The sober realist in me has argued that, with an unprecedented mess to address in the wake of Bush, experience trumps idealism. In the times ahead, having a President who has been scalded by political fires and emerged stronger can help America do the same. America may also need a mother’s arms as recession looms and we pay the price for our global arrogance. It is also vital to heal the historical imbalance in our country between men and women; no longer can we afford a world ruled by the psychology of men. It is time for women to take their place in full partnership.
On the other side, I feel the hunger that Barack has been feeding in the American people, inspiring a new generation to hope and to believe in America’s potential. The collective wounds that he heals by virtue of his ancestry and his dignity are profound indeed. He carries the torch for change in a way that reminds us all of our higher purpose. He stands as a global citizen, a shift that we as a country must also embrace. The sincerity and integrity of his every word touches deep chords across lines of race, party, and creed. We have already elected him the leader of a movement for change. But is he truly the best next President?
This debate has worked its way through me, from a Friday rally for Hillary where I felt the sincerity in her heart and the depth of her commitment to solve America’s problems, to watching Internet videos of Barack that brought tears of gratitude to my eyes for the beauty of this man.
Barack is speaking to the slumbering soul of our country. He is calling forth our highest aspirations as a people. He is shifting the consciousness of a country to a higher level by embodying that level himself.
While the President wears many hats, from legislator to commander-in-chief, the most important role is not explicit: it is to be the voice of America’s conscience and the champion of our highest destiny.
That is what made Kennedy great. He may have had less experience but he had a nobility of purpose that people could feel. He spoke in a way that called people out of their self-interests into a grander design. He challenged the American people to put a man on the moon, symbolizing our capacity to exceed all limits. He called us to move beyond our racial identities and find higher ground.
Barack is cut from the same cloth, a man whose integrity, vision, and power are calling people beyond partisan identities, beyond petty interests, and beyond a limited view of ourselves. He is the voice that can true us again to our highest destiny.
America needs to rediscover the true source of her greatness, a greatness that is not founded on economic or military might. It is a greatness of soul that has slipped away from us for too long. It is our generosity, our creativity, and our ability to champion a seemingly impossible future that makes this country special. Our spiritual leadership, birthed in the principles of our Constitution and expressed in the lives of people such as Martin Luther King, is the ultimate measure of us, far more so than our physical might. And that is where we need a true leader to help us find our moral compass again.
Barack is here to help us find our way again as a country. We are a country with a noble mission, truly in service to the world. We can rekindle that idealism in us again and marry it with our passion to create true solutions
Yes, we can, Barack says. Yes, we can.
Yes we can shake off the cynicism, fear, and aggression of eight years of Bush and find our compassion and love. Yes we can resolve the Iraq War and face our mistakes with honor and dignity. Yes, we can again stand on the world stage and say, “We are here to be an ally to all.” Yes, we can dissolve religious and political hatreds. Yes, we can live sustainably and abundantly. Yes, we can provide opportunity to those without it.
Hillary Clinton is a remarkable and powerful woman who would make a strong and competent president. But what we need most now is to remember who we are as a country. And for that task, I believe that Barack Obama is the President we need now.
If you haven’t watched this video, I strongly encourage you to do so before you vote:
www.dipdive.com
