When people ask me why I support Barack Obama, I always feel slightly tongue-tied. I lose a little bit of confidence even though I do have some clear beliefs why he should win office. However, they always end up sounding cliché. For instance, I usually think of the word ‘change’ but how many times have you heard that from an Obama supporter? It’s an abstract truth but not a concrete reason that holds weight with candidates like Hillary Clinton, whose political experience outweighs his or John McCain who has been in politics since I’ve been born. So with this in mind, I’ve been searching for better reasons why I support the Black man with the “funny name”.
Over the last few months, I have been immersed in Obama’s campaign. I’ve read both of his books, the autobiography Dreams from My Father and the more politically driven, The Audacity of Hope, which gives me a more personal and specific look into the man’s upbringing, beliefs and political views. I have also been reading some articles from various sources about his campaign and how he’s been stacking up against his relentless, unflinching opponent, Hillary Clinton. In the evenings, after I come home from work, I sometimes watch Youtube clips from his page, hoping to gain a firmer stance on my position on the issues. I’ve also, sometimes reluctantly, watch CNN, MSNBC and even FOX News (all thanks to my brother whose sudden interest in politics may be all due to Mr. Obama himself). I’ve even volunteered on his behalf, making donations, going to rallies, making a few calls to voters, sending out postcards and agreeing to a random interview with a university as a young supporter.
Now, I will say that prior to this election, I was not into politics that much at all. I’ve never been to a rally for a candidate nor read a political book in my life. I was even a Hillary supporter at first, thinking that Obama really didn’t have a chance at winning the presidency. So I wonder, “What is it about him that makes me believe so much? Why do I feel so driven to be involved and to learn as much as I can about the issues and the candidate himself?”
I’m still in search for that answer. I’ve had some discoveries over the last few months that I will share with you and I know I will have quite a few more during the general election. In consequence, I will share my journey with you on this quest to find out the answer to this very question. I will call it, for now, “The Exploration of Hope”. Cheesy maybe but I kinda like it.
Written on May 19, 2008
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