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"Senator Obama is also a person of sound and good judgment. He had the good judgment more than five years ago to warn against our involvement in this tragic and costly war. He also understands the need to repair our partnerships with other nations and to more effectively use diplomacy to serve our national interests."-David Boren
David Boren's recent endorsement of Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama is an oasis of hope for the state when compared to Oklahoma's growing national reputation as a right-wing, intolerant haven for gay bashers and immigrant haters.
His endorsement also could be read as a wake up call to academics in the state. In a statement related to the endorsement, Boren, pictured right, president of the University of Oklahoma, said, "I am joining Senator Barack Obama's advisory team on foreign policy and national security because I believe it is my duty as a citizen to do all I can to help our country at this critical moment. Our strength is declining. Eighty-one percent of Americans believe we are heading in the wrong direction. We must act quickly to meet and overcome the challenges we face."
In other words, the country's political systems are broken. Oklahoma academics, using Boren as an example, should get involved in this presidential election as citizens "at this critical moment" in history no matter whom they support and that includes the Republican presumptive nominee John McCain. There needs to be real debate and dialogue among Americans about the country's direction. Now more than ever, academics are crucial in starting and maintaining this debate. A real debate will not be fostered by mainstream media outlets, which are stuck in tabloid-like rhetorical frames, a lazy, laughable "gotcha" flag pin reporting that has very little meaning in today's world. The recent ABC "debate" hosted by Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos represented a new low in meaningless, tabloid television.
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