Dear America - Where is our next great president?
by A.J. Ward
I am just like you. I work most days of the year trying to earn enough to pay the bills and keep my children fed. I am as informed about our nation as humanly possible, by reading online newspaper articles and watching the news. You probably thought you were paying attention too, but just like me, you've been waiting for the evening news to decide your vote for you. What I haven't seen until today, is the name of a candidate for our president for which I could actually stomach a vote. Finally we have a guy surface that is the true definition of a public servant, and not a slave to corporate America .
So, my basic question was this"where is the guy out there who speaks for me? Wasn't this country established "for the people, by the people" and all that? Does my president or up and coming leaders speak for me or for "special interests"? Where is my guy hiding for heaven's sake? Will the media ever announce a candidate without telling us what to think about him or her? No one likes to be told what to think when you get down to it, and with no other apparent alternatives to the national media for basic information, it's no wonder that most folks will be rushing home to eat dinner rather than voting on election day.
OK, so I am reading the Houston Chronicle online, and I see this third guy's name mentioned with the other two prominent candidates. "Is this for real?" I am wondering. I never heard about HIM on the evening news. So, I pull up his website (http://www.kucinich.us/index.php ) only to discover that he has been practically declared "out of the race" by the unofficial pollsters and media out there. Hey"nobody asked me (I'm not a special interest group)! Is it too late for this guy?
How many Americans have even heard about this "visionary"? I don't proclaim to announce him as the "second coming" or anything, but listen to me- he is in touch with the true vision that can have the most profound effects for Americans and every society and civilization that we touch. I would be more than happy to stand by my statement and debate anyone on this subject. If you have any learned prejudices installed in your repertoire, save your breath"you won't get past the first round! The vision I am writing about is simple, yet in the "real world", seems to be often overlooked. In this world of extremism and exclusion, basic humanity and common sense has taken a back seat.
I have never claimed to be of any particular political demographic. Do I vote Republican, Democrat, or other? I just want the right man for the job, who cares what his affiliation is! Don't try to guess my background, motives or desires. Do assess yours. Is America where it should be on the world stage? Is the right man at the helm of our great ship U.S.A. ? Is there a man out there who can put our ship on the correct course? I believe that man may be Dennis J. Kucinich, but you must be the judge of that. Find out anything you can about him. Remember, "For the people, by the people""make your voice heard, and the vision of our collective goodness shall prevail. Please do not waste time by waiting for someone else to do it (i.e. -the media). If you want a better society, it has to start with you and everyone on your block. I am writing this to keep the ball rolling"and it's coming down your street very soon!
RELIGION, EXCLUSION & POLITICS
There is enough political bashing and "candidate" mud slinging out there for all to see, so I promise not to add any more fodder to the pile (ok, maybe a little). Here are some questions: you supply the answers. How many past presidents and leaders of nations have come to the realization that life on this planet is absolutely and completely symbiotic? Wouldn't you suspect that the political and social decisions of our world's past leaders would have been a bit different with that insight? Are exclusionary societies the best way to cope with each other's differences? Do our American leaders and current president have an exclusionary agenda? I'll answer that last one -YES!
One common denominator of all of the world's experimental exclusionary societies is that they have all, or are eventually doomed to fail brilliantly (see Dictatorship, Communism, Dubya). The current path of our "Christian Coalition" based presidency, is creating one of exclusion to others as well. I will certainly expand on that statement, but I will begin it with this: any political regime based on an interpretation of a "religious" text with no thought of fair practice and equality is summed up in one word - DANGEROUS. To whom you ask? It is dangerous to those you wish to exclude from the basic God given human rights you demand for yourselves, simply because they do not share your faith. It is dangerous to your own people who you seek to protect. It is DANGEROUS to the delicate fabric of humanity as we know it. Equality is impossible with conditional prejudices. Prejudice is impossible with unconditional equality. --and the twain shall never meet".
Now that I have your undivided attention, know that obviously there has been incredible positive evolution in our ideals as a free nation, and many of them are truly fantastic. If our fore fathers hadn't written down the "Declaration of Independence" a few centuries ago, we may never have become the great nation we are. The challenge before us now, is to take the next step into a global society of true social and economic freedom (and of course, religion!). It is closer now to reality than in any other time in human history. On the "flipside", we are also presently at the cusp of a total meltdown of human rights and basic freedoms. There is no time like the present to change. There is no time to waste. No, we don't have all the answers"if we did, there would be no war. Our fair president certainly didn't have the answers, or he may have steered us away from the Vietnam-like conflict we presently find ourselves in.
I don't know about you, but our current direction actually creates a sliver of fear for me and our children's future. Will we be still fighting "terrorism" when my children come of military age? Haven't we figured out that these people think they are fighting a religious war? Attempting to convert them to Christianity is not the answer. We do have to speak to them on a different level however. A spiritual conversation may be in order, but leave the "Jesus saves" message for another day. Yes, I know that "freedom isn't free", and I gladly served my country as a wide-eyed kid in the US Navy.
In conclusion, please consider carefully the motives of the person you elect as your president. And by all means make sure that they speak for you - the people. Do not let the six o'clock news tell us who we should vote for. I never saw myself as a "Progressive" before, but now I think that if the shoe fits, I will wear it proudly!
A.J. Ward ajward@ev1.net 36 years old, Married with 2 young children, ages 1 and 6. Works as a sales executive in Houston , Texas A.J. has written several pieces about a wide variety of subjects-mostly directed at the media & has written many letters to media outlets all over the country.
