To Whom It May Concern;
I am a 33 year married man who has seen plenty of elections come and go. I come from a long line of Republicans and my grandfather (whom I loved very much) was a lobbyist for PG&E and a close friend of Ronald Reagan.
Growing up I knew there was something different between my views and my family's views and I could never understand why. I had a few moments of clarity in my early 20's but mostly that just gave way to disinterest knowing that nothing I said or did was ever going to matter and what was the point in being involved in politics let alone voting, when the people with the power, ultimately made the wheel turn and I was just insignificant grease.
The past few years it has gotten so bad I have been embarrassed to think I am an American and couldn't imagine myself in another country proclaiming myself an American. Our foreign and domestic policy as well as political, racial, and economic divisions has gotten to the point where my wife and I actually discussed about whether it was a good idea to bring children into this world.
But then, a funny thing happened. We had a little boy. And with that little boy came a glimmer of hope. I looked at the world a little differently. I started to pay attention to my heart and began following politics again and started to let myself care a little.
When Senator Obama's message came along I began to believe maybe what I thought mattered. My friends started having discussions in our circles and people were responding with their opinions and though we didn't always agree, we began to all understand it wasn't always the ideals we agreed on that was important, it was ultimately that we collectively wanted something more. We hoped for something more and we began to see ourselves as "we" and not us against "them."
As I lay in bed the other night, I found myself praying (and I am not a religious man) and actually believing that my prayer for a better America and World might actually become a reality. Not only because my candidate started winning, but because I started talking to Republicans, Independents, Greens, African Americans, Whites and the list goes on. The conversations we were having had changed and the differences began to melt away. We began speaking with words not designed to divide, but the kind of words one would use at a back yard picnic with close friends. Statements like "wouldn't it be nice" began to give have a hint of "things might actually be happening." That might sound like simple niceties but have you ever been to North Dakota? Words are a precious commodity here. One word greetings are a lengthy conversation and two words would be considered a deep philosophical discussion.
Things are changing. People are regaining hope.
A little spark in my heart started telling me that I was ready to stand and spontaneously yell with the loudest voice I could muster..." THIS IS OUR AMERICA AND WE ARE AMERICANS!!!!!"
Whomever you are and whether you actually read this or it simply becomes a mess of 1's and 0's in somebody's mailbox trash....I implore you to consider; sure sometimes words are words, but sometimes and once in a great while, they are so much more.
This is that great while. This is that opportunity to step beyond mediocrity. This is that chance to have that feeling once again. I am sure you too miss that feeling of believing that YOUR government is working for you and YOU are ready to work for your government. The same feeling that the person whom was elected to represent you isn't calculating post office gains and stature in history but truly bringing people together for the greater good and not just personal achievement.
Now for the first time in my life and my newborn sons life, I all feel like we can do something more and give the Greatest Generation something to be jealous of.
Would you consider helping us continue that feeling and be a part of something bigger than all of us?
With absolute sincerity and yes, even hope,
Ric Todd
