The Convention

Normally I view the national conventions of both parties as pretty big wastes of time and this year is no exception: millions of dollars are spent on lavish parties and to produce media spectacles that don't provide much of anything new to politically informed folks like myself. I do see their purpose however when it comes to informing the average voter who usually waits for these events to really start paying attention and learning about the candidates and there are usually a few good speeches that are worth listening to, Michelle Obama's being one of those.

Monday night she delivered a short but well-written speech about her family and the importance of making this country a better place. It was both hopeful and sincere and in my opinion a great way to introduce her to the American people. This is not the radical, angry woman the right has tried to portray her as but rather a devoted wife and loving mother who speaks about her family in a way that most Americans can identify with. I also would imagine that black Americans in particular will find it inspiring to see a whole, well-functioning black family being celebrated on a national stage; this is truly a historic moment in American politics. Here's the speech: