Essay #2 Revision
This is the image I have chosen to write about. I have chosen to write in a very unique way in this writing. I chose to write a letter to Barack Obama, but as if I have known him for quite some time. Of course this is fictitious, but I think it adds more personal depth to the writing than just writing a letter stating how you feel about him becoming president. I hope to be able to have my audience feel that I have a personal connection with Mr. Obama. My intended audience is my classmates, and my instructor.
Dear Barack,
It’s been a long time since we have talked with each other. I know you have been busy with campaigning for your election. I want to congratulate you on becoming the next president of the United States. I believed that one day you would be the change that the people of the United States wanted. I am glad to be able to write this letter to you knowing that the day has finally arrived, where I, along with many others can finally feel somewhat relaxed; if only for a brief moment.
I wanted to write this letter to tell my feelings about you becoming the next president of the United States. I know I may not see you for quite some time, so I hope that this letter reaches you. I know that you don’t exaggerate anything, but I don’t think you realize just how much of an impact you have made on my life. I hope that by the end of this letter you will have even more inspiration to do your best as my next president of the United States.
Barack, you represent much more than just the next president of our nation. You represent hope, peace, morale, and ethics of the United States. You were chosen to lead this country not by only politics, or by the color of your skin, or by what political affiliation you belong to. You were chosen to lead the United States because you believe that the people of the United States can bring change to this country. You believe that everyone should be able to live a life where they don’t have to worry each and every day of how they are going to have enough money to pay for their bills, or how is it going to be possible to heat their homes, let alone how to be able to keep up with the mortgage payments to keep their homes. You believe that everyone deserves a chance to live a decent life. You believe that to live a life, you shouldn’t have to pay to have that chance.
I have known you for a long time. I remember when I met you in Illinois; we worked alongside each other earning just enough money to be able to get by. I remember when you left, and how shortly after that, the factories in town were shut down. I remember every time I would want to give up hope on “the American dream”, you would write back to me simply saying “There will be change.” To be honest Barack, I started to doubt your words after a while. It wasn’t until I heard your speech on election night that I realized change isn’t coming; change has happened.
You have said many times “In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it.” I believe that you are the one to lead the change. You aren’t like many of the former presidents this country has had. You started out as just a regular, hard-working citizen, just like I am. You weren’t playing politics, and you weren’t feeding lies to the public. Your words gave me something to believe in again. Your speeches gave me hope in our country once again. In your election night speech, you said: “The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year, or even in one (presidential) term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am at this moment, that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there!” (Obama, Barack)
Barack, I see myself in you. You understand that government should work for the people, not against them. You are trying to help people others have abandoned. Your actions relate to G. K. Chesterton’s quote; one that I try to live by. He said “To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.” Barack, you have the power, and the will to change this country. You have the chance to change the foreign opinion on the United States. I believe that you can accomplish these goals, and I know that you are determined to. When I look at you, I see a great leader. I see an amazing work ethic, and an ambitious spirit. When I look at you Barack, I see a better United States of America.
We all have a long road ahead of us. You have given me the hope that I need continue to work hard. You said it perfectly during your election speech:
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: yes we can. (Obama, Barack)
That speech was such an inspiration. You have broken many barriers that were thought to have never been broken. You are the first black president of the United States. You have taken away any thought that America will remain a racist country. You realize that you have broken this “color barrier”, but yet you refuse to let that be what defines you as a person. You want to be remembered for not only becoming the first black president, but being one of the greatest presidents that ever served our nation. You want to be remembered for the man who lead a country that for so long was told “you can’t”, and have us be a country that can. I know with your devotion, and dedication, and the help of others, we can achieve that goal.
Barack, I know you have a lot of work ahead of you. Never forget that I am here to help, and talk with you. I hope to be able to hear from you again, with the same never-fading spirit that you have always had. I wish you the best, and hope that at the end of the day, we all feel a little bit closer to our goal. Personally, that goal is to bring unity, back into the United States.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey R. Veach
Works Cited
Obama, Barack. “Barack Obama’s Election Speech.” Obama Speeches. 04 Nov 2008. 2 Feb 2009 <http://obamaspeeches.com/E11-Barack-Obama-Election-Night-Victory-Speech-Grant-Park-Illinois-November-4-2008.htm>.
Obama, Barack. “Barack Obama’s Inauguration Speech.” Obama Speeches. 04 Nov 2008. 2 Feb 2009 <http://obamaspeeches.com/E11-Barack-Obama-Election-Night-Victory-Speech-Grant-Park-Illinois-November-4-2008.htm>.
Chesterton, Gilbert K. “G.K. Chesterton quotes.” Thinkexist.com. 18 Sep 2000. Thinkexist. 25 Feb 2009 http://thinkexist.com/quotation/to_love_means_loving_the_unlovable-to_forgive/257857.html.
Post Writing Statement
I feel that I have succeeded in staying within my writing genre. The writing was a unique experience, because I had to think as if I was his personal friend. It gave a lot of more thought, and personalization to the writing. The hardest part of this writing was making the letter be on a more personal level, on someone that I really don’t have a personal level with. The other hard part about writing in this genre is citing sources. I just tried to use quotes from Obama himself, along with an inspirational thought, being as the letter is to be a reminder to Obama to keep moving forward. This is by far the toughest writing I’ve ever dealt with, but I feel that I did a satisfactory job.
