Cadet Colonel Adnan Barqawi
"Impossible is Nothing"
Posted on 05/31/2009 10:32:08 AM PDT by Maelstorm
Click here for the video
Cadet Colonel Adnan Barqawi
"Impossible is Nothing"
We had so many speakers at the Virginia Convention, we had Mitt Romney, Sean Hannity and a slate of Virginia representatives but it was not one of them that claimed the day. It was Cadet Colonel Adnan Barqawi, a new citizen and descendent of Palestinian refugees born in Kuwait, who brought the house down with his speech given from the heart with a clear love of his new country and its founding principles. His success represents the spirit of America and proves that sometimes when we are too long in the presence of greatness that we lose sight of it. He has the message that should be our message and that is the message which has held true since the founding of this great nation. He expressed it expertly in the following three phrases.
"Impossible is nothing but a small word thrown around by low men who
would rather live in a world that is given to them than explore the
opportunities that they have before them."
"I have learned the meaning of individual responsibility. That no one is in charge of my welfare except myself."
"I have learned that diversity is the embracing your new culture rather than expecting the culture to embrace you."
This is a man who understands the value and opportunity of America while so many who have lived their entire lives here do not. This is a true message of hope and individualism that helps make this country strong. Not the false message of hope delivered by our opponents that seek to enslave each citizen to dependence on an ever growing government. This is a message of faith while theirs is a message, of cynicism and bitterness. We should take guidance from this new citizen who did not come here to tear his new country down or redefine it with bitterness and unreasonable expectations. He came here to be a part of the great opportunity that is America so in turn he might be great himself and contribute to that greatness.
Here is a recent profile Cadet Colonel Adnan Barqawi:
http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2009&itemno=325
Cadet Colonel Adnan Barqawi, a new citizen and descendent of Palestinian refugees born in Kuwait, who brought the house down with his speech given from the heart with a clear love of his new country and its founding principles. His success represents the spirit of America and proves that sometimes when we are too long in the presence of greatness that we lose sight of it. He has the message that should be our message and that is the message which has held true since the founding of this great nation. He expressed it expertly in the following three phrases. "Impossible is nothing but a small word thrown around by low men who would rather live in a world that is given to them than explore the opportunities that they have before them. I have learned the meaning of individual responsibility. That no one is in charge of my welfare except myself. "I have learned that diversity is the embracing your new culture rather than expecting the culture to embrace you."
Thanks for spreading the word this guy is an awesome example.
Very good!!
WoW! What an impressive new American. God bless him. He’s definitely going places. Thanks for posting.
Another great video of Adnan .... he embodies the American
spirit, love of country and her unparalleled opportunities and gratitude that too few native American youths embrace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKAaJgx5-Bk&feature=PlayList&p=C93046F514881112&index=0&playnext=1
Thanks! 98% of his speech is missing from this clip. We need to continue to look for it.
CADET FINDS SELF, COUNTRY, LEADERSHIP
When Adnan Barqawi, a senior business-management major and regimental commander of the corps of cadets, came to Virginia Tech and the United States in July 2005, he--like many immersed in an unfamiliar culture--felt his experiences changing him in unexpected ways.
"The East and West are opposite ends of the spectrum. In the East, the governments control education; we're taught that the Holocaust isn't real." There were pages missing from his history book, he recalls, even though he was educated in a private British school.
"In the United States, we are ultimately responsible for who we become. There is freedom of thought, the freedom to be who you are."
Barqawi's grandfather was a Palestinian who immigrated to Kuwait when his father was three years old. "I was born and raised in Kuwait, but I was still considered a Palestinian--in the Middle East, you are a citizen of the country of your ancestors. I considered myself a man without a country."
Barqawi knew, however, that he wanted to come to the United States to pursue higher education. "I chose Virginia because [the state motto] said, 'Virginia is for Lovers,' and I chose Virginia Tech because the campus looked beautiful in the photos I saw."
Upon arriving at Virginia Tech, Barqawi saw a cadet in uniform. "I asked him, 'How do I become like you, sir?'" The cadet told Barqawi the mission statement of the corps of cadets: to develop leaders of exemplary character who are committed to the concept of selfless service and are prepared to serve the commonwealth and the nation. Barqawi signed up.
Though Barqawi found acceptance among his fellow cadets, his journey to becoming a lieutenant colonel in their ranks wasn't without its hurdles. "When I first heard the command, 'On your face!' I stuck my cheek on the floor. I realized I had no clue what a push-up looked like." In fact, coming from Kuwait, where temperatures can reach 114 degrees, Barqawi had little experience with physical exercise.
Yet with the support of his fellow cadets, Barqawi pushed on, overcoming these limitations to become regimental commander, and today leads more than 700 people. He credits the corps with helping him to know what kind of leader he wanted to be and with granting its members leeway to make leadership mistakes without consequences.
"I've accomplished more than I expected," Barqawi says. "I am indebted to this nation and what it's given me."
Barqawi says the quality of education and the curriculum at Tech, along with the leadership and discipline training of the corps, contributed significantly to his personal growth.
After graduation, he plans to spend two years with the Teach for America program, established in 1990 to bridge the education gap between the middle and lower classes by providing instructors in under-funded schools.
"I am so much closer to where I wanted to be, to whom I dreamt of becoming," reflects Barqawi, who aspires to a future as a U.S. ambassador.
Yeah it is. We need all of it but the best parts are there.IMHO
bump for later.
Wow coservative AMerican in the making.Great job!
Great stuff Star! This guy will go a long way.
A very good speech but let’s not get carried away. It wasn’t one of the greatest I’ve ever heard. It’s good but not great. This guys story is very compelling.
Here’s a link to one he gave to Blacksburg GOP. Almost the same one.
http://www.montvagop.org/Barqawi_Remarks_GOP.pdf
I agree.
I was there and heard the speech. It was, indeed, the best speech all day.
They almost blew it though. They almost held his speech until after the election results and acceptances had been taken care of. If that would have happened almost no one would have heard the speech due to people leaving so quickly.
Fortunately, Don Huffman, greatly respected, former chairman of the VA GOP, found out about this backstage just in time and insisted that Adnan be allowed to speak before the election results were announced.
I read somewhere that RPV is going to be releasing good quality videos in the next few days. I hope they put out his entire speech.
When his entire speech comes out you must watch it. This man is no hyphenated American. He made the point in his speech in a most convincing way. It was excellent.
I look forward to viewing them. Thanks for the tip.
Bump!
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