This is a love letter.
America,
I have been watching you from afar for decades. I’ve been at times almost entranced by your beauty and promise: your Pledge of Allegiance, your Declaration of Independence, your "American Dream." The Statue of Liberty, the moon landing and your iconic heroes that not only shaped your history... but that of the entire world.
But now, on November 4, 2008, I worry for you.
I see your financial system crumbling. I see criminals in leadership roles escaping prosecution. As I look on, I watch your freedom of speech evaporating, regular citizens being detained without charges, ever expanding police powers, and people dying or losing everything due to medical treatments that they can’t afford. All of this and more makes me worry that the country that built itself on a foundation that rejected tyranny has let it sneak in the back door.
Maybe under a new government your elected representatives will remember that they are there to do the will of their constituents. Perhaps, after the election, people who work hard all day everyday will have the money they need for medicine, food, shelter, and even a little more. Maybe under a new government journalists can get back to investigating stories that matter and maybe they won’t be arrested or harassed for doing their jobs. Perhaps, after you have a new leader, your education system will start producing top students again instead of students that are ranked near the bottom in math and science on international tests. Perhaps lobbyists won’t call the shots by waving money at members of the senate and broken voting machines won’t leave you questioning who really won the most votes. Maybe with a new administration people will have their honest questions about Katrina, about September 11th, and about the financial crisis answered. Maybe the new leadership will think harder and more soberly about sending Americans off to kill in foreign lands, and to die there. Maybe the new government will relinquish some of the dictatorial powers the last government siezed for itself, privileges that are hostile to civil and human rights and to the Constitution.
I hope all of this comes true.
But it might not.
And if it does not, America, if the new guy treats you badly, remember who you are. If you continue to be ignored, impoverished, spied on, stolen from and lied to I implore you to look back in your own history to the rights you built your country to preserve and the heroes who fought to preserve them.
Each one of you has the power to stand up, to demand better. Have you forgotten that? Do you know that you have leaders among you? That you, yourself are capable of great things? Best of all, you have the numbers. There are so many of you that if you were to speak with one voice I know that change isn’t only possible, it’s guaranteed! As soon as you let go of the meaningless political divisions that tear you apart you will see clearly that all of you want the same thing: To experience joy, to have a full stomach and a warm bed, to feel love, to live a peaceful life, to pursue your dreams, to engage in meaningful work, to enjoy a healthy body and mind, and to have friends & family that support each other. Across the world, this is what we all want. Across the world, we are pulling for you.
If this election does not deliver the promises it is making, take it as proof positive that change can’t come from on high. If, after the votes are counted, neither audacious hope nor maverick outsiders deliver the revolutionary change that they promised I hope that you will finally turn away from this politics of division forever and turn towards one another.
It is the only way. Unite with each other and reject the promises from the left and from the right. Govern yourselves the way the founding fathers wanted you to. Take back your liberty.. show the world you are worth all the adoration I feel.
Yours truly
NEW: It is three years on. He hasn't delivered. Do what you have to do.