Saturday, October 11, 2008

Vote for Hope! Vote Obama!

I believe it's time for a change. Don't you?

The question I most frequently ask myself, is ”What do I believe in?” I’m a Pragmatist cloaked in the battling scarves of cynicism and optimism. But of all the things I believe, the one that guides my life, my work, and even to an extent, my dreams, is my belief in humanity.

I think we can be ugly, petty, hateful, spiteful, small, greedy, and exceedingly ridiculous; but it’s never changed my belief that we are kind, loving, and absolutely beautiful. I believe in our good. I believe in our greatness. I believe in our ability to live past the moment and envision a future; while acknowledging that we will mostly be short-sighted in our efforts. And with my beliefs I retain hope. Hope that despite how far we fall and how frequently we fail; that we have the ability to rise. We have the ability to stand up, to say ‘Yes’ or to say ‘No’; to be the best that we can be; or to just slide by.

Hope. It’s such an optimistic little term. Whether you’re sleeping on the streets or in you warm, comfortable bed; we hope that tomorrow will be a good day, a better day. For the last 2,900 days the days have been dark, and grown darker. But hope, like humanity, has risen. It glows in one presidential candidate, Barack Obama. Obama believes in America, but more than that he believes in humanity. He acknowledges our capacity for good and evil; but recognizes that it doesn’t diminish us but makes us ever hopeful. His belief offers a wellspring of hope. Look at it. It’s bright and beautiful.

Before I started this post, I asked myself, should I go logical or emotional or just say what I believe. Sure I can name a 101 reasons to support Obama, but I only need one—the difference in “wanting the best for humanity” vs “wanting the power to do what you think is best.” For too long, we’ve suffered under those who believe, “father knows best.” It’s time for a paradigm change.

Maybe the question you should ask yourself, for this election, is “What do you believe in?” Do you believe in you? Do you want to? It requires a little bit of hope, a willingness to let go of the fear. But it’s beautiful.

Footnotes

P.S.: I created the image, highlighting six (6) populations or issues of importance to me. I started it with eight (8), but that was too crowded. My two (2) missing issues are: environment and small & independent businesses. There are others of course, those were just the top eight (8); and directly effect me somehow.

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1. On 10/11/2008, Perfect Moment Project says:

   Nicely put.  Hope, vision, humanity.  Character. 

   I just wrote about Donna Brazile’s effect on me.. beyond the great ‘back of the bus’ story, she focused on the need for strength of character. 

   I love your six points of light.  Nicely done.

   Why Donna Brazile gave me my Perfect Moment of the week.

 
2. On 10/14/2008, Marc in Miami says:

   All of my non-Floridian friends are telling me that Florida better not mess up the election this time, lol

   As if i can do something about the corrupt counting at the polling venues.  Hopefully though, me and some of my legal friends can stop some of the disenfranchisement the GOP will be attempting this year.

 
3. On 01/08/2009, says:

   Obama won the elections! Go Obama!

   We have a chance of growing more!