One in ten Americans think Barack Obama, (an all-American guy if we've ever had one), is a Moslem. In fact, he is a practicing Christian, not that that should matter. His opponent, John McCain, is not religious at all, which, in my view, is a point in his favor.
But there is so much fear, ignorance, and residual racism in 2008 America that Obama's prospects to be elected may hinge on whether these retarded attitudes can be overcome or not.
I believe John McCain is an honorable man. But if he is willing to be elected President by exploiting fear, ignorance and racism, he does not deserve any thinking person's vote.
And, unfortunately, this 71-year-old former POW (who has few other credentials to be running for President) appears to be all too willing to exploit the ugliness that still exists in America to achieve his political ambition.
My hope, and my belief, is that enough thoughtful voters will recognize that we are at an urgent crossroads in history, and our only hope, is to embrace the difficult complexities of our future, as opposed to our past.
So much rides on this election that all other elections in my lifetime pale by comparison. This is an era where we need a new vision, a new courage, a new sensibility about our role in the world. We are no longer, nor will we ever again be, #1. That self-destructive fantasy needs to be discarded.
Americans need with our full hearts to join the global community, give up our unwarranted privileges, and embrace our geographical advantages in a compassionate way. We can continue to be a rich people, as long as we reduce our carbon footprint, stop imposing our geopolitical will on others, reduce our absurd military fantasies, and respect the true diversity not only of the planet, but in our own communities. (Look around.)
1 comment:
Wow... where does one begin?
I don't think Obama is a Muslim. I don't think he's presidential material, either.
Most thinking adults I know, and have known, long since resolved issues of race in their minds. They have bias and know it; they've reflected long and often within themselves to prevent their bias from causing damage, especially that done by those who claim they have no bias. “It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.” - Abraham Lincoln
John McCain has missed many opportunities in this campaign because of his unwillingness to confront 'Obama' issues head on; this is precisely because he has gone overboard to avoid making race an issue. "In no way do I think John McCain's campaign was racist. I think they are cynical," Obama's own statement today.
Let me see now, qualifications of the 2 candidates:
Barak Obama – Present 143 actual days in the US Senate prior to entering the race.
John McCain – 4 years in the US House of Representatives, 22 years in the US Senate.
Yep, pretty close all right.
“This 71-year-old former POW...” Do I detect an age bias here?
The only Americans I know who are down to their last hope are the ones on death row. If our “only” hope is to forget the past and “simply embrace... our future,” then you've just suggested a religious faith; we must believe that change of almost any sort will be our salvation. “A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril.” - Sir Winston Churchhill
This great nation is still “#1” in so many ways that it boggles the mind to hear an educated American
claim it is not; I'd really like to hear some facts/figures to back that claim!
Any privileges I enjoy I have earned. I don't know about you, cousin, but the few things I enjoy at this point will, indeed, be taken “from my cold dead hand”. “I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered
something he will die for, he isn't fit to live.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
My compassion for others on this planet is best demonstrated by continuing to show them our example; we did not become the nation we are by being small people. “Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day.” - Thomas Jefferson
Our “carbon footprint” is smaller per BTU than any other nation on the planet, hands down. I am confident that we will continue to lead the world in the innovation of ever cleaner methods to produce and use energy. “The American, by nature, is optimistic. He is experimental, an inventor and a builder who builds best when called upon to build greatly.” - President John F. Kennedy
Our “geopolitical will” is survival first. Ask Al-Queda in Iraq (the very few now left alive there) how much of our military is fantasy; ask the Iraqi people if our military fantasy didn't stop the genocide of Sadam Hussain and provide a path for sustained peace among their millions. It has been the politics of the damned that have tirelessly worked to vilify our military's action in Iraq; the Iraqi peoples are growing stronger by the day now and will ultimately seize their (peaceful) future for themselves if we do not weaken. “In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed, it must be achieved.” - Franklin Roosevelt
As for the question of diversity... What other nation today, or ever, tolerated more diversity than the United States of America? Ever? “We hold these truths to be self evident...” - The words of our founders remain at the root of our law. We have struggled and sacrificed more than any nation in the history of this world in our unending effort live up to those ideals.
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