A small flickering candle

[whosinpower]

As I sit here and read, and ponder the upcoming elections for you guys, a few things spring to mind that I thought to share with you.

I'll start out first by saying that I was strongly in favor of Edwards. Before you reject my note, I'll state that Edwards message resonated with me. I got it. Of all the candidates, he appeared to be the most reasoned. His message against corporate interests particularily interested me as I strongly feel this is the weak link in a capitalist democracy. We've all seen the results. We've all felt the pain and hardship that a corporatist government holds over its people - and in the case of a superpower such as the United States - that pain and hardship extends to the entire planet - save a few select insiders who benefit under this regime.

And after Edwards dropped out, my heart fell to my knees, and a inevitable bleakness began to overwhelm. Now, I should state that while Hillary Clinton is a strong candidate in many areas, to me - she represents the status quo. The Establishment that, in part enabled the GOP, because they did not fight hard enough, loud enough and long enough. The result is what we have today - an economy swirling around the pool of stagnant polluted waters, a broken treasury, a bloated military industrial complex and a war without end - a war with no end - planned specifically for that purpose. Hillary is a seasoned fighter, and she fights.....but what are the results? So much has been lost over the past eight years.

Obama never really inspired me in the way that Edwards did when I watched his debate. But, I began to read and research what all the fuss is about with this man. He is inexperienced some may say. He is naive, I've read. But I continued to muddle through his senate record - it was an attempt to seek out his real agenda - because his message(in my mind) was lacking in specifics.....and then slowly it dawned on me.(I am slow!) I think americans are getting his message because after eight years of terror, fear, and war - they yearn in the depths of their heart for a different message. They yearn to hear of optimism, just as a man standing in a desert, yearns for water. It is the lifeblood to give a person a reason why to carry on. They yearn for hope.

And I know it may sound rather corny, but those who slam Obama for his naivete' or his inexperience, or his foreign policy - I think they are afraid. It is easy to fear. Especially after eight years of fearmongering by the Bush administration. It is easy to be skeptical, wary. Once burned - and man have we been burned! Once burned, twice shy. And so there are many who are afraid - not afraid of change, but afraid to allow oneself the luxury of hope.

I used to roll my eyes when I heard Obama speak of hope. Hope is for suckers. Hope is what you do when your stone broke and delude yourself with illusions of winning a lottery. However - after more open minded reading about Obama's record, and his statements regarding foreign policy, about his senate record - and yes, his Iraq war stance....a funny thing happened. Deep in the corners of my mind, a small flickering candle of hope began to splutter to life.

Course, it matter not what I think or feel. It is up to you guys. But, I've decided that I prefer the small fragile flickering candle to the bleakness of what we have all been through. I hope he is the nominee. And I hope he kicks McCain's butt! But most of all, I hope for better days ahead.

[polichick]

1. k&r - well said :)

[Breeze54]

2. All of them represent the status quo

except Kucinich. All the rest are beholding to corporations.

[Solomon]

3. You took the words right out of my mouth.

I'll say it again anyway. Well said.