" Disease Transmitted Orally"
by Charles L.Riccillo
As we count down to election day, I was surprised to find that even a member of my own family buys into the old "can't trust him because he is black" hogwash.
If, indeed, racism is a disease, United States citizens have, for the first time in our history, a golden opportunity to inoculate the corpus of this dear nation with a penultimate antidote!
They say they don't believe him, but have they read his book, "The Audacity of Hope"? Have they, for that matter gone to his online site to actually read his proposals?
I think not.
"Joe the plumber" has had his fleeting minutes of fame. And to his shame, he is not even certified as a plumber in his state, as it turns out, owes back taxes.
Governor Palin will appear on "Saturday Night Live' this coming Saturday, opposite their actress with an uncanny resemblance to her.
What will ensue?
I think it's an occasion which will amply entertain, and allow Sarah to yet again insert her lovely Alaskan foot into her big mouth!
To counter, I would suggest that Barack go a step further, and announce a cabinet which, in many cases, crosses party lines. Invite former Secretary of State Colin Powell back. Utilize Senator Clinton as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. Put Bill Clinton at the United Nations. Appoint Norman Schwartzkopf as Secretary of Defense. Reach out, in every instance for the most capable person, no matter the party!
Tell us, please and soon, Senator Obama, that you will take steps to insure our threatened civil liberties, become so terribly endangered by the Patriot Act.
Re-introduce legislation to repeal the law that turned bankruptcy for common citizens into an affair lasting a grueling thirteen - instead of just seven - years!
The United States certainly suffers from a multiplicity of ailments. These plagues compare to apocalyptically proportioned curses, and extend not just out to our citizens - but to all other nations, races and creeds.
Too many people are suffering genocide and starvation. While our troops languish, dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are no nearer to eradicating terrorism.
The Bush era has proved deficient in every respect.
Our national debt accrues daily by millions, and it staggers the imagination to think our children and grandchildren will be saddled with it!
Some would say that we need Divine intervention on many of these matters, and I would agree.
However we conceive of Deity, if at all, we could stand to prostrate ourselves, or kneel down - whatever our custom may be - and seek supernatural help!
The clear alternative otherwise becomes a nation upon an altar, in ashes.
Then, I ask you, whether in fact this Phoenix can be made to rise again?!
