Do I think Barack Obama is going to change Washington if he gets elected? No. Do I think he will bring America to greatness? No. Do I think that his entrance onto the national stage has a kind of power to transform race relations? Possibly.
My mother just called. She waited until she was sure I would be awake to tell me that she has been “crying all morning,” evidently still hung over from the elevation she experienced last night.
“This is one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life,” she said. “I could die tomorrow knowing I have seen this happen…I feel so glad to be alive to experience this.” Those are her words about listening to Barack Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention. I was scribbling them down as she spoke because I sensed what was happening was big. Her voice broke into tears even in the telling.
When Martin Luther King stood in Washington and talked about his dream, my mom was not there. She was a twenty-one year old newlywed, living in an apartment in New Jersey, working at an insurance company. She probably had no idea it was happening. She is one who remembers vividly the assassination of John F. Kennedy, but little else on the national stage. She was never part of a movement, hardly even paid attention to political campaigns. Her focus was kids and caretaking. Only this past spring did we discuss how frightened she was in 1967 during the racial uprising in Newark—the worst of the devastation having occurred only a few miles from where we lived. But forty-five years, four children, six grandchildren and one day after Martin Luther King’s historic speech, my mom has been moved to heights of enthusiasm and commitment that I’ve never seen in her. And frankly, I think her hyperbole of passion may not be hyperbole at all.
As she watched Obama’s acceptance speech alone, jumping up and down, screaming, with tears running down her face, she was reacting to an image of multiculturalism that genuinely moved her, a spirit of partnership and possibility between people that captivated her—and many like her. “You have to be a stone not to feel it,” she declared this morning. And though I am more restrained in my view of the Obama phenomenon because of its foundation in a political horse race, I am still left wondering where this deep chord of hope struck in my mom—and other people like her—might actually lead us, and what these heights of emotion are saying about the relationships we aspire to create.
Laurie
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23 comments:
Change, I feel is a big word. Many people want to do it but don't know how to do it. Many people know nothing else but what they are taught or what they live through and experience. Some want change, some need change, some are willing some are not. No one knows what is to come of having Obama in th office. Yes, he speaks of Hope and bringing it forth. It is one thing to talk about and another to act upon. He may or may not bring greatness, may suprise us all!!
Why do I want to see him in the white house? To let people to open their eyes and realize that we are not living in the old times, its time for an awakening. Show that there is nothing to fear in trying out the once unthinkable and open the doors wider to new times
Im not much into politics, I don't follow through with it but one thing I do know is that it gets boring to stay at the same level.
I get inspired by people who feel so strongly about politics. After hearing this blog I feel like this election is going to be the biggest of them all. Not only will a lot of people be disappointed if Obama doesn’t become elected but they will be greatly affected emotionally. Hopefully it all goes well in favor of the majority of the people and not based on Congress alone.
Just like the previous girl "la-jari” stated I'm not much into politics nor do I follow up with it because I think it's useless. I believe that our government is corrupted even though they say that "every vote counts" I choose to differ. No matter whom we vote for or who the majority is Congress will have the upper hand. I haven’t even registered to vote because I wasn’t planning on voting. But I think after thinking through it long and hard I probably will be.
Therefore I will be voting for Obama because he has great ideas and great ways to go about his decisions. There's a great need for change in this country and by having a president that is alone different from the norm typical president would be awakening. He will make a great president and if he is elected as our president my opinion about the government could actually change.
I think it would be nice to see Obama in office. He says he is all about change, and at this point in time I believe our country could use a little change. Yes it could turn out to be a bad thing because not everyone likes change, but in taking the risk it could turn out to be something very good.
I do not follow politics all that much myself either just because one it does not interest me all that much and two sometimes it seems as if the candidates all seem to say the same thing but never really do much of what they say.
Like “nenawifey” said, Obama does seem to have a lot of great ideas and ways of going about to implement them. If he stays true to his words I think he could really have a positive influence on our country and make a lot of people believe that there is hope and change can be a good thing. Obama is liked by so many and if he wins for once it will be something that the people wanted.
I personally wanted Hilary as the President but because she did not win in the primaries my vote will go to Obama. I think he will be able to do a lot for this country and I think it is time we step up and live out of the ordinary for once and see what can be made from it. If he does what he says, great, if not, it probably will not be much of a surprise.
I feel that this election is one of the biggest of all time. America has been dug into a large hole economically and environmentally. Politics had never been my cup of tea until this recent election. I have since realized that the U.S is in big trouble with the recent administration and some change needs to occur and it could not come soon enough. For the first time in my life I am a registered voter and I actually plan to take part in this election. Also, for a non-voter in the past I am excited that I know exactly who I am voting for. I am not going to let you all in on who I am planning to vote for...but I am shocked myself.
I think we would be asking a lot to ask Obama to completely change the Whitehouse as we know it. I feel he will do a great job if he is elected president. Honestly, as a white 20 year old male I never thought in my lifetime I would see a president of a different race even on the campaign ballot. The fact that we are facing an election in which a black male has a very good chance of being the next president is very uplifting to me. It is nice to know that at least some barriers are being destroyed between races.
I have to agree with your mother. It was a wonderful moment in history and it will forever change my life. I have to disagree with you statement that Obama will not change Washington if he gets into office. Obama is already making changes, he is already changes mindsets and turning heads. This country needs to have more faith and believe in our Government and Judiciary system. There is so much lack of faith and hope for change that we constantly aren’t seeing any. I shared the same passion with your mother when watching the Democratic Convention. It is one of the most proudest moments in my life. This gave us hope. Hope as a country, Hopes a race and hope for all of the citizens of the US. I have faith that Obama and Joe Biden can work together and use each others’ talents and intelligence to specialize in certain areas. This could work!! Obama may not bring the US to greatness but I know he has the potential to do great things within the white house. With the collaboration of Congress, he can make moves for the better. This hope that we have in him can create waves for changes. Obama is a hero in my eyes. We currently don’t have a Martin Luther King or a significant role model who is an African American male. We are currently missing black males in the office, in college, and in families. But Obama brings us hope. He brings us hope for their return.
“Yes we can.” One of the simplest campaign phrases, yet it is one that Americans cling to in this presidential election. Exemplifying a campaign whose foundation is hope, those three words have been able to move Americans over the course of the last year. The phrase is positive, inspiring and full of hope. Who wouldn’t want a leader who lives their life driven by such ideals? But then again, do we?
I stood in line on College Ave. for hours, waiting in the cold to hear Obama speak. I was swept up in the hype of his campaign and all my fellow Penn Staters who suddenly became so interested in voting, politics and this new multiracial candidate. I was one of the 20,000 who was able to hear him speak. I was even close enough to see his face. His speech was motivating. His voice was captivating. His poise was intriguing. I walked away thinking, “that was a great speech, definitely worth eight hours of my day.” Barack Obama is a charismatic speaker and knows how to be a fantastic crowd pleaser.
But is that what we really want in a president? Someone who can speak well and tell us what we want to hear? Sure, his policies sound nice and his plans are exciting, but are they what this country needs? Universal Healthcare and reshaping of tax distribution will only hurt the majority of working middle and upper class Americans. He has been known to be a Congressman who does not show up to vote on national affairs on a regular basis. Is that what we want in our president? A man full of ideals, but does not see them through? He seems to be a fabulous person. Someone full of personality and beautiful words doesn’t necessarily make them presidential material. Change is a must, as Obama has clearly stated. But is he the right change for this country?
I find it interesting how different Obama and McCain are, and yet how close they are in the polls. McCain is coming from the same establishment as the Bush administration, which has historically gotten incredibly low approval ratings. Now the establishment has a slightly new face, and suddenly the same old message has received a huge boost in the polls.
Obama, on the other hand, is certainly a wonderful orator, and is promising change. Not just change economically, but also socially. I think that because of the controversy of his race, and how he has chosen to label himself, that his campaign has to specifically address the issue of race relations in this country. While his speechmaking is powerful and wonderful, the real change is happening one person at a time. People coming off of highs after speeches will experience lows several days after, so the real campaign is going to be on a person-to-person, on the street basis.
The real power of this campaign, I think, is the pesron to person basis that it has been working on. If you talk to people on the streets, they're really motivated and feeling empowered. They're feeling like they can change the world. They actually do have hope - it's not just a campaign slogan. Political mudslinging is going to happen, and whether or not he wins the White House, just this race will have changed things. Just this presidential race and the messages that are being sent out will have affected people in ways that they will hopefully be able to carry on forever. Hopefully this will issue in more of a reign of tolerance and cooperation between people groups.
Obama's fundraising tells quite a story. If we look at the kinds of people who have raised the money, it's a lot of small donations from people across the world - not a lot of huge donations from large multinational companies. This shows us that when people work together on a cause they truly believe in, they can accomplish great things, and raise truly incredible amounts of money. On the other side is the establishment... the news media... the existing government bureaucracies and big business. These people will be doing their very best to brainwash everyone through images and sound. These people will do their best to stay in power - to maintain the white power base. These are the people who are afraid of change. They don't fight fair, and it's going to take an incredible movement to unseat the GOP and the republican power base. It's a fight against all of the O'reilly's and the Rush Limbaugh's of the world. It's a fight against Halliburton and Big Oil.
And I think that there's hope in people. That people can come together and support a candidate who, even though he may look physically different from the typical white base, casts a message that those differences don't truly matter when it comes to working for a greater good.
Either way, there will be change.
Part of me strongly agrees with Laurie about the impact of Obama. I personally like him, but I do agree that maybe he isn't the "Messiah" people expect him to be. Like her, I do think if he wins it could potentially change the outlook of many older, racist Americans.
Growing up, I was unaware of the racism and backwards thinking of many of the older people in my area. This election has certainly brought many unattractive characteristics out of the people I thought I knew. They were uneducated on the topic, calling Obama Muslim (not that his religious beliefs should matter either). They were not getting their information from the right place, but were quickly making judgments anyways. Yet somehow, as Obama continues to speak and do, I've noticed a few opinions change within some stubborn women in my community. But I've also seen a change, particularly in my own mother.
Obama is smart and an effective speaker and I think he can do a lot of amazing things for race relations in America as well. My mom, who has no problem with interracial dating in her own personal life, used to be hesitant about me taking part in it because of how it could "make my life harder because of how people think'. Magically, since Obama's campaign, she has come to embrace my best friend's interracial relationship. Maybe it's because of Obama's ubiquitous international presence, or maybe not.
Stephanie Misko
It is interesting to me to read and hear about everyone’s excitement about this upcoming election. Coming from someone who was never really concerned with politics, upon being eligible to vote for the first time this year, my opinions have drastically changed. Unfortunately, I think this election has become a popularity contest that focuses on the color, gender, and religions of the candidates rather than what they actually stand for. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve heard people say that they want change and want to bring about change. Now don’t get me wrong, I definitely believe that this country needs change but I think we’re going about it all wrong. Yes, Barack Obama is the first black candidate to run for president and he is receiving a lot of support. But, I have to wonder if that’s the primary reason that people support him so strongly. Hilary Clinton was the first woman to run against Obama for the democratic nomination. For a long time all I heard in regards to this election was about the “first woman to ever run for president” and “the first black candidate to run for president” but rarely anything about what they actually stood for. Shouldn’t this election be based on the candidates’ policies on the war in Iraq, gas prices, environmental issues, and foreign policy etc. rather than the idea of changing the race and ethnicity of the person in office? I agree that this country needs change and to be honest it doesn’t matter to me if the president is blue, black, yellow, white, or green as long as they are able to better the United States as a nation.
Although I won’t be voting for Obama come November, I can appreciate the historical importance of his candidacy for President. It’s still amazing to me how far American race relations have come over the past few decades where a black man stands a good chance at being elected President of a nation that not so long ago approved the notion of segregation.
Obama is a positive black role model and I believe that his presence in this campaign has changed not only how white people view black people, but also how black people see themselves. The media coverage of Obama’s candidacy has provided Americans with an extremely positive view of a black man, something that is rare to find elsewhere in the media. Obama is painted as an educated, well-spoken, moral man who had the drive to pursue high ambitions. This is a blazing contrast to many of the other black men and women I see every day; images of black men getting in trouble with the law on the news or semi-nude black women degrading themselves in music videos. Unlike negative images of black people that do nothing but proliferate the stereotype of what it means to be black, Obama breaks the stereotype that many people think of when they think of blackness.
I love the idea of change and how heated the debate has gotten over what kind of change we need and how much of it. I am completely on board to change some things in Washington D.C. that haven't gone over so well these past eight years but I am the first to point out one key factor. You can't be so gun ho to storm into Washington and change everything without truly thinking about how we as a country got to where we are today and why? To comment of some fellow classmates remarks, “Nenawifey” shows their lack of understanding in the election by stating, “Hopefully it all goes well in favor of the majority of the people…” If I recall correctly, as of the most recent polls, McCain is currently ahead of Obama and I find it rather unintelligent to post a false and biased comment like that. Likewise, Rachel Scholder’s declaration to vote within the Democratic party, ”I personally wanted Hilary as the President but because she did not win in the primaries my vote will go to Obama,” are precisely the wrong types of voters in the United States. You shouldn’t be voting because of a specific party, but rather on the issues at hand and which candidate can best fulfill your needs as a citizen.
I was never one for politics. But now I feel I am interested. Maybe the fact that I am of age to actually vote, or maybe I am growing up and find that it is important to have input on someone who could potentially lead the country. I do feel there is a need for change. The economy sucks for one thing. My family has been directly affected by this recession. My dad used to work in NY. I mean from when I was young I remember him always working there. It was not until recently he got “laid off” or whatever happened, that he has not been there and been home. It is a bittersweet thing though. He would work Monday through Friday, leave for work before I woke up and get home around dinner time or while I was sleeping. These past few months I have been able to hang out with him a lot and like it, but also know he is stressed about what will happen. Will he get a job? What is going to happen financially? So our nation does need to try to change and I am still not sure who will do that. I agree with the statement about the political horse race, it is a crazy thing filled with lies and some truth. I mean both candidates play their roles. Obama being half black, and McCain haven had been a prisoner of war. It’s all a game and its not until someone takes office we can see what they will actually do.
This is basically another prime example of how a large number of people in today's society still operate under a mindset of the past. Although I am living in a time where a lot of things that were believed to be true are for the most part no longer believed to be true, it still amazes how some people can still ignore reality. I mean lets look at the facts yes Obama is black, but he is not only black he is also white. So if a person were to try and describe him it would not be right for them to say that he is just a black person or just a white person. One because their description would be based on their opinion and not actual fact. Also because he is not just black or white he is mixed which is neither. Poor Ralph Nader still probably thinks that if you have one drop of black blood in your body that you are black which is so unfair to mixed people. Unfortunately, he is not the only one who thinks that; there are also a lot of people in the black community who think that way also. I don't blame Ralph Nader or the select number of people in the black community for continuing to think in a way in which they may have been taught, but I do blame them for not challenging the validity of their thought process to understand why they think a certain way and whether or not the way they think is logical. This brings me to the question of thought " Why do we as individuals have to choose what race we are, and who is ultimately given the right to choose what race an individual is."
Although I think it is very important, I am not really into politics. I have tried to listen to the different viewpoints, but honestly they all sound good to me. That is why I am having a difficult time deciding which candidate should receive my vote. I have a hard time deciphering who exactly is the better candidate for the presidency. However, I must agree that change for this country is very important right now. Our economy is in a major slump and we definitely need someone to bring us out of it. Whether I think that person is Senator Obama from the Democratic Party or Senator McCain from the Republican Party, I am uncertain right now. However I do intend to do more research, watch the debates, and learn more about these two senators’ viewpoints. I do think that Obama would be a big wake-up call for the United States. Some people think that racism has completely vanished from this country, but they are very wrong. I know that many democratic whites are having major difficulties deciding on whether to vote for Obama. I have heard some say they would rather not vote at all than vote for a black man to be President of the United States. Even though Obama is not 100% black, he does identity himself as a black man. If he were elected as president, he would be the first black president this country has ever seen. Talk about making history!
Lindsey Trolio
I agree that if Barack Obama is elected president, he isn’t going to fundamentally change the way Washington works.
Washington, D.C. is a tough nut to crack, and the whole reason it runs like it does is because American society has created a pretty thorough filtering process that weeds out all the people that don’t fit a certain mold. In order to be president or a senator for example, an individual already has to have a lot of money so that his or her family won’t suffer because of the absence of a possible breadwinner. Running for office takes time so the family a candidate comes from needs to be fairly stable and supportive. Also an individual running for office needs confidence, charisma, and a decent enough educational background that allows the public to trust that the candidate knows what he or she is talking about for just about any political topic. A candidate also needs to be personable enough to make friends with people with power to gain endorsements by influential groups, popular politicians and such. And to top all of this off, that person needs to be able to endure the debates, repeat the same speeches over and over again, kiss the babies and look attractive, patriotic, strong, and rock-solid emotionally while doing all of this.
Everyone in D.C. had to do this to get on top, and to some degree people have to understand that going through all of this may put them in a different mindset from most of us. People shouldn’t be surprised in the election if Obama starts to sling a little mud, because that’s what’s required of him in this political circus in order to be the next president. People don’t like the negative campaigning. They want to see the political candidates building the country up, not bickering amongst themselves. But the fact of the matter is people don’t take the time to look into details at the candidates so they have to settle for listening to the sound bytes, scrutinizing the little slipups and over-reacting over the candidates’ relationships whether they are strong or unfathomably weak. So Barack Obama plays the game like everyone else. I don’t think he’d risk his position in a crusade to shake down Washington and I think it’d be a good idea if he didn’t alienate everyone he knew there right now, unless there was an urgent need to get rid of someone, especially with the current economic state of our country and our shaky international relationships. He will need all the help he can get if he’s elected.
Given all of this, I’m impressed by Barack Obama in many ways and I think he can do some great things for this country as well as its spirit. I am just as impressed by the American people that we have allowed someone like him to get through the filter. A black man named Barack Hussein Obama, just forty-five years after Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, is inches away from becoming the forty-fourth president of the United States. Back then, this would have been thought near impossible.
And to make things better this man has broken out of his shell to become more than just a representative of the color of his skin, he has become a symbol of a changed United States of America. He represents a more social and understanding America ready to take on issues of international importance without the black-and-white gun-slinging cowboy perspective that has caused so many problems. He represents an America that will not let hypocrisy continue to ruin its reputation for moral leadership by ignoring committed injustices and brutal atrocities and supporting cruel dictators to exploit the resources of others. Obama represents a more-educated America that is ready and willing to tackle global issues like poverty, global warming and international conflicts without the kind of nationalism and arrogance that halts progress. He represents a strong America that fights for the things it believes in. And finally Barack Obama represents an America that has finally rejected prejudice, an America that has learned from the conflicts of the past, and an America that finally judges people not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
Obama’s not the messiah of change, he’s a sign of it.
Now if we can only prove all of this to ourselves and the rest of the world…
Rob Ludwig
I feel that the nomination of Barack Obama would help with the racial tensions in America. Obama is not predominantly black or white, so Americans would not be able to classify him as one or the other. We need change in these tough economic times. This sudden change would help Americans realize that the world is becoming mixed. I think having a mixed president would also help our image in America. We need to let the world know that we are heading in the right direction when it comes to race and all of its issues. I also think other countries would be more willing to compromise with a mixed president. Americans need to stop thinking this election is a bad thing racially just because Obama is half black. This election is positive in the sense of a unified nation. But separation among the nation is destined to come at first because of the sudden change. Throughout history, racial equality has had to take baby steps in order to reach its destination. When black suffrage was on the map and their rights were passed, America became divided at first, but now we do not even think about it when a person of another race goes to the polls. People do not understand the circumstances yet, not until the election is over with and a president is elected.
I also had an experience with my mom on this topic. I have to admit that I've being swept up in the whole Obama-craze recently. What initially attracted me to him is the fact that he is half black. I thought there was something very brave in him running. It's incredible that we are on the verge of seeing a black president for the first time in history, and MY generation could elect him. Truthfully though, I think this has become so big that it is somewhat of a fad. People are jumping on the "Obama-bandwagon" without knowing anything that he stands for. I have to admit that I'm guilty of this -- I don't follow politics too closely. But I definitely feel drawn to Obama, regardless of his politics, and I can't really pinpoint why. I feel like he is a step in the right direction, I feel he is sincere when he talks. I know he's not going to change Washington overnight, but then again, I don't think anyone could. But I do believe he will help change race relations in America. My mom often talks about how he reminds her of JFK -- about how they share a certain charisma, and I can see that too. She talks about how America but their faith in JFK to make a change, and Obama is asking for us to do the same thing for him. It's funny how me and my mom, two different generations, can relate on this candidate. We, like your mom, have been moved by his story and his words.
I find Laurie’s post interesting because it’s nearly identical to a message I sent to one of my closest friends a couple of weeks ago. He, a conservative, is displeased with both candidates and asked me to give him my best honest reason as to why he should vote for Obama. I knew that throwing a ton of policies at him would do nothing to move him because he would never agree with his policies. And I would be lyng if I said that I agree with them as well because my views on many issues are further “left” of the mainstream Democratic Party.
What I did do was ask him to look at the bigger picture. I asked him to think about what this moment will look like 40 years from now. Not everything will be just dandy when he is elected, but like Laurie’s grandmother, I can’t help but feel that there is history going on around me. I ended by saying to him that voting Obama into the presidency gives us a chance to practice what we as a nation have been preaching about equality.
His election does not mean that people of color will suddenly be treated equal to white people just because one black man managed to climb the ladder all the way to the top. There are still many that will be left behind. However, the acceptance of this half black, half white man is a step in the right direction. I too cried watching his speech because of the significance of the moment. The problems between races will not be fixed by this election. But this event gives me hope because I see it as an opportunity to show people that progress can be made in race relations. Knowing that things can really change will hopefully inspire the world to keep talking about these relations and make more progress.
I thought that this story was very interesting. I think it is important for older Americans to still be interested in politics. I think that this is especially important because of how our nation is changing in terms of racial relations. I think it is great that this woman was so moved by the speech of Barak Obama. Our country has grown to great heights in terms of acceptance of all races, sexes, and ethnicities in politics. This election is particularly significant in this matter. If Barak Obama wins, we will have the first President of the United States that is of mixed race. On the other hand, If John McCain wins, we will have the first female vice president. I am happy that she was able to attend the Democratic National Convention to see Barack Obama speak. I am pleased that she is so accepting of a mixed race candidate. I think that a lot of older people are not always as open to candidates of other races because they may have been taught not to be throughout their childhood. It was very inspirational to read this story. This woman has a very positive attitude and is certainly open to leaders of all races and ethnicities.
Just as Laurie’s mom was overcome by passion and emotion as Barack Obama accepted the presidential nomination at Democratic National Convention, I too was almost moved to speechlessness. As an African American living in a country where nearly all of the nation’s leader had been white, I can honestly say I never expected to witness an African American be nominated to the head of a political party ticket. It’s not that I am not an optimistic person, it’s more the fact that I am also a realist. But as I sat there, I had chills as I realized the historic moment that was taking place, a moment millions of people thought they would never see.
Although I agree that we all have to remember this is still politics we’re talking about, I am hopeful that Obama can change Washington and greatness for America ( here is the optimist in me).I also agree that a “deep chord of hope” was struck in millions of people across the country of all races, genders, and ethnicities. I believe that that chord was the belief that dreams do come true. Nearly everyone can remember Martin Luther King’s monumental “ I have a dream speech” and the glimmer of hope that was created inside of them when they first heard it. I believe that for millions of Americans watching Obama accept the nomination, reignited that glimmer of hope, the dream for the future. Although racism and inequality will continue to plague this country, that moment watching Obama reminded us of just how far we have come as a nation. It just gave a simple reminder that dreams really do come true.
WOW! I find this very troubling. While I do not know anything about your mother, her morning crying session seems so extreme! I guess the part I find the most troubling is how many people Obama has fooled with his speeches. I mean seriously, if this was the time of newspapers only and we were unable hear and see him, he would not be the candidate. His qualifications compared to other democratic senators is significantly different but not in a good way. Now what does this mean? Obama could easily be very successful with his charisma, I find it very scary that an “under qualified” person could win the presidency and be the face of the United States of America. Granted anyone will help the USA’s stock compared to good old George W., but his ignorance scares me to now end. The amount of things he promises sound great and probably moves all of the struggling populous (especially at this time with the financial crisis), but is this really just a ploy?
After the video Sam showed about Obama supporters (not knowing any of his accomplishments), I am very leery of them. Many of the Obama and McCain supporters I have encountered seem to have this same sentiment. While this may have been true of every election and every political campaign, I’m just really concerned about how people vote. Hmm, I guess this is one of the faults of the democratic system.
As qualifiers for all of my sentiments, I am updated on the political scene. I have watched all of the debates, as well as the convention speeches and the primary speeches. While I know that this could mean nothing because, let’s get serious, how often do the politicians say anything worthwhile? Did they answer any of the questions at the any of the debates? No! Do I understand why they didn’t? Okay so they don’t want to make a statement so that they can’t have their words taken against them. But seriously, maybe that’s the biggest flaw. We need politicians who are willing to take a stand. Okay Obama sounds like he might make a stand, but I just can’t believe it. I definitely would not be the one crying all morning over Obama’s “moving” speech.
I just asked a friend to help me finish this blog post. I asked her to tell me about Obama. All she was able to tell me is that he is charismatic. How funny. I didn’t even have to prompt her. Is this because of the media? Can we really blame the media? No I don’t think so. Free-will. We can decide to be moved or not. We have to see through and make more informed decisions.
I believe that Obama will be a great president of the United States. With that said I have many questions that are to be answered in the upcoming months. The whole entire time Obama was running he was lead on the platform of “change” but what changes are to be had. It has been nearly a month since this historic election, and I know that not long, but so far the biggest news out of the Obama camp is that Hillary Clinton with me Sectary of State. I would have really hoped to see a clear plan for change then the one lay out by the Obama team. Obama has been promising change for the last year-and-a-half, now it is time to deliver on that promise. Again I do not want to be misconstrued, I thing Obama will be a great president, but he needs to start now in order to deliver on the promise of change. Also the Obama phenomenon was mention in this blog. I wonder how far this “phenomenon” went in getting Obama elected. How many of his supports, black and white, supported him because it was the “cool” or “trendy” thing to do? I hope in the coming months Obama dose make good on his promises. I do not want him nor hope for him to fail. I hope he can make good on his promises. I hope he does bring change. I hope the next four to eight years are the great times in America. I feel that much is left to be seen. Do I believe that that Obama will be better than bush, in many ways yes and in other respects no. My biggest fear however is that the American people placed Obama on a pedestal so high that the only way is down.
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