Obama’s One Success

Gauging the first eight months of the new President’s agenda Mr. Obama must be credited for one rousing success. Waking the sleeping giant of political apathy. As the 9/12 march demonstrated, more and more people are becoming politically aware and active.

The phrase “Waking the sleeping giant” is derived from an infamous quote accredited to Japanese Admiral Yamamoto following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The abbreviated version of the quote, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant." made famous in the movie Tora Tora Tora (1970) was extracted, according to the one of the movie’s producers, Elmo Williams, as found in the Admiral’s Diary. The movie’s screenwriter, Richard Fleischer claims he used the quote as he found it in letter reportedly sent from Yamamoto to the Japanese Admiralty as a warning. Neither of these documents can be verified.

This line "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." was reused and modified and delivered at the end of a 2001 release of the movie “Pearl Harbor.” Interestingly many have adopted this reference to define American resolve and war making might, to the oft-unapplied political power of “The Silent Majority.” Called upon often, but very rarely does it stand. Only in times of strife and threat does it rise toweringly to service.

The Wall Street Journal defines the Silent Majority in this quote. “It has been called many things the past 50 years, “the silent center,” “the silent majority,” “the coalition,” “the base.” The idea of it has evolved as its composition has evolved, but the fact that it’s big, and relatively silent, and somehow always latent, maintains.”

The Tea Parties, Town Halls and the 9/12 March are just rousing tones.

The administration ostensibly believes, as expressed by author Gerd de Ley, “When the silent majority opens its mouth it is usually to yawn.” and transferring its meaning in political terms to Homer’s original use describing the dead.

Given this interpretation, the Sleeping Giant is Lazarus, awakened from the dead. Rubbing sleep from the great eyes of recognition, becoming aware of the foreboding sounds of the threats to freedom and stretching powerful sinewy muscles of voice and vote.

Yes Mr. Obama you and your Administration, with the efforts of liberal progressive lunacy lead by Nancy Pelosi, her whipping boy Harry Reed and an increasingly disrespected congressional majority; combined with the shadowy organizations behind the movement have been able to produce one successful result in your tenure so far. Sounding the alarm clock.

Richard Nixon in a televised address typically referred to as the Silent Majority speech said. “The American people cannot and should not be asked to support a policy which involves the overriding issues of war and peace unless they know the truth about that policy.”

While these words to the American People concerned attempts to end the war in Viet Nam the prevailing context of the final seven words apply. Simply, the rancid smell of distrust is upon you.

In another quote from the same address President Nixon appears to predict the agenda of your administration and its goals. “If a vocal minority, however fervent its cause, prevails over reason and the will of the majority, this nation has no future as a free society.” And though he was directly speaking to the anti-war activist movement of the day, that minority faction is still alive today and is at the origin of liberal progressive beliefs and hopeful transformation. Even the words of a perceived fallen President have eventful meaning and outweigh the utterance of false truths.

The Sleeping Giant is awakening. American transformation as you see it is a threat to our nation and our society, and your one success has filled us with terrible resolve.

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