A SoapBlox Politics Blog
[Mobile Edition]
About
- About Us
- Email Us (news/tips)
- Editorial Policy
- Posting Guidelines
- Advertise Here
Feedburner

Subscribe to Michlib daily email summary. (Preview)
Enter address:

Donate
Become a sponsor and support our work.

 MichLib sponsor list

Michigan Political Blog Ad Network

Advertise Liberally

50 State Ad Network

What this is really all about

by: matt

Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 17:23:23 PM EDT


A little something I wrote last night. Cheers, M



Dear Rachel and Charlie,

As I write this, you're both upstairs, sound asleep in your cribs. Your mother has gone off to bed too. Just me here, awake on a school night with some things on my mind. 

I'm thinking about this country we live in. What an imperfect place it is! For instance, we sometimes start wars we shouldn't, many of our leaders are corrupt we now have this vast chasm between a few rich people and everybody else. Here in Michigan, where we live, many of our cities are literally falling to pieces; our schools underfunded. More of our people are looking for work here than in any other part of the country. The list goes on.

But beyond its flaws, this land has a whole lot going for it too. For one thing, we have the freedom to say what we want, to go where we want - and to worship if or however we want. Too often we forget that's not the case for so much of the world.

Our people have come here from literally every corner of the planet, bringing with them their different cultures and traditions. And even if we don't always live up to it, the idea of equal opportunity is embedded at the core of our soul.

Throughout our history, we've had people like your grandfather and great-grandfathers - people who have stepped forward to put their lives on the line not only keep us safe, but to help bring the same sorts of freedoms we enjoy here to people in other parts of the world.

And when things get off track, we have continually risen to the occasion. It's never nearly as fast as we would hope - and usually involves decades or more of pain and struggle. Eventually, though, we make it right. We are a nation constantly trying to perfect itself.

That's the America I know and love; the America you and I were blessed to be born into.

Sadly, these past eight years I've often found myself wondering if that America had died; if our best days were finally behind us. I don't think I could ever fully describe the sense of hopelessness, despair and bitterness that's inhabited this country under George Bush. I only pray you never have to endure anything like it.

But tonight, something is different.
matt :: What this is really all about

 
You see, tonight, Barack Obama became the Democratic Party's nominee for president of the United States.

Along with being an incredibly bright, conscienctious and charismatic leader, Obama also happens to be the first African-American to ever get this far. And, God willing, just a few months from now the American people - white, black, hispanic, men, women, you name it  - will come together to give this man the highest office in the land.

This is happening in America! The same America where black people were once considered property to be bought and sold; where up until just a few decades ago, someone like Barack Obama could be legally required to ride in the back of the bus or denied admission to a hospital emergency room - just because of his skin color! This is the same America of urban ghettoes, where African-Americans still lag behind in nearly every measure of well-being.

Yet today a black man is just one election away from becoming leader of the free world! Who could have expected such a thing? How is this possibile?

Don't get me wrong, even if Obama wins (and I think he will), it's not as if racial discrimination will simply melt away. It won't. And the other problems President Obama will face are to large to even comprehend: global warming and security, narrowing the gap between rich and poor, creating jobs and building a health care system that works. To be perfectly honest, I've been around politics long enough to know that - intentions aside - the odds of any real progress on these fronts are not good.

Yet I also know that the odds have never been better. And if America can go from segregation to its first black president within your grandparents' lifetime, who knows what might happen within yours? Maybe some other previously unimaginable things! For your sake, I hope so. 

Tonight, however, something wonderful has happened. And no matter what happens down the road, I'll carry this night with me. Always remember, no matter what the odds or how frustrating or dire the situation seems hope is there - even if you can't see it. With God all things are possible.

Sleep well, Bird. Sleep well, Bear. Your mom and I love you more than anything in the world. You are what this is all about. I don't know if we'll suceed in building you a better world to live in. But we're trying.

Love always,

Dad
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
Tags: , , , (All Tags)
Print Friendly View Send As Email
What this is really all about | 7 comments
Well said n/t (4.00 / 2)

Cheers! (0.00 / 0)
... and RIP Ray Charles.

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
Amen. (4.00 / 4)
Someone said today that it can take up to a century to make major societal changes.  I think it's too long.  We need to start smashing down the barriers faster.  Rachel, Charlie and all of the rest of our kids deserve to grow up in a world where a person is judged by their deeds.  Let freedom ring.

Do stupid people know they are stupid?
Change in November! (4.00 / 5)
It's time for change.  Obama is the only hope.  McCain will be the same old stuff we've endured for the last eight years.

I will be linking to the Michigan Liberal on my blog, Tilting At Windmills.  Comments in support of Obama and the Democratic platform are welcome there.  The more people we can reach -- however we reach them -- the better our chances.

Work for change in November!

Wow, that was fast... (4.00 / 2)
Was your Obama sign gone when you got home?

Nice to meet you tonight, and welcome to Michigan Liberal.

Among the Trees

[ Parent ]
It's still here.. (4.00 / 1)
but I'm not making any bets about tomorrow morning!
Letters to our Children (0.00 / 0)
Members of my family, including myself, have also written letters to my two-year old during these historic times.  They are tucked away in a fire safe, so one day she will appreciate them.
What this is really all about | 7 comments

Features

Mobile Blog Reader - powered by Notice Orange
RSS
Politics & Elections Library:
- US Senate
- US House
- Executive Branch
- Michigan Senate
- Michigan House
- State Supreme Court
- Michigan Media

Special Sections:
- Technical Politics - Grebner
- Michigan's Fallen

Search
Progressive Blogroll
For MI Bloggers:
 - MI Bloggers Facebook
- MI Bloggers Myspace
- MI Bloggers PartyBuilder
- MI Bloggers Wiki

Statewide:
 - Blogging for Michigan
- Call of the Senate Dems
- [Con]serving Michigan (Michigan LCV)
- DailyKos (Michigan tag)
- Enviro-Mich List Serve archives
- Democratic Underground, Michigan Forum
- Jack Lessenberry
- JenniferGranholm.com
- LeftyBlogs (Michigan)
- MI Eye on Bishop
- Michigan Coalition for Progress
- Michigan Messenger
- MI Idea (Michigan Equality)
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan
- Rainbow Mittens
- The Upper Hand (Progress Michigan)

Upper Peninsula:
- Keweenaw Now
- Lift Bridges and Mine Shafts
- Save the Wild UP

Western Michigan:
- Great Lakes Guy
- Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Scott
- Mostly Sunny with a Chance of Gay
- Public Pulse
- West Michigan Politics
- West Michigan Rising
- Windmillin'

Mid-Michigan:
- Among the Trees
- Blue Chips (CMU College Democrats Blog)
- Christine Barry
- Conservative Media
- Far Left Field
- Graham Davis
- Honest Errors
- ICDP:Dispatch (Isabella County Democratic Party Blog)
- Liberal, Loud and Proud
- Livingston County Democratic Party Blog
- MI Blog
- Mid-Michigan DFA
- Pohlitics
- Random Ramblings of a Somewhat Common Man
- Waffles of Compromise
- YAF Watch

Flint/Bay Area/Thumb:
- Bay County Democratic Party
- Blue November
- East Michigan Blue
- Genesee County Young Democrats
- Greed, Eggs, and Ham
- Jim Stamas Watch
- Meddling Outsider
- Saginaw County Democratic Party Blog
- Stone Soup Musings
- Voice of Mordor

Southeast Michigan:
 - A2Politico
- arblogger
- Arbor Update
- Congressman John Conyers (CD14)
- Mayor Craig Covey
- Councilman Ron Suarez
- Democracy for Metro Detroit
- Detroit Skeptic
- Detroit Uncovered (formerly "Fire Jerry Oliver")
- Grosse Pointe Democrats
- I Wish This Blog Was Louder
- Kicking Ass Ann Arbor (UM College Democrats Blog)
- LJ's Blogorific
- Mark Maynard
- Michigan Progress
- Motor City Liberal
- North Oakland Dems
- Oakland Democratic Politics
- Our Michigan
- Peters for Congress (CD09)
- PhiKapBlog
- Polygon, the Dancing Bear
- Rust Belt Blues
- Third City
- Thunder Down Country
- Trusty Getto
- Unhinged

MI Congressional
District Watch Blogs:
 - Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood (CD08)
MI Campaigns:
- ActBlue (MI Congressional Candidates)
- Michigan Round Table for Diversity and Inclusion
- MichUHCAN (Affordable Health Care)
- Politics1 (MI Candidate Listings)
- Senator Carl Levin

MI Democratic Orgs:
- Michigan Democratic Party
- Michigan House Democratic Caucus
- Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus
- MDP Youth Caucus
- Michigan Young Democrats
- Ingham County Democratic Party
- Genesee County Dems Progressive Caucus
- Saginaw Area Democratic Club
- Justice Caucus
- South County Dems (Berrien Co.)
- Western Washtenaw Democrats

MI Progressive Orgs:
- America Votes Michigan coalition
- Michigan Labor organizations
- Michigan Voice coalition

MI Misc.:
- Absolute Michigan
- Center for Michigan
- Citizens Research Council
- Detroit News Politics Blog
- Freep Opinion
- Media Mouse (Grand Rapids Indy Media) Blog
- Michigan Campaign Finance Network
- The Michigan Citizen Blog
- Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund
- Michigan Future (WWJ)
- Michigan Nonprofit Association's blog
- Michigan Prospect
- Michigan Public News Service
- Michigan Radio
- Michigan Secret Court
- MLive.com Blogs
- Political Graveyard
- Red Tape Blog (Government Documents Librarians of Michigan)

National Alternative Media:
- Air America Radio
- BlogTalkRadio
- BuzzFlash
- ePluribus Media
- Indymedia
- New Journalist Program (Center for Independent Media)
- PoliticsTV

National Blogs:
- AFL-CIO Weblog
- BlogPAC
- Daily Kos
- Firedoglake
- From The Roots (DSCC)
- The Gavel (Speaker's Office)
- Huffington Post
- HuffPo: Rich Robinson
- Kicking Ass (DNC)
- MyDD
- My Left Wing
- The Next Hurrah
- Open Left
- The Thicket (NCSL)
- Senate Guru
- Smart Ass (CDA)
- The Stakeholder (DCCC)
- YDA



© Michiganliberal.com, LLC
Site content may be used for any purpose without explicit permission unless otherwise specified.
Powered by: SoapBlox