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Blog: Hidama
 
 
 
   
 
Hidam­a
Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.

Just a blog to keep people in touch with Coe College that is hosting the MTV/Myspace event with Obama.
 
 
 
 
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MTV/Myspace Dialogue with Obama
Posted October 29, 2007 at 10:07 PM

Barack Obama gave an honest and illuminating dialogue at Coe College today. Students actively participated in their questions an responses to Obama’s thoughts and view points. Throughout the dialogue Obama stressed the idea that unification is the solution. Some students threw out some hard hitting questions, like Jeanice, a sophomore at Coe. Her issue is for the future of immigrants. In her question she shared the story of her family, how her father was an illegal immigrant and was deported three years ago. Still today, Jeanice’s father has not been allowed back into the United States. Jeanice is a hard working student and a community builder by being a Resident Assistant on campus. Obama lays out his plans for immigration. Obama plans to make a “pathway to legalization”: illegal immigrants will “earn their way into citizenship.” Instead of deportation, illegal immigrants will be financially penalized, and be put behind legal immigrants in the line to apply for citizenship. Obama wants to fix immigrations laws, as the USA is “a nation of laws and immigrants.” The issue of Gay rights was one of the first questions posed to Obama. Obama backs civil unions but not marriage. Here Obama introduced one of his major themes of unification, how everyone is part of the “America family.” Obama plans to teach and reach out to people about GBLT rights and promote acceptance, even in religious centers, and stop uneducated homophobia. One of the most powerful dialogues was from a question from a user on myspace about how to repair USA’s international reputation. Obama outlined some of the issues that were a buzz on the Coe Campus amongst the liberal, such as doubling foreign aid, closing Gauntanamo, reinstating the Habeas Corpus, ending the genocide in Darfur and the war in Iraq. In a question about the future of America’s military Obama urged the fact of Diplomacy and proactive aid to prevent military action, to increase aid to veterans and make a budget for those returning from duty. Of another international issue was an astute question from a Coe student about the Kurdish nation and the involvement America would have in its issues. Obama urged to stop Kurdish terrorism, asserted that the Turks have the right to stop the Kurds, and encourage Turkey and Iran to not oppress the Kurdish people. Obama’s Iraq policy is for diplomacy and the slow withdrawl of troops. All combat troops would be removed by the 16th month of his presidency while troops that protect the American Embassy and American citizens and troops to protect humanitarian organizations would stay in place, while private organizations like Black Water would be immediately removed. The policy for Iran is to renew political, diplomatic relations to reduce future conflicts. Issues such as No Child Left Behind and Global Warming were abridged with responses of America leading the way in reducing greenhouse gasses to encourage the same in China and India and the wrongs of testing and punitive measures, and encouraged early childhood and testing different for ESL students. The first question mentioned, and answered to my satisfaction was the separation of Church and State. Obama strongly believes in this separation but acknowledges his faith influences his decisions. With this came two other questions about our government. The next is about Net Nuetrality, which he answered with a resounding “yes!” much to the satisfaction of the technologically aware. The last issue was about Obama’s staff and his appointing of Supreme Court Justices. Obama first replied that his cabinet would review every order by Bush and overturn it if found unconstitutional. Secondly, Obama would appoint Justices that had empathy and would defend the people. At the end Obama expressed his concern over “puncturing the hypocrisy of politics.” He says he always thinks on where he stands, what he thinks, and values honesty. Overall the reaction online and in the audience inside and outside at the block party was overwhelmingly positive. We wish Obama luck in his campaign and look forward to seeing him on the Presidential ballot.
 
 
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