After reading an article published in USA Today titled “Obama outdoor speech echoes JFK's 1960 move” thoughts swirled as I began to draw comparisons between our leaders of the past and those today. The article highlights the fact that Obama is the first presidential candidate to accept his nomination in an outdoor arena since John F. Kennedy, when he made his acceptance speech on July 15 1960. The Democrats made the decision to move the night’s events from indoors to Invesco Field which can hold almost 80,000. I agree with the writer of the article when he suggests that this mimicked the stage set for Kennedy, but in particular Kennedy’s morals, values and ideas. It seems that the “new frontier” as he called it is back and well and truly alive.

Watching the 48 year old footage of Kennedy, several themes seemed to have stuck throughout the Democratic campaign. Obama made reference to his predecessors including Kennedy weaving their words into his own acceptance speech. Obama urged the nation to recover its “moral and intellectual strength and take responsibility to fulfil America’s promise”. Change and progression towards a successful future is a key theme for both Kennedy and Obama. While Kennedy coined the term “the new frontier” for America, Obama speaks of change and the “American promise”.

USA Today suggests that this decision by Obama to move his speech outdoors was strategic to echo the mystique of Kennedy and to “generally stir things up”. I don’t think the outdoor venue “stirred things up”. Besides the USA Today, there was little mention by the various media outlets of the outdoor venue, so whether or not the Democrats are disappointed about this I don’t know. In theory this should have been one of those moments that will be “Youtubed” forever, but to me it was what the usual of what I expected from Obama. The article states "Kennedy's physical presence was electrifying, and so is Obama's. A big outdoor audience maximizes their presence”, however, I don’t think this was the case. The New York Times, however have revealed that one of Obama’s planners did in fact study photos of Kennedy’s speech at the Los Angeles Coliseum in their article earlier this week. Basically I don’t think it has helped or hindered his campaign. I do think the idea was reminiscent of Kennedy but its impact did not compare. So was this $6 million operation to construct the outdoor arena really worth it?

Regardless, after hearing the address of Barack Obama, I was warmed, excited and motivated for change. And hey, I’m not even a citizen of this country! I understand you cant just vote for some one based on promises, but if there is no hope and you can’t strive for something then things will never improve. What are you aiming for? It all starts with a vision, which Obama is enthusiastic and motivated to see come to fruition. He reinforced what Michelle had to say in her speech earlier this week and outline specifics of his polices. So to all that say Obama has not shown any evidence of this thing called “change” he so powerfully speaks of, then listen to his acceptance speech. After all, as he said “you can’t meet 21st century challenges with 20th century bureaucracy”.

Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsdomV7giC0 to watch Kennedy's 1960 acceptance speech for yourself. How do you think it compares?