Obama In Denver

by MELROSE S. LUNN

On September 27, 2011, I was one of those who stood in line as a spectator of US Pres. Barack Obama’s visit to the city of Denver, Colorado State. I happened to be in the vicinity after a Rotary club meeting at 7:10 in the morning with my host family. Though a non politician, he is the man behind the lights and sounds of the said event. Mr. Rich Nicholes is the president of Rotary Club of Arvada.

Pres. Obama spoke for only 22 minutes, in a hot afternoon at Abraham Lincoln High School in Denver. An estimated 5,000 spectators waited for hours at more or less 80 degrees Fahrenheit heat from the sun on a parking-lot beside Lincoln High for his arrival.

He arrived with his sleeves rolled up, actually attractive and so humble-looking for a US President. He was introduced by a 17-year old Amella Sanchez. She was very proud to meet the US President after his speech. "There was a lot of waiting, some were very impatient, but it was worth it," Sanchez said.

According to one spectator by my side, "Pres. Obama’s visit is not about jobs and unemployment. I guess he is here to campaign and to stop in every state where he will need votes." A person named "Mark" also agreed. He commented, "You know what? I am leaving this country soon and move to Europe. We don’t have a future here." I heard that some has to get tickets days before his speech just to listen to him. "I’m here to listen to what the president’s plan for jobs and how he would be able to determine jobs for the future," a woman said.

While I was listening to comments of other spectators, I thought, no government is perfect. Each one has its dream for their government to be "better than it was yesterday" and the United States of America (USA) is not spared.

Mr. Savelle (Democrat) said, "Americans has no contentment, they wanted this and that, but we don’t really help to work it out. Some just make the situation become worst by not supporting the ideas of Pres. Obama. He is the president who only inherited a bad economy and is trying to work honestly with everyone. He is actually forcing opponents to take a stand, and wish they could see that clearly, now."

But some believes Obama’s jobs bill isn’t a jobs bill; it is a campaign speech. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the U.S. unemployment rate was 9.1 percent in August. But among American Indians, the rate is above 15 percent. There were kudos and criticism of his visit, which is actually normal for a President, anywhere in the world.

But more of the spectators I believe were very supportive and enthusiastic of his message. From afar, I can see his usual dynamic self, with sleeves rolled up, focused on the right issue and was a very confident speaker. After his speech, Obama took time to shake hands and sign autographs for the students, while they were all shouting, "we support Pres. Obama."

(The author was on a recent mission trip to California, Colorado and Wyoming, USA. /MP