Video 2 Response

This was a great speech from Oprah. I like the format that she uses stories of experience to create life's lessons and values. It almost is like back to the basics. If more people practiced the lessons here the world may be a better place. I think it was great she wished all the moms a happy mothers day and spoke about her godson as it personalized the speech for the event. I think that it is invaluable that she is still learning after doing the show for more than 25 years. It speaks about her as a person that she has learned her lessons from work. I was so touched by the prisoners story and how they trained the dogs to help veterans coming back from Iraq. This hits home for me as my hubby was an Airborne Ranger who has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The soldiers go through so much while they are there. Animals are so wonderful to have around and they are such a therapeutic tool. I think this experience has nothing but positive experiences for the prisoners and the veterans. It is important to give back and I don't think enough of that is done. We get caught up in our own worlds and forget to make someone else's day a bit better. I like the phrase she used that said " the best way to enrich our lives is to contribute to someone elses'." I also really liked the line what good are you to anyone if you are miserable. She hit it dead on when she spoke of " at some point in our lives something will eat at us inside" we all experience things that are agonizing and you either dwell on it or move on. Oprah was right about being responsible for the happiness of yourself and the responsibility of the energy you carry with you. It is amazing how people pick up on it and it can effect them. I think her words "you never know what kindness you offer today to someone, how it may live with them forever." this line is so true and unfortunately it goes with the good and the bad. I agree with her philosophy that you have to give to someone else, weather its a word, an act, or even a simple gesture. It could be the thing they needed to hear. Again I thing that if we imply more integrity, humility, compassion, and courage the world would be a far better place if we all do our part. However my absolute favorite part was in her closing that you have to trust your gut! I can not agree more!

Video 1 Response

I am not very well versed in the political sphere of things. I don't keep up on the speeches so this was a first for me to sit down and watch President Obama speak. He seems very fluid in his speeches. I like how he mentions the history in Cairo right off the bat. I like how he sort of put it out there that all Islam and Muslims are not like the extremists that are causing a lot of the issues and were behind 9/11. I support his view to move forward in relations with all of the different people of the world. I like that he is saying that we should base this on mutual respect and that as long as we base our relationships on our differences there will be a lack of truly common ground. I think it is good that Obama addressed the changes will not happen overnight and that "no one speech will change things" There was a phrase that seemed to keep popping up and it was along the lines of speaking from the heart. Obama wants to speak the truth. I was not aware that Muslims/Islam had such long and important history in America. We got some great things from this culture some that were touched on were Navigation tools, pens, printing, Calligraphy.They have demonstrated in the past religious tolerance and racial equality which are important pieces. Another important piece was that Obama mentioned that this was 2 sided and they would have to let go of some of the stereotypes as we will have to let go of some as well. I think that it was important to throw that out there as I see that it helps ease some of the blame that we hear being out there. I found it interesting that Muslims have higher income and education levels than the average American. I did not know that there is a Mosque in every union and that there were people who went to battle for them in America so the women could wear the face veils. I thought it was great that he mentioned that common humanities needs could be met by acts not by just words. All nations are intertwined regarding financial, terrorist acts, prosperity. I did not really think that it was that interdependent. We can not be prisoners of the past- this is huge! It is so true, as long as we hold onto the past things we can not move forward. We have to confront the sources of the tensions which are the following: Violent extremism. It is great he came out and said America is not at war with Islam but we will confront the terrorists. Al Quida is still talking about killing in mass numbers so it is a concern. Holy Quran says Who kills innocent is like killing all of mankind. This is a great philosophy and it has a point for all those who have innocently died what did they do? Nothing. Second was the Israelis, Palestinians, & Ham mas what Obama said boils down to two things about all of them they are all religions who have been persecuted for centuries and are trying to find home states as well as the neighbors are not going away. They need to quit with the violence and learn to live and let live. They also need to abandon the violence that they bring onto one another. They cannot impose peace but the Arab States were on to something with the peace initiative. Third was the Rights and responsibilities of Nuclear Weapons- No country should have nuclear weapons. All Nuclear access should be peaceable. America wants to move forward with relationship with Iran. Acknowledges its rough history but wants to set it aside and get past it. Fourth was democracy. Huge conflicts over democracy due to the war. Governments should reflect the will of all people. Obama states very clearly that America does not know what is best for all the people nor do we want to influence results of peaceful election. I think it is wonderful he shares pieces of American tradition and Constitution when he states that people want the freedom of speech and have a say in how they 're governed. It is important that the government does not steal from its people. Fifth was Religious freedom again he brings up Muslims religious tolerance and how we need the tolerance in today's world. he brought up Dialogue and that it can be used as interfaith service which is very true. It can bridge major gaps if given the chance. Sixth was women's rights which is so important. Obama believes women who are denied education are denied equality. He says daughters can contribute as much as sons. Amen to that! Lastly he touched on economic development. he said trade can be a disruption for communities. Also modernism can make people feel like they are loosing control. Human progress will continue regardless of anything. He said that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century and they are working on making more opportunities to back that up. He finished by stating that in all religions they have some form of the timeless rule do onto others as you want done to you. Also that it is easier to start wars than to end them, blame others instead of taking responsibility and see differences instead of similarities. It was all in all a great speech and I learned so much being as I am fairly ignorant to most political things. I enjoyed this one and its teachings.