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The Death of Osama bin Laden Speech 05/08/2011
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The speech concerning the death of Osama bin Laden, given by Barack Obama, will be a speech that will never be forgotten. It is a speech that will be linked with the 9/11 speech given by President Bush. I have looked at Obama's speech and I have analyzed the speech as best as I could. In the end, I divided the speech into 23 paragraphs, or sections. Each section is unique from the others.

Obama started his speech with an introduction that briefly told the American people that Osama bin Laden had been killed. The introduction also gave a brief description of who Osama bin Laden was. He was "the leader of al-Qaeda and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of INNOCENT men, women, and children." I capitalized innocent because I believe Obama was communicating that Osama was the murder and we were the innocent victims. 

Then Obama gave a description of what happened during 9/11. He describes that day as "a BRIGHT September day [that] was DARKENED by the WORST attacks on the American people in our history." Notice the adjectives "bright," "darkened," and "worst." These epithets suggest that the day of 9/11 was a peaceful, joyful (bright) day that was turned into frightening, horrible (darkened) day. Obama also considers 9/11 to be the "worst attack on the American people." This made me think about the Pearl Harbor attack. What's Pearl Harbor considered the worst attack? If you think about it, the Pearl Harbor attack and the 9/11 attack both brought America into a war. The Pearl Harbor attack brought us into WW2 and the 9/11 attack brought us into the War on Terror. 

After giving the description about 9/11, Obama began talking about the negative effects of the attack. He told us that seats were left empty at dinner tables, children "were forced to grow up without their mother or their father," and parents "would never know the feeling of their child's embrace."  

The fourth section talks about the positive effects of the attack, I consider this section to be one of the strongest sections because I believe this is the one of the main focuses of the speech. Obama said that 9/11 brought the American people together. He said, "We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community and country." To me, this sounds like we were one nation and one people in that moment. It sounds like we have one focus and one concern. It sounds like we cared for each other, like a family. The next quote is the one quote that stands out the most to me. This quotes states, "On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family." To me, this quote sums up the purpose of the preamble of Constitution. 9/11 was a day of tragedy, but it was a day when we were union as one people, as one family. We forgot who we were and where we were and thought about who we could be and who we should be. Sadly, it wasn't a national holiday that brought us together as Americans; it was a tragic series of deaths that brought us together and united us. I believe that that day, 9/11, was a day that showed the world what the purpose of United States of America was, to united all races and religions as one family. The name of this nation is the UNITED States of America. We were meant to be united. It was the design of the founding fathers.

The fifth section of the speech talked about bringing al-Qaeda to justice, but it also gave a brief description of the group. Obama said that al-Qaeda was "an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was COMMITTED to killing innocents in our country and around the globe." Now, notice the word "committed." I believe this word was specifically chosen to describe the group because it gives the audience the impression that al-Qaeda strived and desired and longed to murder the innocent. It shows that al-Qaeda was focused on this task and had constructed organized plans of destruction; and all this is true. 

After the fifth section, Obama discussed the efforts the U.S. was already accomplished against al-Qaeda. Despite "the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals," Osama still "avoided capture." The section of Osama escaping captivity is the seventh section.

The eight section is where Obama tries to take the glory. He said that HE directed Leon Panetta "to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al-Qaeda." 

The ninth section tells us that information was gathered of Osama's location, but it wasn't certain. The tenth section tells us that Osama's location was found and that Osama was killed. This section also made me feel that Obama was taking the glory again. He said, "At MY direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound." I understand that Obama is Commander-in-Chief and that everything did go at his approval, but it really bugs me when someone seems to be bragging. When Obama said that it was his direction and that he directed, it made me feel like Obama was emphasizing the "me" part. This is probably not true, but it is my response toward the speech. 

The eleventh section talks about who bin Laden was and what he marks and symbolized. He symbolizes the attacks against the U.S. and "marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda" because he was the leader and the mastermind behind the group's actions and ideas. The twelfth section, on the other hand, confirms that the death of bin Laden is not the end of terrorism. I think this section is important because if Obama did not bring this to our minds, we would think that terrorism is over and we can chill and relax from now on. This section might make people think that our efforts were useless because it didn't end terrorism, but it is important so we can protect ourselves and be aware that terrorism still exists, even without bin Laden. 

The thirteenth section is also important. This section tells us that we are "not -- and never will be -- at war with Islam." This section also says that "bin Laden was not a Muslim leader [but] a mass murderer of Muslims." I believe these statements and this section is important because many American probably think that terrorism is conducted by the Islam and Muslim people, when it fact, terrorism is also against Muslim countries.

The fourteenth section and fifteenth section are about Pakistan. The fourteenth section gives credit to Pakistan for helping to "lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding." While Obama says that Pakistan has helped, the news is telling us that Pakistan had no idea about the raid and was left out of the capture of bin Laden. So is Obama just bluffing or is the news just trying to create a story? I think that the news and Obama are both right.  The news is right because Pakistan did not take part in the capturing of Osama, but Obama may be right because maybe Pakistan provides minimum information about the compound. The fifteenth section tells us the "it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al-Qaeda and its affiliates." This section suggests that Pakistan has already helped in the fight against terrorism because it uses the word "continue."

The sixteenth section says that "the American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens." When I listened to this section, my mind when back to the Pearl Harbor attack. Pearl Harbor brought us into WW2. We didn't choose to fight in the war, but we were attacked. Also, the attack literally came to our shores. It came to the shores of Hawaii and it killed thousands of soldiers. The seventh section says that "we will not tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed." I believe this is why we joined WW2. We were attacked and our soldiers were killed. 

The eighteenth section gives thanks to all the men and professionals that worked hard for this day. I like this section because it showed that Obama did not take all the credit, but these types of speeches always require thanks to the the people that put their effort in the task. 

The nineteenth section is an important section. This section reminds those families that lost close family members and friends that "we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores." I believe this section tries to provide comfort to families. This section tries to make these families to feel like they are always thought of and are always considered. 

The twentieth section goes back to unity. It reminds us that 9/11 brought unity to Americans. As I tried to say before, I believe that this speech's focus on 9/11 is unity. I believe this speech is trying to show the results and efforts that unity can bring and that we were meant to be united.

The twenty-first section tells us that "the cause of securing our country is not complete," but it also tells us that "Americans can do whatever we set our mind to." I find this section to be the most beautiful, heart-touching section. Just read the section:
                   The cause of securing our country is not complete, but tonight, we are once again reminded that                                   America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it's the pursuit of prosperity for our people or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad and our sacrifice to make the world a safer place. 


This section make me feel like we could do it. It made me feel like we could accomplish everything because it was our history and story, and I believe it. We have gone so far for such a young country. We have had great American that improved the world. We are America and the world knows it. We are the one that have shown the world we will go forward, so let's stop going backwards and look forward into our bright future.

The twenty-second section goes hand-in-hand with the previous section. This section tells us that "we can do these things, not just because of wealth or power, but because of who were are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." I separated this section from the previous section because I see the previous section talk about our history and that we can do anything because of our history and story. I see this section to be talking specifically about us. I think this is an important section as well, if not the most important, because it tells us that we are not America because we have the wealth and the power. This is something that Obama was wise to say because we often think that we are the top nation because we have wealth and power. The truth is written in our pledge of alleges. Students don't say the pledge for nothing. The pledge tells us who we are and who we pledge to be. Out of the whole speech, this section would be the most important because it doesn't matter that we killed bin Laden as much as it matters to know who we are. Obama was wise to place this at the end of the speech. It leaves us, Americans, with an important message and causes us to rethink who we truly are and who we truly have become.  
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Bin Laden Photos Held Back 05/04/2011
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On May 2, bin Laden was said to have been killed by a team of Navy SEALs. Many people have asked the government to release the pictures of bin Laden's death. President Obama denied the release of these photos, but why? In the video above, the new press secretary, Jay Carney, tells the press that these pictures are not to be handed out as trophies. He tells that bin Laden deserved what he endured. So why can't these pictures be released? Could it be that bin Laden is really not dead? Could Obama be trying to hide some economic secret with this story? The people of Pakistan don't seem to care about the death of bin Laden. Why? Maybe this didn't happen. 
While I do think that bin Laden died, how can we be sure? Even if we see the photos, we can't assume that he is dead. What is someone disguised himself as bin Laden to protect bin Laden? The War on Terror is not over yet, even if bin Laden is dead. We still have enemies and terrorist. We will never be able to never see terror. It's the way life works on earth. 
What do you think? Is this story fake? Is Obama hiding something? I believe bin Laden is dead. Is it not illegal for the government to provide false information? It should be. If something isn't true, then don't say anything on the subject. So bin Laden is dead. If photos are released, what would happen? Would the War on Terror explode into a sudden attack? What would the American people do when they see the photos? I don't think that they will cause fights. Why would they? The middle east could cause trouble, though. 
What ever happens, these photos will be released eventually. Maybe Wikileaks will find them. Maybe Obama will decide to release them. Maybe someone will get hold of them. Maybe bin Laden might come back to life.
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When One Rebels, All Will Come to Rebel 03/31/2011
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Rebellions! Civil wars! Fights! Protests! These are all headlines from the Arab world. From the Tunisia to Libya, the news channels and sources have been reporting on rebellions and protests against presidents and governments. It seems as if it will never end because it is spreading from one country to the next! 


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Gnomeo, Not Romeo 03/27/2011
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I don't know if you have seen the movie Gnomeo and Juliet, but I know I have. It is a great movie and the director was very creative with the story, but I was not completely satisfied. The main reason for my dissatisfaction is caused by the inconsistency of the story. The movie was funny. Let's not forget that. The movie was creative. We can't forget that. But I was left without any satisfaction because I wanted the movie to be more consistent with the book.

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Timed Essay! Forgot to Read the Novel! What Do You Do? 03/05/2011
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So you are about to go to sleep, but find out that there is a timed essay in your language arts class the next day and you have forgotten to read the 350-page novel. What do you do? You could run in a circle around your house and scream like there is a fire, hide in your closet while hugging your knees, or just man-up and do the timed essay. But how am I supposed to do the timed essay when I haven’t read the book? Well, first of all, you have to do SOME preparation.

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