Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/01/29/lah.japan.obama.speeches.cnn

CNN has been itching for feel-good stories about Obama. I don't disagree with the story, but I can't help but vomit at how in love CNN is with this guy. I like him too, but it's kind of obvious how much the media loves one side of the political spectrum and hates the other (been that way for decades).

Countdown to the Kennedy/Camelot references. They always seem to dig those out at times like these.

[michaelambling]

[makemischief]

[Mdvl_lady50]

I didn't even know who President Obama was before I moved back to the States in late 2007. I was in the backwaters of England close to the Welsh border running a pub and trying to disengage myself from a soon to be ex-husband. I came back, and while kissing the ground as I got off the plane, kind of heard about this guy. Didn't think too much about him until I went up to San Francsicso to visit my daughters. One of them bought me as an extra "Tootsie" present for Xmas (Toots is my cat that has been with me through thick and thin all over this universe), "The Audacity of Hope." With the Xmas festivities, I just kind of set it aside, as we chowed down on San Francisco fare of clam chowder, turkey, dressing, cranberries, and probably a little too much Napa wine.

It was ironically enough during the Iowa Primary in January of 2008, I was holed up in a hotel room in Laughlin reading the then senator's book. Not only was I reading excellent writing, but I got to see on CNN or FOX him speak during his acceptance speech. He can certainly string a sentence together in the written or oral fashion. I hate to pick on George W. -- but he was just lame in both departments. I also dislike his politics -- but I also disliked Reagan's -- but late President Reagan knew how to resonate in his better years.

In a totally non-political moment in his book, Obama is already to fly home to Chicago which he did apparently weekly in that his wife did not want to displace the family from Chicago. That being said, she had a very good paying job that fed the family as well, as he was a "lowly" senator. He calls his wife, and she says, "We have ants." He was kind of gearing up to tell her what went on the Senate floor that week. She just reiterated, "We have ants. On your way home after the flight, stop off at the hardware store and pick up ant spray." He then went on to speculate that somehow he didn't think Senatory Kennedy got those kinds of phone calls. It was a good read, and the man can not only write but is an excellent orator.

I think he's incredibly inspirational. We'll see how long the honeymoon lasts.

[cedarseoul]

I use his speeches as material for my upper-level classes...not because I'm trying to push a particular political agenda (in Korea, of all places), but because - as others have noted - they have significant literary value. And my students are uniformly enthusiastic about Obama; ironic, given his position on the FTA.

[D.D.]

He uses the word " got" instead of " have" all of the time.

[it's full of stars]

Does he ever use "have got"?

[Tiger Beer]

[yeremy]

I found one of President Obama's speeches from a graduation in 2005 where he received an honorary degree. It is a witty and poignant speech from a very intelligent politician.

The Masterful Speeches of the Great Leaders, Bansok Publishers, 5,000 won. ISBN 978-89-7172-524-5 (13740)

Here's the first paragraph as a teaser.

Good morning President Taylor, Board of Trustees, faculty, parents, family, friends, the community of Galesburg, the class of 1955--which I understand was out partying last night, and yet still showed up here on time--and most of all, the Class of 2005. Congratulations on your graduation, and thank you--thank you for the honor of allowing me to be a part of it. Thank you also, Mr. President, for this honorary degree. It was only a couple of years ago that I stopped paying my student loans in law school. Had I known it was this easy, I would have run for the United States Senate earlier.

It's a great speech. Good luck in finding it.

[greedy_bones]

I think this, http://www.jossip.com/occasions-for-barack-to-use-his-bad-boy-voice-20090206/ would also be entertaining to use in a lesson.

Warning: Audio Not Safe For Work

[DC in Suwon]

Obama took the "Yes We Can" phrase from the hispanics and illegal immigrants in the U.S. during the whole debate a few years back. They repeatedly said "Si se puede."

[branchsnapper]

Obama is a great speaker, but effective political speakers don't usually really say much. I just hope they aren't reading the speeches in order to discover actual concrete plans for US political policy in the future. (The current big idea seems to involve endlessly printing a lot of cash.)

It's good I suppose, but it is sort of ironic that Koreans love Obama so much. When an African-Korean becomes head of Korea I guess the speeches made then (the year 2509?) will be interesting as well.

[DC in Suwon]

I believe there's an Asian city named Obama.

Yep, just googled:
"Obama is a city located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan."

I thought lots of Koreans hated Japanese (I haven't gotten to Korea yet)?