In honour of tonight’s election returns:
If you don’t get it, visit the BBC.
P.S. I don’t endorse Obama or any other presidential candidate. I just think this numbers game in the States feels a bit like Mitchell and Webb’s Numberwang…
I was a Kucinich supporter who was deciding between Obama and Edwards when Edwards dropped out. Today, I went to see Obama at Key Arena. He filled the 18,000 seat venue easily (several thousand were turned away). Luckily, I was wearing a purple jacket, so slipped in with the SEIU health care union block. It was really more like a rock concert than a political rally. Obama has a really effective speech, which electrifies the crowd. He seemed a bit tired at first, but hit his stride about half way through when talking about the core domestic issues: health care, education, economic justice, and so on. The real show, though, was the crowd: “the best people watching I’ve seen in a long time” according to a friend. Seeing so many engaged people was definitely heartening, and energizing. If engagement in politics becomes a widespread social phenomenon, that’s gotta be a good thing. I’ll be caucusing for Obama tomorrow here in WA state (if you’re a WA voter, click here for caucus locations).
[The last one is actually the back of the head of the guy in the row in front of me, but let’s pretend I got right behind Obama’s head for this one. Are you with me?]
Today, I prayed. I prayed hard. And I have high hopes for all of mankind; not just the people in the country I live in. I don’t feel superior because I live in America. I am not superior. Superiority isn’t based on a country, a race, a gender. Superiority is what God has chosen as superior. It is principles, and sticking to them to the best of one’s ability that is superior. And for that reason I pray and continue to pray for change. For a change that will change the mindset of us in this country, and make us realize that there are other people, in different parts of the world, that matter. We don’t pick and choose who is better, whose lives are worth saving. We don’t risk killing people, and possibly be wrong. If we support a war, we better be sure they are the ones who commited the harm. If not, we better hold our fire… for if we don’t, God Heareth and Seeth all.
Today, I prayed that Barack Obama would gain momentum. He has. Thank God.
And let me add something. It isn’t the man that I seek. It’s the ideas that are offered. I also keep in mind, just like any person should, that no human being is perfect. Sometimes we must choose against ourselves and look at priorities. My priority is life. I pick life.
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