Ah, the hope, the healing... the hogwash!!
Ok, so I tuned in last night. I saw the people in the stadium, so full of hope -- had the time finally come? Will this be the year that will heal all wounds? There was magic in the air -- the music, the chanting. Every seat in the house was taken -- standing room only -- each soul sensing that this was history in the making.
Then he came out, to thunderous applause. The one who is going to help bring about a change. Would he deliver? With great confidence he stepped up and... he hit it out of the park! A grand slam! The place went absolutely insane! I was whooping and hollering too -- Aramis Ramirez had homered with the bases loaded to help the Cubs capture a come-from-behind win!!
Ok, ok -- I turned on the tv with every intention of trying to watch BO's speech. But then I realized exactly what was going on. It was the anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech, and this acceptance of the nomination was being turned into a civil rights event.
I have no ground to stand on -- I can't criticize because I'm not black. I don't know what they've been through. I accept that. And I don't want to take away the pride they feel.
AND I reject the notion that my country has been "backwards" up until now. That only now, that a black man finally has been named a candidate, are we truly moving forward. That is not what this election is supposed to be about.
It was one thing when a totally inexperienced person of color was pushed as an agent of change and became the first black Mayor of Chicago and the first black female senator. How much harm could actually be done? Forget that they both were in over their heads and were dismal failures -- they were small blips.
But we're talking about the Presidency of the United States, the man we're going to choose to be the "leader of the free world."
I don't care how charismatic or inspiring he is. I don't care how old he is or what color he is. I don't care where his parents were born or how many houses he owns. I don't care if he wears a flag pin or not.
I don't even care that he's a man. I want the person with the experience and the proven record to make changes. Just as I wouldn't want a med student to operate on my child -- I want a person we have all seen do the right thing year after year to lead this country.
Anyone who casts a vote simply to make a point, or be a part of history -- or who casts a vote against because of someone's middle name -- is thumbing their nose at what this country truly stands for. It's not us vs. them. No matter which way you color it.
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