Misplaced Faith

Gabe Kimble

Inquiry 2 Assignment

Professor Strickland

8:00 MWF

Misplaced Faith

National anthems give a sense of pride, a sense of a distinguished reputation, and the sense of glory.  When one sings their respective anthem they are singing of a land in which they love.  Such a song should not be song light heartedly.   We sing anthems to show a sense of loyalty and to show where we have placed our hearts, our trust, and our resources.  America is a country of great pride and of a prominent future.  However, recent changes in American politics and the state of the economy have produced a bewildering misplace of trust in leadership.

Glenn Beck has produced what could be considered today’s national anthem of America.  To the tune of the Soviet National Anthem, Glenn beck has produced a new anthem in which the lyrics have been reworked to show an allegiance to a famed over pompous leader, President Barack Obama.  The music video opens up with the scenery of a boxing arena.  In the middle of the platform is John McCain and Barack Obama squaring it off for the presidency.  Surrounding colors include red, gold, and black.  These color of course depicting that of the Kremlin in soviet Russia.  These colors represent socialism in which the government provides for all and controls all.  The government protects the general well being of the people, but it does so through initiatives that are controlling giving people no freedom. 

When analyzing the ethos of this music, one notices that Beck is comparing Obama’s presidency to that of where he has become controlling; from the scene of congress, portrayed as the spectators of the match off between McCain and Obama, to the referencing of the Messiah.    It is made clear from start to end that Obama has clearly taken over the world.  Beck compares Obama’s reign to that of socialism not because he views him as controlling, but to instill a sense of fear in the hearts of the viewers.  The point of such an extreme symbol is to simulate the loss of choice by citizens and a growth of governmental control.

The song also incorporates the use of the word Messiah.  The use of this specific word instills a sense of all powerful and all knowing just as Jesus Christ.  By making the comparison to Christ the speaker is trying to show that Obama believe he is doing no wrong and that the change he has brought during his presidency is the change that America has been waiting on.  Obama is being portrayed as the savior of America and worthy of worship.  Beck uses this allusion to show that Americans as a majority have put an absurd amount of faith in their president. 

Obama’s disciples, democrats, believe that under this administration America will become stronger and will in fact come out of the economic crisis it has faced the past few years.  The song also says to “bow down and praise The one.” Through this part of the lyrics Beck is showing the misplaced faith that the people have put in their president.  He is showing us that we have to start being more realistic.  Obama is not Christ and can not perform miracles.  He is only human and as such can only do so much for the country.  In reality this video is mocking the American people not the president. 

It is mocking the people for putting Obama on the pedestal that he is on.  Beck is trying to convince Americans to take back the freedoms they have and to stand up for themselves.  The video is saying that if the people did spoke out and used their political power that Obama’s reforms could be stopped.  The future of America would not be socialism, but continued democracy.  This land was meant to be ruled by the people.  If the people do not wield their political sword the country will no longer be a democracy.  The government will control the country and the jobs. 

About three quarters of the way through the song mentions making a country that is pleasing to your wife.  With the focus being the First Family, one can deduce that Obama is not really the president but his wife.  The video insinuates that Obama is making the changes he is just so that he pleases his wife.  He is not doing what is in the best interests of the country, he is doing what is in the best interests of his family. 

The song also references to  Lindsey Lohan who is depicted as a drunk trying to steal the attention of the camera man.  The words briefly describe that Obama has become more famous than the drunk superstar who is in court everyday fighting charges for drunk driving.  Instead of news headlines reading “Lohan” they read “Obama.”  Obama through his selfish interests has gotten the attention of the media, foreign governments, and people all across the world.  Obama wants to be known for all the things he has done making sure the American public is well aware of who he is and who their president is.  He is more interested in the fame than the actual role of being president. 

The lines stating to give Obama money and guns is focusing on two issues.  The first issue being that the government has asked for money left and right as well as bailed out company after company.  The government has misappropriated tax money and though the stimulus plans have done little good they continue to ask for more and expect to get it.  The second issue that these lines speak to is about forfeiting our right to bear arms.  Democrats have always pushed for gun reform and now, being the head of the Democratic party, Obama is seen as the man who will take away guns and abolish the second amendment. 

Beck’s message is that instead of putting our faith in a person, we should be putting it in our country.  One man can not rule the nation of millions and know the best possible way to do so.  If we put all our faith into him then we could be missing major developments that could benefit us.  Obama is not America, we are America.  If we do not act fast America will no longer be under a democratic government but instead a socialist. 

Mr. Beck is known all over the country for his fox news show.  He reaches thousands of people on a daily basis.  Through the creation of his “Obama National Anthem” he has been able to bring an issue that he believes is important, to the attention of the American people.  The video is most appealing as it can show many sides of an issue without actually speaking about them.  The video provides imagery and lyrics.  The lyrics are written into the video as subtitles.  However, these lyrics are no ordinary lyrics as they transform from English to Arabic.  This of course, is mocking the President of his ethnicity. 

When the president was first elected many citizens were debating whether or not Obama was even a U.S born citizen.  Beck is able to really hone in on his belief that the people of America have given Obama too much faith, by portraying him as an Arabic, socialist, self-centered man.  After one has watched this music video it causes them to wonder about how the country is really being ran.  It makes the viewer develop questions about the ability of Obama to lead.  Through all of the rhetorical aspects the video really portrays the president as an incompetent leader who is changing how the government operates. 

Beck, Glenn, September 25, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l46t_nrySg4

Beer website Analysis

The Miller Light website is fairly simple with a blue background and a center section.  This section is mostly focused on football, but I believe this to be a seasonal thing.  Attracting the attention of sports fans, of whom will go out and by the product before watching a football game.  The graphics are intense as they show the beer being poured, attracting the viewer to the quality of the product.  The site also offers chances to win at various things.  I mean who doesn't like the chance to win something, all though let's face it, the odds aren't in your favor.  The website and the brand name would lead one to believe that they are highly reputable and are in a leadership like position.  This site provides a lot of Pathos and Ethos.

Crazy Schedule

Crazy Schedule


I work at Community Development Professionals. I have worked there for two years and over the summer was a full time employee. I have many rolls there including general office upkeep, IT, and accounting. Being involved in all of these things makes me an essential member of the CDP organization. With school beginning I knew I had to maximize my time up at school and minimize the time that I worked, otherwise I would become overly stressed and maybe even fall behind in my studies. I had to communicate with my supervisor what my class schedule was and the times I would need to dedicate to school, as well as show her that I was still able to do my job.

This past summer I have taken on more roles at Community Development Professionals, mainly accounting and IT. Being a company of seventeen people payroll now takes a longer time to do. I was in charge of entering in the information into our payroll database and doing the necessary copying. This job generally takes about four hours to do. In conjunction with payroll my second biggest role at CDP is information technology. In most cases I am the one that installs software, set security procedures, set up email accounts, and linking computers together. These two things are very critical parts of the company. If I were not performing my job, payroll would go slower and IT would require a professional so that the other employees would be able to perform their tasks.

When convincing my supervisor I knew that I would have to formulate a logical explanation as to working shorter hours and yet still being able to perform my duties. I would have to prove, in good sense, that they need not higher another employee to carry out my duties. Thankfully she was the mother of a college student.

Having this information I knew that it would be possible to appeal to the idea that her daughter is also a student and so she understands how much time studying can take and that college is to help prepare you for the future. If it is neglected then one is not as readily prepared as one should be for their later years of life. During my senior year of high school I would often talk to her about my struggles in math and she sympathized with me, and so I figured I could yet again go back to the topic of math. When discussing my work hours I brought in my schedule and showed her that I would be taking calculus five days a week and made it clear that I would need a lot of time to focus on this class. I hoped that in providing this information she would be sympathetic this year as she was last year. Several times she had reminded me that if I needed time off in high school to study for tests that I should call off. It didn’t matter that I would lose the money that I would have made for that day. School was top priority so that I would be competitive in the job market.

I had one more thing going for me during this discussion. I had myself. Though that may seem unimportant it was one of the biggest weapons I had in my arsenal. During my two years at the company I have always been early to work and have even stayed late on multiple occasions. When we moved from our rented location to our permanent location I stepped up to the plate. The new building required a lot of painting and construction work before we could move in. I volunteered my spring break to go paint the offices and help with construction so that the moving process would not be delayed. I put in 12 sometimes even 13 hour days at work, half of which was volunteer time so I was not paid for it. Finally move in day came, but it just so happened that this was the same day as prom. Though it was not required of me I went to help move office furniture for four hours and then went home to get ready for prom. My supervisor saw that I was very dedicated to the company through this move.

I was able to take this to the bargaining table. Through my examples of dedication, work ethic, knowledge, and by appealing to her emotions, I was able to prove that I was a valuable member to the company. If someone new were to be hired then they may not have the same work ethic as me or even the knowledge of the company and how certain procedures worked. They would have to be trained from the ground up which would take time and effort. When I explained this to my supervisor and then told her of the hours that I was available to work she agreed. I was able to keep my job working 9 hours a week and then spend the rest of my time on school. We both left the meeting feeling like we had both received something in return. Her, a dedicated and knowledgeable worker, and me with the freedom I needed to go to school and learn.

Answers to "Shitty First Drafts"

1.  She means that all writers struggle with writing their papers.  It is never an easy task, sure it's easier for some than others but no one's first draft is ever perfect. 

2.  She is crossing her fingers that the process works for her again.  Though  she says that it always does she is always uneasy about it and hopes for the best.  I think that she is speaking for all writers, because throughout her essay she continually makes references about other writers.  That and the title says draftS not drafT.

3.  The first draft is more about the process.  It's a time where you can get all your thoughts down on paper, almost like brainstorming.  I disagreed up until I read this essay.  I now believe that the first draft is about getting ideas down.  It doesn have to be some five paragrah paper that is flawless.