I'm watching Obama talk right now. His speech is fantastic. It's so good that I'm tearing up a bit, remembering what it's like to feel proud of a country that has done a great many things for a great many people, rather than a country of unilateral warmongering. There is a great sense of joy in my heart at the thought of a Presidency of global purpose and unity.
So why am I so sad and disheartened?
Because I just don't understand. So many things. I don't understand how this great country of ours, something I want to be so proud of, can fully half of Americans stand supportive of the divisive policies of Bush and his protege, McCain. How can such a large percentage of our people, looking at two men side-by-side, fail to see the incredible gap in talent, intelligence, honesty, and passion that exists with them? How can the politics of discrimination and greed be so strongly rooted in our nation that one of the most important Presidential races of my lifetime will be "close"?
I want to know, I want to understand, but then again, I don't want to look into that dark mirror and see the other side of America staring back at me. The America of racism, sexism, classism, sexual discrimination..the America that is hated across the free world. I want to hold that joy free from guilt. I want to know what we can do.
I'm appealing to all of you, get involved. Get involved with something. Build houses for the homeless, volunteer for events, give the smallest donations. It's all I can do, I know, to make this more the America that I find joyous, rather than the America that I fear. Do everything you can to make this America the America that is in your heart, and tear it away from the grips of greed, poverty, oppression, and hatred.