When Barack Obama was caught plagiarizing a speech delivered by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, he was heavily criticised by many people. The funny thing is that the potency of Patrick's speech were the words of others--great men before him--FDR, MLK, JFK. The inspiration was several degrees removed from the source.
With such distance between true greatness and our current political options, its very hard to give either Barack or Patrick credit for being truly great, eloquent speakers.
The famous words in questions:
"I hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal"
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
These words didn't come from law professors who advanced easily because of Affirmative Action and a buoyant personality. The words didn't emanate from the mouth of a Governor who lavishly spends on his Governor's Office decorations and transportation while his Commonwealth goes down the gutter. These words came from GREAT MEN who overcame tremendous obstacles.
FDR was physically handicapped and governed during one of the most difficult periods in American history. World War II.
Martin Luther King fought to secure the rights of Black people everywhere and in a sense, helped every minority group in the process. He was constantly threatened and in the end, he was killed for standing up for truth and righteousness.
The stories of Barack Obama and Deval Patrick bear no resemblance to these fine stories of great men.
It should be no wonder that Obama and Patrick might try using the words of other great men, but will always come up short with their actions and accomplishments.
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