Barack Obama: Can he Unite the World?
| posted by April ColeySuper-delegate's: Why Barack Obama?
I am originally from Buffalo, NY, however as a result of losing my mother at the age of 13 years old I relocated to North Carolina where I lived with my grandmother before going to college.
I remember a pivotal moment in politics being Ronald Regan cutting social security for children who were not in college by the spring of 1983. I entered college in the fall of 1983. It always bothered me that I would not have the benefit of my mother’s social security to help me while I attended North Carolina A & T State University. It was at that moment I became a member, in my mind of the Democratic Party. With my mother having left a trust fund I was able to attend NCA&T which did have a great impact because my first opportunity to vote was for my Alumni Jessie Jackson.
To be honest I was not current on the issues, I was voting for my Alumni and was proud to pull the lever so I often attribute Jessie to being involved at the time for my interest in politics. There is a side of me that heard Oprah on her show speaking about voting. She spoke from the perspective because someone died for the right of African Americans to vote we should always be engaged in the process. We should always strive to pull the lever. I appreciate that perspective to this very day. I strayed from the Democratic ticket in 2004 because I felt the issues were out of pattern with who I am as an American.
Let me explain: I pay taxes for public school, but I sacrifice to send my children to private school. I am a firm believer in the power of education and engage my children with activities to improve math, reading, culture, and social graces. I am a Christian but not judgmental, however I hold strong values from a biblical perspective. I believe we have a duty to help ourselves to learn and grow. I did not hear this coming from Kerry, or Edwards, quite frankly had it not been for Barack Obama's speech I would have been totally disappointed.
In an effort to wake up the Democratic Party I voted the antivote, George W. Bush. Not because I agreed with him, not because he was right, but because I believed that if the Republicans, and Democrats got tired enough they would in the next election choose the candidate that was best suited for the position, the candidate that did not care so much about party, but the people of our country.
The candidate that was not judgmental but tolerant. I had already hoped for Barack Obama to be that candidate with no understanding of his interest but with a deeply rooted belief that his time was coming. He is what Nat Irvin would define as a "Thrival", a futurist. The people that truly integrate in their lifestyle, education, spiritual values, and social experiences. People that believe in truly improving our environment, our relationships in the world and our families. I defined Barack and Thrival together. I started writing about them on my website 7weekly.com. I contacted Nat Irvin, I read both of Baracks books, and I read about Hill and Bill Clinton too. At the end of the day I knew that Barack Obama was not playing politics he was fighting for a better America. He was not playing politics he understood me as a middle class American.
I am the American that works smart, provides for my family immediate, and extended. My sisters and I, with our husbands are all striving to provide excellent educations for our children with great sacrifice. We are an invisible middle class, an invisible African American middle class, and invisible women in our commitment to family, work, and community.
We however see the hope, we see the future, we see a change, we see progress, Barack Obama, he is real, he is hopeful, he is experienced, he is a man of noble character, he will bring the country together, and he will reposition our country around the world!
If you are not voting for Obama because of color, in the words from the movie The Great Debaters: “If not now when will it be okay?" If you are not voting for Obama because as seasoned African Americans you fear for his life, we must move in the path God sets ahead of us, if this is the cup God pours for Barack Obama, he will drink from it in obedience, and that is the job of a good and faithful servant. If you are a woman voting to make history for women, I am all for that however there will be another day, and another candidate that is qualified, and does not recreate the same wheel we have seen, we want change, not a dynasty.
I like the Clinton's but I am not voting because I like someone, I am voting for the hope of a new day! If you are a Superdelegate and you cannot understand the error of voting against the masses, the movement sweeping America ask yourself are you standing for the country, or your personal interest. What do you gain from the vote?
I hope my letter is read all across America and makes a difference.
Barack Obama, for change, for hope, for leadership, for education, for environment, for President!
The time is now,
April Smith Coley
Editor in Chief
www.7weekly.com
