I am so Fired Up right now! Since I'm a public school teacher who's about to turn 30, and since I'm living in a state where my vote won't count, I've decided to head out to Iowa the first week of January to help support Barack Obama through the caucus. Needless to say, I am so lucky to be able to do this because I have the support of my wonderful husband and even my 3 and 1/2 year old son is excited saying "Obama for President!" It's been a rough couple of years for our family, going through health problems, financial problems, and family problems, but I feel hope because I know we're in for a better future with Obama as President and I'm willing to do what it takes to help get him in the White House.
I urge all of you reading this to also considering going to one of the early states if you're blessed with an opportunity like I have been. I got a relatively cheap flight and the campaign has supporter housing and transportation for people who really can't afford to stay at a hotel. Just call Headquarters and they will get you going in the right direction. Donating is always helpful too, but they can really use boots on the ground in the early states.
If any of you have ever been out to the midwest, or in temperatures that cold in the winter, please send along some advice about what to pack. I live in sunny Florida (though I'm originally from NJ) and I almost forget what freezing temperatures feel like!
Fired Up and Ready to Go!
I recently saw SiCKO and while I am concerned about America’s healthcare crisis, I came away downright disturbed about the larger threat to America’s democracy. In the movie, former British parliament member Tony Benn said, “How do you control people? Through fear and debt. If you’re shackled with debt, you don’t have the freedom to choose.” Americans are very afraid and many have debt. Others in the movie agree and explain that in most democracies the politicians are afraid of the people. We, on the other hand, are afraid of our government. We need to take the power back. My purpose is not to offend the wealthy. They’ve worked hard for what they’ve accomplished, but we do need to close the divide between rich and poor. I canvassed a lower-middle class neighborhood as a part of presidential candidate Barack Obama’s Walk for Change and was shocked that most people had not heard of him. Many of our citizens have become apathetic, just like Tony Benn warns. They may not rally or vote because they have to work several jobs to make ends meet. Guess what their children are doing? Working. How are they supposed to get an equal education when many of them can’t get medicine when they’re sick or food when they’re hungry? They then end up barely graduating high school, if they graduate at all, with no money to further their education because they don’t qualify for scholarships since they didn’t do well in high school. It’s a vicious cycle. We need to take care of each other and think about the WHOLE person. Americans are ill—physically, educationally, and spiritually. We must improve the human condition. I call upon all of you, rich and poor, to do something about it. Show our government that they work for us. We didn’t elect them to get rich off of our struggles but rather to make life better for us all. In the words of my choice for president, Barack Obama—“It’s that fundamental belief--I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper--that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. ‘E pluribus unum.’ Out of many, one.”
Check out Tony Benn's documentary Big Ideas That Changed The World--Democracy. It's 5 parts but you can find it all on You Tube. It's enlightening.
I’ve received e-mails from my right-wing friends accusing Barack Obama of being a radical Muslim who is out to destroy America. You may have seen some of the same in the tabloids. The urban legend website “Snopes” has already debunked this myth. Obama is a great man who is fortunate enough to be well-traveled and well-educated. This should not stand against him.
Today I canvassed a Daytona Beach neighborhood and my friends and I knocked on at least 200 doors. At least four times we heard "I won't vote for a Muslim" and before we could explain that Obama was not a Muslim, radical or otherwise, we had doors slammed in our faces. We need to address this issue. We need to educate people about Obama's background as well as about the goodness in the Islamic faith. We've been fed fear long enough. It's time to stand up and do something.
Hopefully we can get people to think better of Barack Obama, the man who calls us to unite as Americans. Please comment on this post if you have any ideas about how to educate these people whose ignorance is blinding them and not allowing them to see what a great candidate Barack Obama really is.
