February 2006
The following transcript is for the podcast entitled “David and Goliath.”
Note: President George W. Bush's remarks are displayed in blue.
“But we have to move ahead with courage and honesty, because our children's retirement security is more important than partisan politics.”
(applause)
“I will work with members of Congress to find the most effective combination of reforms. I will listen to anyone who has a good idea to offer.”
(pause)
Welcome to the PACT America podcast.
That clip you heard at the beginning of this broadcast was President George W. Bush speaking during his State of the Union Address--the one that he gave during 2005.
You know, and when I heard that, I really took it to heart. He didn't say that he would listen to anyone with an economics degree, or listen to anyone with political connections. He said that he would listen to anyone--anyone with a good idea to offer. And I intend to hold him to his word.
But that's not really what I wanted to talk about here. You know, I'm sitting here tonight, and I'm just thinking about things. And I've got something that I just want to get out there, you know? Let it flow.
As I was listening to my last podcasts, it really hit me, you know? What am I doing, or what have I become here?
I listened to myself, and I was like, “Man, that's not me; that's not what I'm about.” And this project has been long. You know, it's a lot more involved than what I thought it would be when I first started, but hey, that's what it is, you know?
It's not called a choosing--it's a calling. You know, if I feel this is my calling, then that's what it is. But it's not my choosing--it's a calling. You know, I don't get to choose what it is. I just have to follow what I think I'm supposed to be doing, or what I feel called to do.
And it seems like I'm spending so much time trying to prepare my message or tailor it to what I think people want to hear or try to present it in a way that people will listen, but in the end, I can't control whether people will listen. I can't control whether they want to take my ideas seriously or see beyond me, and you know, and not just judge me on face level, but actually listen to what I have to say. That's something that people can only make that decision for themselves, you know? So I just need to stay true to what I'm trying to do here.
And you hear about like a David and Goliath story, or it's David versus Goliath. But you know, when I really think about that story, no democracy would have ever elected David, you know? He was just a little shepherd boy.
That army, they never would have taken a vote and said, “Who should we send to fight Goliath?” You know, David never would have won that vote; he wouldn't have won that majority. But that was kind of his calling.
And you know, people really didn't take him seriously either. His own brothers didn't believe in him. He was sent up to the battle lines to deliver them food--a care package if you will.
And they yelled at him, and said, “David, what are you doing here? How selfish and irresponsible you are to neglect the flock!” Even though it was his father that had sent him there with the food.
And no one had the courage to fight Goliath, to stand up and do what was right. But here this young boy volunteered for the task. You know, and the king gave him his armor and his sword, but David couldn't carry it--it was just too heavy for him. You know, he couldn't live up to what other people's expectations of a soldier were, he had to do it the way he knew--you know, with a sling. Because that was what he was used to, and that's what he knew how to use.
So he got his pebbles and took his sling and went up to meet Goliath, and Goliath taunted him and said, “There's no way you can do this--you're just a boy!” But, well you know the rest of the story.
You know, so I'm not going to let the fact that I don't have a college degree or I'm not one of the... I don't know, these rich, beautiful people who are whatever, the elite of society. You know, I'm not going to let that fact stop me that I don't measure up to those standards or what people think is the answer. I'm just going to stand up and do what I feel is right, and do it the best way I know how--the only way I know how. And hopefully that will be enough. I'm confident that it will be.
But you know, David's fight was only one day, or you know, it was done pretty quickly. And mine has been dragging out for over a year now. And it wears down on me--it really has.
(pause)
But I'm not going to fight this battle on their terms; I'm going to fight it on my terms. I'm just going to bear down for the long haul here now, and just start to reevaluate or rethink how I'm going to go about this, because I'm determined to make it happen. I truly believe that I have the right answer or the right solution, and I'm just going to stick with it until it happens.
But, you know, this project is getting the best from me, but I don't want it to get the best of me. You know what I'm saying?
(pause)
So that's what it is.
This is Adam Florzak keeping it real.