lincoln was a great president and for President Obama wanting to mimic some of his strategies, well I think it says a lot for him.

www.newyorktimes.com

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Obama signs Equal Pay Legislation

On Thursday January 29, 2009 President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This law was named for Ms. Ledbetter, an Alabama resident who at the end of a nineteen year career at a tire factory found out she had been paid less than her men colleagues. President Obama said we are upholding one of our countries principles that we are created equal and should have our own chance at achieving our happiness by signing this bill, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/us/politics/30ledbetter-web.html.

When Ms. Ledbetter was entering her retirement after nineteen years she found out her male colleagues were being paid more than her. A jury found her employer, Good Year Tire and Rubber Company, guilty of pay discrimination but the Supreme Court threw the case out saying she should have filed within 180 days of her last pay when she found out she was being paid less. Ms. Ledbetter will never be repaid what she is owed from Good Year but she has conquered victory for all the women in the U.S. today who are being under paid for the same labor put in as men.

This just shows how far our country has come in regards to women's rights. Compared to other countries the U.S. is a great democracy in that women have the right to stand before their bosses, a judge, even the president for that matter, and speak her voice and not stand for injustices. The guilty verdict for Good Year shows that there are companies out there that have a respected name but you don't know for sure what goes on inside the closed office doors. Everyone needs to keep their eyes and ears open and stand their ground when they think they are being treated unfairly in the workplace.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

President Barack Obama's Inauguration Speech

http://www.alternet.org/

President Barack Obama spoke to America his promising words on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. He Spoke on the crisis America is facing in this day and time and the hardships we are all enduring in some fashion. Some of the struggles he focused on were, health care costs, failing schools, jobs and homes lossed. He explained that changes are in the making but for us to not expect them in a short period of time. He also said they would not be easily made but that they will be met. He let America know that although we are in a crisis era we are a strong nation, not only because of the strengths of our countries founders but because we are a hard working society and with the help of all our nation will prevail.

This article is of utmost importance, not only because it's an inauguration speech, but because it's our countries new president's words, words we all depend upon. Also, this speech will be a historical event that will never be forgotten being that President Obama is the United States first African-American president. President Obama's words are not to be taken lightly but to base the next four years, possibly eight, on. Our nation is in need of hope and change. We need to hear encouraging words from our new commander in chief.

Yes, we live in a healthy representative democracy. We, as all Americans, should relish in the fact that we all have a voice and can make that voice be heard. Although what we believe may be different from the next person, our opinions can be voiced. Our country just swore in the first African-American president without any hesitation. This was a history making event and one that will never be forgotten. We have the right to freedom of speech and freedom to vote, both men and women, which has to be two of the most important rights we have as Americans. All Americans should be estatic we live in this great nation!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Hi. My name is Meg C. Cole. I work as secretary for Special Education/Exceptional Children at McNabb Middle School. I am working on my bachelors in Social Work.