Obama's Inaugural Address

I unfortunately missed most of the inaugural address, so I cannot really say whether I agree that Obama's rhetoric was lacking or not. However, I completely agree that this particular inauguration was an extremely important moment in history, and the speech should reflect that importance. Gerson seems to think that Obama did not live up to this. I never really thought about specific phrases or words in a speech making it seem more important or meaningful, but it is so true. Everyone remembers specific lines like Kennedy's "ask not what your country can do for you" speech or Martin Luther King's "I have a dream." This was a major moment, and the words spoken should have an effect on the people listening. Gerson does not seem to think that it will be memorable in this aspect.
However, it will be memorable in his ideology. Gerson says that Obama mentioned going back to old values which is something that the country needs. He agreed with his emphasis on loyalty, duty, and responsibility, and I do too. Also, Gerson goes on to say that he hopes that Obama will stick to what he says about religion and faith-based institutions. I hope that decisions made will reflect some sort of belief or faith or this country will only have more problems. I completely agree with Gerson that Obama's religious comments during the address only added to it, and it is important that he acts out what he says.

Ros and Guil still not dead!

       This is one of the most confusing stories I have ever read.  Not even the characters in the story understand what is happening.  One minute, everyone is positive that a coin will end up heads, but just when you think you know what will happen, it lands on tails.  Nothing stays constant.  Plus, the whole metafiction aspect is so strange to me.  I think of everything as black and white.  So, to me, Ros and Guil are either watching the players acting out Hamlet, or they magically appear in Hamlet's court and are in the other play.  They cannot be both, but apparently, in postmodern writing, anything can happen.  Both could be happening at the same time.  That makes me get a headache just trying to understand, but at the same time, it is really funny.  Despite all the time I spend trying to get what exactly is going on, I cannot help but laugh at their ridiculous, confused conversations.  In a way, all the confusion is worth it because the word play is so entertaining that I end up enjoying the story anyways. My favorite line from Act I is on page 41.  

Ros: "Shouldn't we be doing something- constructive?"

Guil:"What did you have in mind?... A short, blunt human pyramid...?"

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are not dead yet!

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern seems to be pure banter between the two characters.  They make ambiguous statements (an aspect of postmodernism) like the "I'm afraid-" comment.  Also, Hamlet is continuously alluded to which is understandable since it is based on the play.  I love Rosencrantz's ignorance while Guildenstern contemplates and thinks everything through.  The characters seem like complete opposites. Guildenstern comes off as the more intelligent of the two as shown with his allusion to the six monkeys, his continual lists, and long explanations with syllogisms.