The Times this morning reported on its front page about President Obama‘s eleventh-hour push to pass a health-care bill.
In a “high-octane appearance” at Arcadia University, Obama addressed his “doubters and critics” with the following exhortation:
“My question to them is: When is the right time? If not now, when? If not us, who?”
I am guessing more than a few people recognized this language. Here’s the best-known passage from Pirkei Avot, a.k.a. Ethics of the Fathers, a compendium of teachings of Jewish sages from the centuries that straddled the beginning of the Common Era:
“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”
On the other hand, the same phrase has been used to sell Doritos.
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All the best speechwriters are Jewish. I know, I’ve seen The West Wing.
It’s a Rage Against the Machine lyric. Freakonomics is not a rocknroll fan?
I noticed that also. I have also seen Hillel’s saying (he is the sage you refer to in Pirkei Avot) used by Maya Angelou – she uses the first part – among others: She is quoted as saying, “If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?” The imperative from 1st C Hillel, which Angelou picks up on, comes from the pov of the individual. Obama shifts it to the collective. Not bad, since it says we must join together at this historic time. But perhaps sage Hillel should be looked at more closely. His emphasis on the self shows his strong knowledge of human nature. Start with self interest and then show how self interest in the extreme is selfishness which ultimately is not in the best interest of group survival and the call to action is NOW!
It seems like there has been a dearth of good original lines in presidential speeches–at least the past few decades. Rather than quoting popular texts, we need more “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself…” moments.
Anyway, is this blog entry supposed to be a knock on Obama or a not-so-clever observation?
Heh-the one time Obama says something memorable, he’s quotting a Doritos ad.
“quoting”
C’mon, it’s actually lifted from the last lines of a Jesse Jackson debate response in an SNL skit from the 88 Democratic Presidential primaries (JJ played by Carl Weathers):
Well, Pat, we have a strong military defense. We have guided missiles, but misguided policies. We have minesweepers in the Persian Gulf, but there’s a great need for drugsweepers in the Gulf of Mexico. Economically, we must stop the process of merging, purging and submerging – merging corporations, purging works, submerging our economy. We have in this country welfare and tailcare, when we should have workfare and childcare. From the poorhouse to the courthouse, from the state house to the White House; if not now, when? If not me, who? If not.. I’m sorry, Pat, what was that question?
I have said this to myself and I am not a jew. Anyone who lives long enough has to ask that question at some point or the other. As the american saying goes: take care of yourself.
Why?