For those who viewed the convention coverage on CNN, MSNBC or (God forbid) FOX News, you’re missing an awful lot of the convention. Some of the most touching moments were pre-empted by commercials, news narcissism by Chris Matthews, and mindless comments by the best news team on television.
Yes, of course there were some breath-taking moments which were televised, like when ailing Sen. Ted Kennedy surpassed our wildest expectations, brushed aside the advice of his doctors and wife, walked on stage, refused to sit on a stool, and embarked on one of the most memorable speeches ever given at a DNC convention.
And of course, there was the rousing speech by Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. who said America needs "a leader who can heal the wounds of the last eight years, a leader who knows that what unites us is greater than what divides us." And who could ever forget, Michelle’s picture-perfect speech, not only displaying her ability to easily step into the first lady role, but generating buzz of a possible political future.
But you may have missed the small things, which IMHO are every bit as important.
Although Jerry Kellman's speach was not the most dynamic, it was certainly heart-felt. Kellman was the person who hired & supervised Obama at Developing Communities Project - Chicago, Illinois. Jerry recalled how Obama, having just graduated from college, and who could have taken any number of positions with prestigious Wall Street companies, jumped at a job offer for $10,000 per year. He went on to relate how, when it came to the poor and those who lost their jobs with the closures of the steel mills, Obama would not take "no" for an answer (like his predecessors did), would sometimes stay up all night working on solutions.
You also might have missed the speech by Obama’s half-sister Maya Soetero-Ng, who eloquently related who her brother had introduced her "mind and spirit to a broader world", and taught her "about the importance of standing up for what you believe". She also lovingly talked about their mother who "encouraged us to explore, and ask questions and delight in unexpected discoveries and suprising answers." As an example, May, a school teacher, stated that their mother had "brought us to telescopes and microscopes to remind us that there was a world, a vast world beyond our limited reach"
My advice: If you want to observe more of the little things, don’t watch the convention on any of the cable news channels. Instead, tune into the no talking heads coverage of C-SPAN.