"A More Perfect Union"
I am thirty one years old and for as long as I can remember America has been governed by President(s) Bush Sr., Jr., and President Clinton. The first time I was able to vote in a presidential election was in 1996, President Clinton's second bid for office.
I'm being completely honest when I say that up until a few months ago I knew very little about the voting process and politics in general. I voted for upcoming presidents sometimes. I voted on local issues less. I couldn't be bothered, really. I'd become pretty tired of the same old-same old that has been going on in the Oval Office for so many years.
I've often felt as if I was in the middle of a large lake, in a raft, without any paddles.
But then Barack Obama stepped into the spotlight and onto the campaign trail. And I became inspired. I remember watching Barack Obama give the 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address. I was stopped in my tracks, silent, intently focused on the TV in front of me.
....That is the true genius of America, a faith -- a faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles; that we can tuck in our children at night and know that they are fed and clothed and safe from harm; that we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door; that we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe; that we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will be counted -- at least most of the time....
After listening to his keynote address I knew that this was a man whom I wanted to see more of. A man who could do big things for our country. For the first time I felt hope.
Hope.
When Obama began his race for the presidency I was so excited. Due to my overall ignorance to all things political, I didn't realize what a dark horse he was in this race. I believed he could win even when he was trailing the other democratic hopefuls by double digits in the polls. And win he has. Currently Barack Obama has 1418 pledged delegates to Clinton's 1251.
It's been such a close race between Obama and rival Clinton that the media coverage has been unprecedented. Due to the overwhelming coverage I've immersed myself in all things political for the last few months. I just can't get enough. I know all about super-delegates and primary elections. I've watched multiple debates and had many conversations with friends and family about this upcoming election.
And then today I had the opportunity to listen to Barack Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech and I felt it again.
Hope.
In his speech today Barack Obama said in part:
For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle – as we did in the OJ trial – or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright’s sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she’s playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.
We can do that.
But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we’ll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.
That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, “Not this time.” This time we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native American children. This time we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can’t learn; that those kids who don’t look like us are somebody else’s problem. The children of America are not those kids, they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st century economy. Not this time.
Bold are the parts that I find most important in these paragraphs. As a teacher, mom, and American, Barack Obama speaks to me.
Not this time people. Not this time!
This time I choose hope and change.
For the first time in all my voting years I feel as if the paddles are in reach. Things are about to change.
Where do I sign up? I am ready.
Nanette Also blogs at her personal site, Smiling Mom.
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