Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Much the Same as It Was
This is my comparison-and-contrast essay I turned in for English class.
Although Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama's presidencies are separated by almost three decades and their childhoods couldn't have been more different, both of their administrations have suffered from similar dilemmas.
Jimmy Carter was born in Georgia and grew up in a traditional family on a farm. From the time he was a young man, Carter wanted to attend naval academy. In 1946, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy, serving in the Navy until his resignation in '53. That same year he moved his family back to Georgia, heading up his family's peanut farm. Taking interest in politics, Carter became a state senator, and, in '70, was elected governor of GA for one term. During his governorship, he had a dream to run for president. In '76 he was nominated for president on the democrat ticket, winning the election.
Barack Obama was born in Hawaii to a white American mother and a black father from Kenya. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His mother remarried and Obama moved with his mom and step dad to Indonesia. By the time he was in 5th grade, Obama moved back to Honolulu to live with his mother's parents. Attending college he majored in political science and went on to Harvard Law School, becoming a civil rights lawyer. He later became a community organizer, a state senator in Illinois, and then a U.S. senator. In 2008 he was nominated for president on the democrat ticket. On November 4th 2008, Obama was elected as the first black president of the United States.
Carter's presidency was marred by stagflation which is high inflation coupled with high unemployment. During his presidency, unemployment was at 7.5 percent and inflation was at a whapping 12-13 percent! Like Carter, Obama has been dealing with major unemployment. Obama promised that unemployment would not exceed 10 percent if his stimulus package passed, which it did. Now, unemployment is well over 10 percent. Obama does contrast Carter in that, at the moment, inflation is relatively low.
Carter was a colorless and humorless speaker. Obama on the other hand is a motivational speaker. He learned the method of agitation- making people angry enough to do something about a certain situation. Fortunately, he lacks real humor and tends to elaborate on one subject too long.
Carter claimed to be a born-again Christian whereas nobody is quite sure what faith Obama truly follows. Obama's father was Muslim and while on an ABC interview, Obama said "my Muslim faith". While speaking in Cairo, he also referred to the Koran 4 times as the "Holy Koran". Normally, only Muslims refer to the Koran as "holy". He contradicted himself during an interview on Larry King Live saying he was not Muslim but Christian.
While Obama and Carter's presidencies have great differences but suffer some of the same flaws, we can hope that Obama will follow Carter's precedence in being a one term president.
Although Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama's presidencies are separated by almost three decades and their childhoods couldn't have been more different, both of their administrations have suffered from similar dilemmas.
Jimmy Carter was born in Georgia and grew up in a traditional family on a farm. From the time he was a young man, Carter wanted to attend naval academy. In 1946, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy, serving in the Navy until his resignation in '53. That same year he moved his family back to Georgia, heading up his family's peanut farm. Taking interest in politics, Carter became a state senator, and, in '70, was elected governor of GA for one term. During his governorship, he had a dream to run for president. In '76 he was nominated for president on the democrat ticket, winning the election.
Barack Obama was born in Hawaii to a white American mother and a black father from Kenya. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His mother remarried and Obama moved with his mom and step dad to Indonesia. By the time he was in 5th grade, Obama moved back to Honolulu to live with his mother's parents. Attending college he majored in political science and went on to Harvard Law School, becoming a civil rights lawyer. He later became a community organizer, a state senator in Illinois, and then a U.S. senator. In 2008 he was nominated for president on the democrat ticket. On November 4th 2008, Obama was elected as the first black president of the United States.
Carter's presidency was marred by stagflation which is high inflation coupled with high unemployment. During his presidency, unemployment was at 7.5 percent and inflation was at a whapping 12-13 percent! Like Carter, Obama has been dealing with major unemployment. Obama promised that unemployment would not exceed 10 percent if his stimulus package passed, which it did. Now, unemployment is well over 10 percent. Obama does contrast Carter in that, at the moment, inflation is relatively low.
Carter was a colorless and humorless speaker. Obama on the other hand is a motivational speaker. He learned the method of agitation- making people angry enough to do something about a certain situation. Fortunately, he lacks real humor and tends to elaborate on one subject too long.
Carter claimed to be a born-again Christian whereas nobody is quite sure what faith Obama truly follows. Obama's father was Muslim and while on an ABC interview, Obama said "my Muslim faith". While speaking in Cairo, he also referred to the Koran 4 times as the "Holy Koran". Normally, only Muslims refer to the Koran as "holy". He contradicted himself during an interview on Larry King Live saying he was not Muslim but Christian.
While Obama and Carter's presidencies have great differences but suffer some of the same flaws, we can hope that Obama will follow Carter's precedence in being a one term president.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
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