On a work day afternoon, 2/23/07, Barak Obamaspoke in Austin to gathering of 20,000 pluspeople. Friend Carolyn and I walked alongRiverside drive, closed to traffic, to the beatof "For the Funk of It."We found our way into the thickof the crowd, wrangling a view of the stage.I'd heard Obama at the Dem conventionin 2002, and have watched him with interest —watched the film of his visit to Kenya,grew up outside Chicago, know the roughMidwestern chill of Springfield whereLincoln said, "A nation divided cannot stand."I was curious to see Obama in person,like many, want him to vote for cutting funds forthe war now, but am encouraged thathis bill for re-deployment stipulatesno permanent military bases in Iraq.Today, in an almost conversational tone, Obamagave a speech I will in the future think ofas his Wheel of History speech.He talked about American history —the revolution, the civil war, suffrage,the labor movement, civil rights.He'd said the roots of terrorism were in Darfour, in injustice."If all of you are willing to put your shoulder to the wheelof history at this moment, then amazing things can happen."Obama has a way of talking to thousands of peopleas if he were talking to a small group, backs offrhetorical crescendo, is more intent on connectingpast to present to future, less eager to lead cheersthan tell a story about civil rights.I couldn't help realizing how completely vulnerablehe was, on a raised platform, surroundedby thousands of people, no security at the gateof a free event, we signed our names to get in,or showed email invitations.He quoted MLK --"The arc of the moral universe is long,but it bends toward justice."He talked about the Wheel of History,and the building of a movement.Give it a listen. Part two and three are the best.*Photo from the Obama website. You can watch the video here too.©Susan Bright, 2007
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