Log In | Register
Senators McCain and Obama sat down - separately - last night at Columbia University in New York for a conversation on "service."
I won't focus here on any political differences presented last night (the event was largely meant to be non-partisan, hosted on the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks). But I did want to continue the discussion on service here with you.
I had the opportunity to watch last night's Service Nation forum hosted by Columbia University...at Columbia University.
From security (there was a lot) to student support (Columbia students filled the courtyard in the middle of their New York Campus) Columbia proved to be an excellent host. I arrived at around 5pm to find a large portable jumbotron screen in the center of the large courtyard. Various student groups gave speeches on how to get involved with service activities on campus.
It began to grow dark outside, and finally, it was 8pm, and time for the candidates to each get their separate opportunity to speak on the topic of service with the moderators. McCain went first, Obama for an hour after that, and it became very clear who the Columbia students that showed up were largely for. The Senator from Arizona recieved very little reaction at all - a few chuckles (and not the good kind).
Although personally, I thought his falling asleep in the middle of the conversation joke was hilarious - and gave insight into his level of comfortability with the way things are going in the campaign right now.
But when the Senator from Illinois took the stage, it was clear that he had what he him self called "the home court advantage. Obama attended Columbia "back in the day," and the enthusiastic response among the students was strong. Literally, it sounded like all but seven people where there to see Obama.
Alright. So now we can get back to the heart of the matter: service. Students talked about it for hours before the forum. Each of the candidates had an hour to discuss it. But it occured to me that service is obviously one of those things that fall under the category, "you can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk." In other words, more show and less tell.
Wouldn't it have been better to have the two candidates show up with all of their staffers and do service, rather than just talk about it?
Now, the irony here - and I'm very aware of it - is that me sitting here writing this column is just more of the same hypocrisy. Instead of blogging about "how can we get more people to do service for our country," I should probably be out tutoring.
Please do one or more of the following on the discussion boards below:
- Provide a link to an existing website where American citizens can get involved right now in service for their country. (Or vote up your favorite organizations that have already been posted by someone else.)
- Talk about a time or way in which you have done service for our country.
- Propose an idea for a service plan for our country. (Again...also vote up the best ideas that you see on the boards below.)
