Obama: “I am asking you to change history’s course.”
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:25 pm | posted by Betsy AvilaYesterday, Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama promoted national service at home and abroad in an effort to renew American diplomacy, asking individual citizens to stand up and “change history’s course.”
He addressed an audience at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs:
“I am running for President, right now, because of what Dr. King called the fierce urgency of now…Our country faces determined enemies abroad, and definitive challenges at home. But I have no doubt that in the face of these odds, people who love their country can change it. That is why I am running for President. That is why I’m determined to reach out - not just to Democrats, but to Independents and Republicans who want to move in a new direction. And that is why I won’t just ask for your vote as a candidate - I will ask for your service and your active citizenship when I am President of the United States.”
His plan on voluntary public service, according to the campaign website, includes, among other things:
- Expanding Americorps from 75,000 to 250,000 and Peace Corps to 16,000 slots.
- Extending opportunities for professionals and senior citizens to serve overseas.
- A $4000 American Opportunity Tax credit for college students who volunteer 100 hours of community service.
- Creating an agency within the Corporation for National and Community Service to promote the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations.
The senator noted:
“This will not be a call issued in one speech or one program - this will be a central cause of my presidency.”
-Betsy Avila
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
thanx Betsy, that is great to read. i’d really like to see that Americorps and Peace Corps expansion come to pass. of course, as awesome as these points sound here, this is likened to writing checks. we still need to work with legislature to see these potential items come to pass.
an agency to promote the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations. i’ll be curious to see where he would go with this. it could work for or against us in grassroots lobbying, i’m thinking.
national service is a noble way to go. i’m glad he’s thinking along these lines.
staying close,
sammi in seattle =)
July 5th, 2008 at 2:21 am
i’m constantly impressed and inspired by obama’s message of national service and his call for participation by all of us. a great direction to be taking the country.
good post, betsy.
July 5th, 2008 at 2:48 am
that’s great, I was thinking about joining the Peace corps.
I’m not sure about it, though
July 6th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Daniel please go for that thought. In the early seventies I wanted to do that. There was no vocalization about the opportunity where I lived so I let it go as if I had no choice. Currently the situation is different. You are aware and smart enough to see what options you have. I hope you go for the one the you won’t be thinking about thirty years from for not taking. I’ve got alot on my plate at the moment but maybe I can still do it too!
July 8th, 2008 at 10:34 am
I love the direction that this campaign is going! I am seriously considering joining americorps after college and this is an even bigger motivation for young people to do the same.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I think expanding the Peace Corps and the AmeriCorps are great ideas, ones that need to happen. I also think that just taking diplomacy into our own hands is an excellent way to begin mending our international image. It is not hard, but if people can demonstrate through diplomacy a positive image of America, then we have a much greater chance of changing history’s course.