Let me begin by saying I am not a politically-minded individual. My name is Kimberly Gigstad and I have a career background in broadcasting and as an author. I live in central Missouri with my husband, Steve, who is the OM/PD over a radio station cluster, which includes six stations. My daughter, Christy, is currently in her second year of college. And there is Timber, a sweet Yorkshire Terrier who has been with me for over seven years. I love my family DEARLY.
I care about my country and believe the temperature of its inhabitants has much to do with the efforts of the leader(s) of this country.
When I came home one afternoon, after having voted for Mr Gore for President, I sat down at my desk with a sinking feeling. I knew. And I hated what I knew. I knew Bush, Jr would take office and in more ways than one, this would create a negativity in this country and in its people. My thought was to turn a blind eye and ignore him.
However, you can only ignore a penetrating energy for so long. After 9/11, I fell ill with pneumonia and ever so slowly and surely, slipped into a depression and sadness. There was a cloud over my world, over my America and over its people and nothing...NOTHING...could lift it.
The first time I heard of Barack Obama is when I saw a picture of Halle Berry wearing a T-Shirt sporting his name. I tucked this in the back of my mind until today.
Today, after several weeks of bitter cold conditions, central Missouri was blessed with a beautiful Sunday with temperatures reaching into the 70s...a rarity for January in these parts. So, with Timber in tow, Steve and I set out for a nice country drive and we had an enjoyable time.
When we got home, my perspective concerning my world, my America and myself began to change. I'm not sure what happened to spur me to look Mr Obama up on the Internet but as I began to read about what he stands for, positions he has taken and particular votes he has made, something within me began to wake up and a spark was ignited. Then, I found Mr Obama on myspace and watched his videos. Tears began to flood my eyes as my beliefs and my hopes and dreams for the future of America were the very words coming forth from his mouth.
Mr Obama spoke of a world that wasn't made up of red states and blue states but the UNITED States of America. He spoke of a world that wasn't white, black, hispanic but UNITED. He spoke of helping those in need and putting pride and effort back into the United States. Mr Obama spoke of penalizing those who sent work out of America and rewarding those who worked hard in America. He spoke of making health care afforadable for ALL Americans.
One might say all politicians say the same thing. Yes, you are probably right but where Mr Obama is concerned there is a difference. When Mr Obama speaks, I don't feel as though I'm listening to a well-prepared speech and watching a fake smile. There is something deep and thriving within this man and it has touched and inspired me in a way I haven't been inspired about this country in YEARS. Anyone can SAY the things that need to be said but Mr Obama BELIEVES in them, WORKS towards these goals and CARRIES a spark within him that, I fully belief, is going to inspire a nation to its BEST potential.
Mr Obama carries within him the torch of hope and knowing that WE, as a nation, CAN do this TOGETHER and the strength of his spirit and the will of his desire is CONTAGIOUS.
It's been a LONG time coming.
