President Obama speaks at Texas A&M

President Obama was greeted with applause and cheers when he finally stepped onto the stage at Rudder auditorium on Oct. 16 at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The president was there to speak at the Presidential Forum on Service. The audience, made up of people committed to community service, Points of Light award winners, politicians, and honored guests, had been waiting expectantly for the keynote speaker.


Obama had been invited by former President George H. W. Bush to speak at the 20th anniversary of the Points of Light Institute, an organization Bush began as president to promote and honor community service across the country. Bush saluted Obama's efforts to continue the call to service, and praised Obama for signing the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and starting the United We Serve initiative.


"He was someone who genuinely cared about helping others," said Bush as he recalled his first meeting with then Senator Obama in the wake of hurricane Katrina.


"Our 44th president is absolutely right that there isn't a more important time than now for us all to get involved," Bush said moments before Obama took the stage.


Outside the auditorium, a large crowd gathered on the Texas A&M campus and also waited for Obama. They carried signs and posters with Obama's face painted up like that of the Joker from the Batman comics or with a Hitler mustache. These are becoming common wherever the president travels. Even before the president made it to campus, the protesters had taken up the chant, "Leave Texas."


Inside Obama spoke about the necessity of community service.


"Service isn't separate from our national priorities, or secondary to our national priorities," said Obama, "it's integral to achieving our national priorities. It's how we will meet the challenges of our time."


Obama used Bush's life of service as an example. Obama spoke of how Bush joined the Air Force, fought in World War II, served in the CIA, and served as vice president, then as president. Obama spoke of how even after being president, Bush continues to find ways to serve the country. Obama also mentioned the partnership between Bush and former President Clinton and how the two former rivals did end up working successfully together.


"This is much more important than politics," Obama said.


"While we'll do our best to make it easy to get involved, the service itself won't always be easy. People won't always appreciate what you're trying to do for them. You won't always make the difference you had hoped for," said Obama. He told the audience that was no reason to quit or be discouraged. "Once you've tutored young people in a struggling neighborhood, it's hard not to care about that ballot measure to fund their school. Once you've volunteered at a food bank, it's hard not to care about poverty and unemployment. Over time, the needs of the people you serve become your stake in the challenges of our time."


Valecia Battle, a sophomore management major at A&M, was in the auditorium and she said that listening to Obama speak made her want to get even more involved in community service.


"I want to do more," said Battle, "It made me … think about going into service."


Battle, along with all the other invited guests, were greeted by chanting protesters when they walked out of the auditorium.


"I'm happy about the protests," said Battle as she walked out of the auditorium. "I like freedom of speech. I want you to say whatever you want to say, but I was even more happy about the protesters who were protesting the protesters."


One of those protesting Obama's visit was Brenda Box of Austin. She made the trip to College Station because she says she has been protesting Obama since August.


"I just felt so betrayed," said Box. "I thought we had elected a well educated, well spoken, handsome man who had a lot of appeal and could really bring together the country because that's what his qualifications were as a community organizer. I thought maybe they would translate."


Instead, Box feels Obama has caused deep polarization in America and by protesting she feels she is trying to find a middle ground.


Despite the protests Battle was glad Obama came to her university.


"He still came, and he still spoke, and he spoke on service," said Battle. "He spoke on something all Aggies are supposed to want, are supposed to desire. So what are we protesting then? Are we protesting service?"