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Sophia (New York, NY)

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I have not used this up until now, but I received an inspiring email from one of my friends the other day and have been trying to figure out how to get it posted on this website so other people would be inspired by it. My friend wrote this before Senator Obama's victorious win in Iowa and his message was not only correct in his prediction but it was amazing in his dedication to this cause. So, if you are looking to be inspired to gt fired up for the long haul in supporting Mr. Barack Obama -- look no further than this message. Please read his email and pass it on to whoever you would like (I already asked his permission and he is fine with it). Thanks! I will do my best to use this blog has a way to not only inspire other supporters to keep on chugging along but to also hopefully inspire supporters to not just support but to inspire others to become supporters as my friend is doing in his email...Thanks again!

We are extraordinary...let us not forget it!

By Sophia - Oct 31st, 2008 at 12:54 pm EDT

Barack Obama’s phenomenal campaign which has been run completely on his faith in himself, his loved ones, and our faith in him truly hit home with me last night while watching his 30 minute “infomercial”.

You see, I have been an avid supporter of Senator Barack Obama’s since the summer of 2007. And I am SO grateful that I became a supporter. But I did not realize how my contributions with my time, my money, and my efforts to engage my family, friends, and loved ones, even in simple discussions about his campaign, have contributed to Senator Barack Obama being in the current position that he is right now to even air that informercial and have contributed to my understanding of my own power as an individual.

And it hit me that it truly only ever takes just one. It takes just one individual to stand, one individual to go against the grain, to question the status quo…..JUST ONE PERSON. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE POWER INHERENT IN WHAT I JUST WROTE? JUST ONE PERSON.

Knowing, not just saying, but knowing and truly believing that it only takes JUST ONE PERSON to change the world – that concept is mind-blowing.

Imagine if Barack Obama had not decided to run for President because the odds were so highly stacked against him?

Imagine if Michelle Obama had decided to not endorse her husband and nurture his dream and instead discard it some crazy concept?

Imagine if that one individual who first decided to support Barack Obama’s campaign and not to spread his/her endorsement to those around him/her?

Imagine if that one individual did not engage another individual, who then engaged another individual, and so on and so forth…which has now created this movement that has brought Senator Barack Obama to this point in time, in history?!

Imagine? Can you just imagine? Now imagine the fact that this has all been a long, long road that began with just one step…just one step…and you will realize that….

WE DID THIS! WE BROUGHT THIS MOVEMENT TO THIS POINT….WE DID! And NO MATTER what happens come Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - we are left with the understanding that truly nothing, truly nothing is impossible. Nothing at all. If we can contribute to this individual, with everything stacked against him, and get to this point where he is quite possibly going to become the next President of the United States of America - then my God, we can do ANYTHING. ANYTHING at all.

Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, John F. Kennedy, Harriet Tubman, Gloria Steinem, Madeline Albright, Prince, Michael Jackson, Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Jefferson, Sidney Poiter, Janet Jackson, Benjamin Franklin, Sojourner Truth, Abraham Lincoln, Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry…oh..I could go on and on with the list of people who have been game changers. People who have accomplished things beyond their wildest dreams and beyond anyone’s conceptions. And you know why?

These people got to the point where they literally changed the game by FAITH. Let me say that again.

These people changed the game by FAITH.

Without faith in themselves, faith in people to change and to want something more for their lives, and without the faith from people — these individuals would not be in our minds as heroes, as extraordinary human beings.

The beauty of this is not just that it only takes one and that we all can be extraordinary by believing in our dreams and holding on dearly to our faith in those dreams, even when things go dark, eve when we have no concept as to how to get to that huge dream - no, the beauty of all of this is that we are all extraordinary.

Yes, I said it. We are all extraordinary. There is no other way to look at it, except for just as that. You see, there can be no leader without followers. There cannot be a conductor without the orchestra — there is no music without the orchestra nor without the conductor. So you see, there is no way that the people we call extraordinary can be extraordinary without US also being extraordinary.

Our faith in them, our contributions to their efforts, our support of them takes FAITH and FAITH is an extraordinary concept seeing as how it is is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

So when you look at the massiveness of the movement that pushes Barack Obama forward, whether or not you support the man, understand this very well. We are all extraordinary and we recognize that we are extraordinary when we exercise faith. When we just believe in something with faith the mere size of a mustard seed, and work hard on our dream, we can truly move mountains. And Senator Barack Obama’s campaign has done that…we have literally moved mountains. And he could not have done that without us and we could not have done it without him….he is no more extraordinary than us and we no more extraordinary than him. And if we can do this, then why not be extraordinary in our lives, all of the time? Why not step out on faith in ourselves, as we have done for him, and lead our extraordinary lives that are just waiting for us? Why not?

"Just keep swimming...just keep swimming!" - Dory

http://oshunlife7.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/the-conductor-cannot-exist-without-the-orchestraboth-are-crucial-to-the-equation/

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Yes We Have, Yes We Did, And Yes We Can Again!

By Sophia - Oct 31st, 2008 at 12:50 pm EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

Let me start off by saying — this is about us.

This campaign is not about Senator Barack Obama. This campaign is not about Senator John McCain. This campaign is not even about Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Joe Biden, or even Governor Sarah Palin.

No, this campaign is, has always been, and always will be about US.

This campaign is about us because whoever is chosen to be the next President of the United States of America is direct reflection upon us as American citizens, as a nation.

I say all of this to remind people that we are all a part of this choice, whether or not we vote in November 2008.

I want people to remember that it is sooo important to talk but it is much more important to take action. Action bodes movement in the direction that may actually end up in change that leaves an impact upon other people’s lives.

In light of the first debate between the two presidential nominees, I want to stress how important it is to take action right now, each and every single one of us.

I am an avid supporter of Senator Barack Obama, so the list of action points that I have listed below are to support Senator Barack Obama.

If you support Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic Party, or just are against a McCain-Palin administration and you are looking for some way to feel a part of making something happen, please read below. Thanks!

Be sure that you are registered to vote: http://www.voteforchange.com/index_obama.php

10 ways to get involved: http://obama.3cdn.net/56d7862be8e614eef6_b6m6bndg2.pdf

Spread the word about these ways to get involved or any others you come up with - we did it and we can do it again!!! We really can!

"Just keep swimming...just keep swimming!" - Dory

http://oshunlife7.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/yes-we-didand-yes-we-can-again/

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WALK FOR OBAMA NYC - JAN. 26TH!

By Sophia - Jan 25th, 2008 at 2:22 pm EST

I found this post on another page, so I decided to re-post it just so more people can find out about it.

WALK TO COLUMBUS CIRCLE FOR A 2PM RALLY FOR OBAMA

WALK FOR OBAMA - Saturday Jan 26 (Meeting)Obama will unite America!
Rain or snow or shine we will unite New York City!

WALK FOR OBAMA
Saturday, January 26th

*MANHATTAN
Upper Manhattan - 11 AM - Meet at new Harlem Office, 130th St. and Lenox Ave. We will head south.
Lower Manhattan - 12 PM - Meet at Union Square. We will walk north.

*QUEENS - From 10AM to 12PM, we will meet for the grand opening of the new Queens Obama Office, 136-11 Farmers Blvd, Springfield Gardens. At 12PM we'll join a caravan of cars and parade throughout Queens and head into Manhattan for the 2PM Rally.

*BROOKLYN- We will take the subway to Union Square at Noon.

*STATEN ISLAND - At 10:30 AM, we will meet on the street outside the Staten Island Ferry, take the ferry to Manhattan, and head to Union Square.

*BRONX - We will take the subway to meet at 130th and Lenox in Harlem at 11AM.

Wear your Obama buttons, hats, and shirts. Homemade signs are encouraged. Let's show the world that New York wants a President with integrity and vision to bring real change to Washington!

Questions and to help with flyering: jacob@newyorkobama.com
Media inquiries: ecooper@newyorkobama.com
Brooklyn: erin@brooklynforbarack.org
Bronx: glecharles@yahoo.com
Queens: jonta_williams@hotmail.com
Staten Island: chris@brooklynforbarack.org
Note: Senator Obama will not be in attendance.

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An exciting time, and an invitation

By Sophia - Jan 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pm EST

My dear friends,
The following is a presentation of my personal beliefs on a topic that can often spark controversy, has the potential to inspire, and as some dude once said always takes an interest in us, even if we do not take an interest in it: politics.
As many of you know, I have been eagerly tracking Barack Obama since his 2004 DNC speech, and I decided to become active in his campaign when I moved back to New York last May. My involvement has been varied, from group meetings to "canvassing" (not really, in Manhattan) on the street, to gathering signatures to get Barack on the New York primary ballot (in case you didn't know, democratic candidates need at least 5000 signatures from registered democrats to get on the ballot, with at least 500 from each congressional district). And I may take the next step soon and venture up to New Hampshire to join the troops on the ground.
But enough about me! I am writing this for you, to invite you along for the ride. Overall, that is what I hope this email to be: an invitiation, if not to support Obama, then to at least learn some more about him and other candidates.

These words and phrases like politics and supporting a campaign are thrown around so much they become hackneyed and take on warped meanings. But this is different.
This is different. I hope and believe this will prove to be more than a campaign. There is only so long we can talk about how important these elections are and how this country needs to find a way to be good again before we actually do it. My hope is that Obama will not only be the person to bring about this change we need so badly, but that in doing so he will rouse a slumbering nation, galvanize a people, and in so much as we can, unite a nation of Americans under common goals. This for me is the political version of the one genus postulate: we are more simply human than otherwise (that which makes us similar is greater than that which makes us different).
Change is the only constant. This little nugget of Buddhist philosophy comes into play here not because of Obama's self-touting at the "change candidate" but because Obama has demonstrated that he understands this surprisingly elusive concept. From Obama's personal transformation from a confused, bi-racial high school student who escaped through pot and yes, the "occasional blow" to his current state; to the unconventional way his campaign is being run, truly engaging people at the grassroots level; to the fundamental difference between Obama's political approach, which goes beyond point-counter point to meaningful synthesis, and the old-school political style of us vs. them.

And so what about the issues? As you probably know, Obama is a middle of the road liberal. This email is quite long enough so I'll pass on a link so you can learn more about specific issues. http://glassbooth.org/ is a great site, not only for their little candidate quiz but you can also find a list of candidates and issues and look at each one.
The issues are key, and I really encourage a look at them first and foremost. But one of the thoughts I hope to convey here is that the exciting part of Obama goes beyond the issues. It's the possibility of having a president we can be comfortable calling a leader, one where we can be proud invoking his name home and abroad, one that can even inspire us.
Since I started writing this late Tuesday evening I've watched the ticker denoting the number of donators on Obama's website rise steadily from around 485,000 to where they stand now as I type this sentence at 493,009. Literally hundreds of people every hour are expressing their support and, I think, desire to be a part of this, however small or large. Many more are tirelessly donating their time and impressive energies on the ground in more states than any other candidate. Those efforts are more difficult to measure, but will clearly manifest themselves starting tonight when Obama wins the Iowa caucus. (btw, those of you in New York -- it's caucus-watching party time tonight! Caucuses start 7pm central time)
What's that I say? Obama is going to win the Iowa caucus? Not only that, but I think this is history in the making. And that's pretty freakin exciting if you think about it.

OK, last thing: watch this short video highlighting Obama's campaign thus far http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmUUYo9o9eg

If you can afford it, I encourage you to donate whatever $ amount you feel comfortable with and join nearly half a million people so far (if you donate $5 you might be matched with me!), or even some time volunteering. If you do choose to join this movement, send a note to a group of your friends and invite them along too. Or feel free to fwd mine.

I usually shy away from group emails, but this is different. In talking with a number of friends over the past few months about Obama and politics I came to realize that I should not remain reserved on this. I hope this email has been informative and even persuasive. Please do feel free to get in touch with me somehow and let me know if you're stuck anywhere, even if it's in apathy, and I will do my best to show you a next step.

With respect for all of you,
Christopher

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