Revolution Is Alive
by Lucas Sepulveda
Anybody who thinks Republican nominee Ron Paul has lost his core support obviously wasn’t driving down Cullen St. around 6:30 p.m. Friday. “I’m sure glad the revolution is alive and well in Houston,” Ron Paul said to thousands of supporters as cheers echoed off the walls of Hofheinz Pavilion. Hours before Paul’s speech, a line of supporters sporting their favorite Ron Paul T-shirts and buttons snaked around the block, eagerly waiting to hear the man of the hour make his case for liberty. People of all sorts and ages were in attendance, and the mood was lively to say the least. As you may have expected, throughout his speech Paul carried the same tune he’s been singing since the start, and it seems like nothing is ever going to change that. His consistency is truly impressive, and as far as I’m concerned, Paul demands and deserves respect, no matter what ideology you have. It’s a shame that he doesn’t get the proper amount of attention, because while some of his ideas may be out there, a lot of what he says makes sense. Thanks to a neglectful media, one of Paul’s biggest setbacks has been his inability to connect with undecided crowds that are already skeptical of him. The delivery of his speeches unfortunately doesn’t seem to match the power of his ideas, and for that reason, crowds that aren’t immediately moved by a rehearsed speech sprinkled with key persuasive words refuse to give Paul a shot. However, Friday, Paul was in his element and moved the crowd with point after point pertaining to a number of his famous issues ranging from “Ending the Fed” to The War on Drugs without changing his stances. He also had a few things to say about The Patriot Act. “The names of a bill are exactly the opposite of what the bill does,” Paul advised to the crowd, “if (The Patriot Act) had been called the ‘Repeal the Fourth Amendment’ Act, maybe it wouldn’t have gotten so many votes.” Although his chances of becoming president were never promising, he continues to stay in the race, which some people find foolish. Paul has said he continues to run because there is continued support, and that was undoubtedly proven on-campus last week. After hearing Paul speak, it seems that he is just as concerned with spreading his message than he is with winning office, and from that perspective, his campaign has been successful. He continues to bring attention to issues the other candidates avoid and has garnered a strong, committed following on the Internet and among young people. If lack of recognition has frustrates Paul, he does not show it. There is something about Paul that emits authenticity and genuineness, and it is evident there is nothing fabricated in what he says. Whether you agree with his policies or not, Paul is a man who stays uncommonly consistent and trustworthy, and at this point in our nation’s politics, those traits are rare and merit more respect than he’s been given. Reprinted with permission from The Daily Cougar. May 1, 2012 Lucas Sepulveda is a creative writing and media production junior and may be reached at [email protected]. Copyright © 2012 The Daily Cougar
|
