Facing the challenges, leading into the future. I've never seen America so divided. It's like the Civil War, but this war is a war of politics. My message to John McCain... enjoy your family and use your time wisely to help people. Losing this election might very well be a great blessing in disguise for your life. You get to go do things that are meaningful to other people without struggling with the politics of Washington, dealing directly with the powerful elite that buy and force their will, the many splinter special interest groups who scream their agendas, the many problems the country faces that are much deeper than legislation, economics and elections; those problems in the families, hearts and minds of a very splintered people. My message to Barack Obama... enjoy your enthusiastic ideals and visions. You will give your heart and energy to fight for them... just remember the winner is not the one who has the position, but the one who actually heals, forgives and lives. Barack, you will face the ugly side of America and politics and power. You will either become what they are or they will find somoeone else. Don't fight it, avoid it; to win in Washington requires compromises you are not willing to make. You will think it is best to give and take, but everyone in a divided house must either jump off or go down. Become the peoples president, don't worry about legislation or money, leave Mr. Biden with that ... you have a chance to spend time with local leaders and lost citizens... if you could inspire as many as possible, become a servant leader, washing feet, cleaning city streets, spend time help the family of those in prison, spend alot of time in schools encouraging children, go to the gangs and the simple working class, go to the single moms and the shift workers... ignore the clamor for legislation... heal the nation. A pastor of 1500 people once told me he only was able to change the life of about 4-5 people, those he spent much time with. I never forgot that lesson and so as a pastor I don't look for a crowd, I look for the next person I can help, spend time with and share with. No matter who wins and I am thoroughly convinced that Barack will win; we should all pull together, not politically, but neighborly. You can vote for your neighbor, your co workers and your family every day.
Nice and sound advice, rhester. In the next year and a half, America will see its first economic downturn unseen since the days of Carter. All we can do is collectively hope and not lose focus on our families, our goals, and preserving our decency when it comes to other people. Obama has already made many compromises that doesn't seem straight with his partisans, but something about him holds promise of a new beginning to me. His books, whether you agree with it or not, shows an intellect of a person who understands what's going on and is willing to find ways to come to a solution. Even with the brightest minds at his disposal, a President is never always right when making a decision. It's something Dubya knew and fatalistically accepted in his early years. I think Obama will have more sleepless nights than Bush.
very nice post rhester ... you have a chance to spend time with local leaders and lost citizens... if you could inspire as many as possible, become a servant leader, washing feet, cleaning city streets, spend time help the family of those in prison, spend alot of time in schools encouraging children, go to the gangs and the simple working class, go to the single moms and the shift workers... ignore the clamor for legislation... heal the nation. That might require re-distributing wealth (taxed, not personal that is...)
I like Obama as a person. If I could separate his issues from his candidacy I would vote for him. I think he has obligated himself to push the agenda on his website and I feel he is honorable and will do everything he can to see it through. I think if I met him we would agree pretty much on what needs to change in America, I don't think we would agree very much on what the solution is. I think if I was president I would tell the secret service to leave me alone. I would get in my car with my family, tell the national media to bug off and allow interviews only with local radio and tv. I would go to as many people as possible and try to join our hands together. I would be the word of mouth president. If he did something that radical. He definately would be the candidate of change and I personally believe America would rally behind him like nothing we have ever seen. He wouldn't have to be for or against anything, he could support serving together, sharing together and sacrificing together. A healed America would find a way to solve the problems. We just need a leader.
