Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Just a quick note or two

Ciao everyone,

As you may know (it'd be hard not to at this point I'd believe), as a country we've elected a new president, and I couldn't be more proud of the outcome of this election. In the past, I've waded through 2 elections where I believe I had an interest, and both ended with much bitterness and sour defeat. Gore / Bush was painful just because of how close it was and the popular vote issue, and regardless of which of the two you supported, your candidate should have won, as one won the popular vote, one one the electoral. In 2004, my political interests were fully formed and I followed with a gusto that comes with enchantment with the political process. Again, I was sourly disappointed once again, and the way everyone piled on a reasonable candidate in John Kerry was just sad, even in the face of the terrible leadership we received from the executive over that time frame.

Today marks a new era in American politics, one where there is a consensus victor, and one who is offering change over the failed policies of the last decade, really. I know some who say Barack Obama is a socialist, an Arab, a Muslim, crazy, you name it, I've heard it, but before you write him off, give him a chance. Living abroad and having followed this election for well over a year now, I have been entirely impressed with his steadiness, his poise, his demeanor, and his solutions he has presented. These next few years are going to be tough, there's no two ways about it, but when you're down and hurting, when you feel like the walls are closing in, there's always one thing to keep you moving, and it cannot be understated in its value, nor achieved easily:

Hope.

Barack Obama has helped heal my wounds over the past few years as I got to know him as a politician (highly skilled and charismatic, which in International Relations is hugely important. Plus, the rest of the world already likes him, you can take me at my word on that one through life experience), as a person and family man (unlike John and Cindy McCain, the Obamas actually look happy when they look at each other, and they seem as real as you next door neighbor) and as a leader (steady no matter the odds). I could not give a more emphatic endorsement for Obama as our 44th President, and I cannot wait to return home to a country where I know I'll be on his watch. The past 8 years, I've had very little to be proud of in terms of government, and now's my chance to see the other side of the coin, to see just what the other side can do.

I know not everyone agrees with me, already with 84% of the votes counted, McCain has 51 million votes, Obama near 57 million, but still, if you look at it, McCain won over 45% of this country's votes, and while 55% of America is a large share, it's not a consensus. I know some are disappointed, but I ask you to give him a good chance. You don't have a choice anymore about the President, he's going to be it, so what do you have to lose to really hope it works for this guy? Our country needs a leader right now who's competent and can do the job, and I couldn't be more assured that we've got our man.

Thanks for bearing with me on this historic evening. I know some of you are elated too, and for that, I can only say "Yes we did," and our work is not done yet. We are a nation of brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, friends, individuals and collectives, families and neighbors, but most of all, we are the United States of America. We can stand firm together and make this world a better place than it has been, and not just for the few, but for all of us. Say I'm naive. Go ahead. I'm only 21. Say we're too different or divided, and that we're too partisan. Well, maybe we have been, but this country has been a lot of things: a country of slaves and slave-holders, a country that denied women the right to vote, a country where civil equality in race, gender, and sexuality are still major issues, but we've always done one thing: stand strong in the face of adversity.

Obama won Virginia, Iowa, Colorado, Ohio, Florida, and New Mexico, all states that voted for President Bush 4 years ago. He's ahead, or at least got almost exactly half the vote in North Carolina, Indiana, and Missouri, and made the strongest Democrat showing in Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee's modern electoral history. We are looking for unity right now I think, and don't be afraid to back Obama and to give him this chance to try and make things better. I know dissent is part of the political process, a necessary one at that, and you are free to disagree with me and literally despise Obama, but I encourage you with all my heart to give hope a chance.

Allow yourself to be "naive". Be young again. Believe in the promise of our country as a whole, not in a party or a opinion, but as a collective. United we stand, divided we fall. Where some are weak, many are strong. Our country is something so worthy of being proud of, and this man is resolved to show me its' promise anew. I couldn't be more proud of the result, of our next President, and most of all, our country. May we all work towards getting along and working together to create a more perfect union, one where we can all be proud to say we are America, and we support all of our people through thick and thin.

Happy Election Day America, and I'll see you anew in December.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wow you are an amazing young man Craig..Your words are very strong and so true. I woke up very happy this morning after watching, with my children, history being made last night. We have so much to look forward to and I for one can't wait to see the United States become a stronger country under Obama's leadership. What do we have to lose? I can't get any worse than it already is...