Barack the vote

[Lasher]

As was explored in the Is Republicism Passe? thread, I agree that the whole system is on its way out, or at least poised for radical change… but since that is still future-tense and this is an election year… I thought it would be proper to create a thread about this years’ presidential vote. For the record I am voting Obama… and not Hilary.

First off, I think that a woman for president is what we need and is long, long overdue. And as a female, I only wish I could vote for Hilary. But, to vote for the only woman… Rather than the right woman… there is an important distinction there. For the sake of leadership in the future… I don’t feel she would be doing us any favors. And when I say us, I mean all of us, not just woman.

I know the criticisms of Obama - the opinion that he is merely a charismatic word-smith and the questions about his experience and readiness...

But I also know that he was totally right on, when it came to the war in Iraq. I think that Iraq and the separate issue of terrorism and all the other global pressures looming over us are what is crucial in our small world. Having the intelligence and clarity to understand that there are things that force simply cannot accomplish, as elementary as that may be, is something that will be - and is - fundamental, especially in this “war on terror”.

Terrorism is a spiritual war, not a religious one. For the West to win it must win the hearts of the despairing.

Hillary and McCain are on a completely different wavelength.

As much as people (and our current administration) like point to instances of the wars of the past… they are comparing apples and oranges. Terrorism is not a state… it is a state of mind. Rhetoric of the evil, faceless enemy is dangerous and mistaken.


Terrorism is emotional. Words are sacred. Persuasion is the only battle plan. A kid doesn’t learn the sacred text by heart for enjoyment, or grow up to dedicate their lives to a holy war because they are bored, or strap a bomb to their body and end their life in pure violence as a technical matter. So, words are what it takes!

The gift of understanding the human spirit is what I think Obama has proven above all else. That may sound absurdly simple, but in my mind that is the peak principal of leadership.

So in this system that we are currently in, that makes him our best chance to change and guide the hearts of the desperate. And that is where this battle plays out for me.



*climbing down off soapbox now*

[MagnetMan]

lasher said:

The gift of understanding the human spirit is what I think Obama has proven above all else. That may sound absurdly simple, but in my mind that is the peak principal of leadership.

Speaking heart to heart is why he orates so well.
Half black/half white is why he empathizes so well.
He sees both sides of all issues.
He is certainly the man of the moment.
He will bring hope to a new generation that sadly needs it.
He will make America stand proud again.
He will make a fine president.
He may even make the New Age a reality

That is if a racist or crazy does not shoot him first.

So in this system that we are currently in, that makes him our best chance to change and guide the hearts of the desperate. And that is where this battle plays out for me.

You have my vote on that.



*climbing down off soapbox now*[/quote]

[soulatom]

Well this is sounding like a Barama Rama! but well said Lasher and Magnetman.

I think Hope is the key here. It's not that Hilary and McCain aren't brilliant people but they are much too much like the people we have become, or afraid of becomming.

Someone who might be able to say the Emperor has no clothes on. I want to be hopeful that we can turn this planet around and I don't think that comes in a hail of glory. I think it is far more subtle. Truth.

[Trivium515]

It's strange, about a year ago before I even really heard the name 'Barack Obama', i remember reading an article on him with a picture of him kneeling down on this platform he was on and talking face to face with a large crowd. Though like so many others, my very first impression of him was that he said and did all the right things to get himself elected, but they were empty. Though after listening to all the speeches and learning more about our situation as a country I think that thats exactly what we need, somebody who will represent everything that the people of America hope for, somebody fresh and idealistic, unjaded... I think that his being "inexperienced" is actually a good thing in this case, just look where "experience" has gotten us. You don't get that same old same old vibe from him like I personally do whenever listening to Hilary, somebody who's already been tainted.

[nickelfire]

Well I think it's all been said for me . Good thread Lasher .
Personally, I gladly add my voice to the still resonating thrum calling for change, which is not only wanted, but is utterly needed. Politics as usual is a prerequisite for revolution at this point, and revolution is hardly the answer.
Barack the vote!

[Lasher]

Regarding this controversy around Obama and Rev. Wright that has been going down in the past few days.. just thought I'd say that I think that the way Obama addressed it in his speech today was admirably candid... and proud.

Of all the philosophies, adages and proverbs I have ever heard, there is one mantra that clicks for my brain and I aim to live by as best I can: Never squirm away from the pain. I think that that applies both to the issue of racism, and the way it needed to be addressed. And, for that matter, the manner in which the division itself needs to be approached so it can finally be healed and transcended.

I believe Obama has managed to hold himself up straight and honestly in his speech. You should check it out... it's a bit lengthy but I think it will be counted as definitive.

Race and gender most certainly do play a role on this chess board and to say they don't is either naive or double-talk, imo.

Like the individual, as long as there are societal disfunctions... unhealed wounds and unmended hurts, along with any ongoing neglected injustices... they will always play a role in thought and behavior until they are exorcised, therapized, cleaned out and reconciled. I think that point was made in the speech. And like MM said, demonstrating the ability to see both sides of the issue. Or as SoulAtom was saying... being able to look at some glossed-over or accepted issue and say: "hey, this is an issue"... though you put it more eloquently than that, SA.

Anyway, I think the whole controversy was a test of character and ultimately, so far at least, served to be proof of character.

"This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected." -Barack

[murex]

Barak is definitely the better of the bunch as it stands now.

[piper]

lasher said:

Race and gender most certainly do play a role on this chess board and to say they don't is either naive or double-talk, imo.

Hallelujah Peeps!

We are finally talking about it! Yes! And with an election on the line. That takes courage and earns my respect.

lasher said:

Like the individual, as long as there are societal disfunctions... unhealed wounds and unmended hurts, along with any ongoing neglected injustices... they will always play a role in thought and behavior until they are exorcised, therapized, cleaned out and reconciled. I think that point was made in the speech. And like MM said, demonstrating the ability to see both sides of the issue.

Absolutely. And anyone who thinks that these issues have received enough attetnion is naive IMO as well.

It's time to clean up our act on sooooo many levels. People planet selves. I would welcome the opportunity to be able to see that happen.

[piper]

Heard the news today, OMG race is an issue. Duh, as is gender. I for one am enjoying the fact that the cat is out of the bag and it seems like America can't squirm away from it and can't deny it. Race infiltrates all manners of thought and reaction, that's another reason why I think that Obama is a more impressive candidate. To get this issue out in front of the masses once and for all. It's almost impossible not to step on race.

For me gender isn't as big, being a woman I have an attitude that women are better managers of domestic issues and nurturers of the planet.

War, well I know that women have been in command of warriors in history and with such a massive military infrastructure at their disposal I would imagine women would be able to conduct themselves accordingly.

Anybody else feel the heat?

[soulatom]

Watched the movie last night "Accross the Universe". I was struck by the similarity of the times then and the times now. In the movie they were flashing back on the Vietnam War. The dialogue was the same then as it is now.

The prtotesters were spouting how America was engendering hate against itself for going to war in Vietnam it was the the wrong thing to do and we should get out.

The difference then was that people were on the streets, enough kids got killed that the kids took to the streets, they got organized and they made a difference. Of course ignorance is bliss but there were enough people in that movement who knew what they were doing to carry the ones who were ignorant, as there is in any movement. We are only at 4,000 dead in this war and they are already talking about the American public being "war fatigued" in other words apathetic and bored. If I lost one member of my family I know that it would impact the rest of my life.

I for one was hoping we would see that kind of mobilization with Obama campaign. That groundswell of human push for a change. To move from negative solutions to positive creative change for humanity.

I remember I was just a kid but it didn't stop me from carrying a placard and wanting to be involved. Have we lost that?

[Lasher]

piper said:

For me gender isn't as big, being a woman I have an attitude that women are better managers of domestic issues and nurturers of the planet.

War, well I know that women have been in command of warriors in history and with such a massive military infrastructure at their disposal I would imagine women would be able to conduct themselves accordingly.

Anybody else feel the heat?

I agree, I don't think a woman would be in anyway inept just for being a woman. As for military decisions, like you said, there have been warrior queens in the past who have demonstrated the ability to be just as commanding and ruthless as a man... maybe they are not the norm but it's not as if a woman in charge today would be making such executive decisions on her own steam, there are advisers and specialists to give her all the options. Certainly in our system there is a final word and a top person, but the country is really run by a group of people.

soulatom said:

Watched the movie last night "Accross the Universe". I was struck by the similarity of the times then and the times now. In the movie they were flashing back on the Vietnam War. The dialogue was the same then as it is now. The prtotesters were spouting how America was engendering hate against itself for going to war in Vietnam it was the the wrong thing to do and we should get out.

Good movie. Strange how the past repeats itself, how difficult it is to actually learn from history.

I for one was hoping we would see that kind of mobilization with Obama campaign. That groundswell of human push for a change. To move from negative solutions to positive creative change for humanity.

I remember I was just a kid but it didn't stop me from carrying a placard and wanting to be involved. Have we lost that?

[/size][/quote]

I don't think so, I think my generation is waiting for and wants that. The problem is we can seem to make it happen on our own. I think the Obama campaign was very close to just that, but we are allowing the distractions to get in the way... we're so easily distracted. Just like it is astounding to think that we signed up for a WAR based on lies and misdirection, and have not gone militant ballistic... I'm not interested in anyway in violence as a solution to violence, but outrage, yes. A demand for impeachment, yes. -when injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. Someone should be angry, you know?

[MagnetMan]

It would be nice if we had two presidents.
A women to take care of domestic issues
A man on International policy.

[soulatom]

That is a good point MaganetMan. I also think that the role of the Vice President is too subordinate.

I don't have a strong feeling about women being involved in military issues, international policy, but definitely they should have a very strong leading roll in the running of house. But then nowadays women would say that sounds sexist.

For me though that is innate intelligence in a woman and the qualities that set men and women apart should be explored and applied more in the political arena.

[piper]

I just read something that struck me as the sublime and the ridiculous all at once. It was an article in Rolling Stone this month on Chris Rock. He champions Barack Obama. They are friends I guess you could demise from the article. Chris Rock is really into watching all the current polictical process because it is rich in material for him and it is also history making for all black people. He actually was going over the whole thing of Hilary vs. Barack experience and all that etc. While the journalist is riding with him to a show he taps something out furiously on his iphone. Come to find out he is sending text messages to Obamas people on what to say to Hilary's experience argument.

It made me realize how small the world is getting in where a poor kid from Brooklyn could be text msging advice to the future president of the US and how instead of Dick Cheney and Karl Rove it might be Chris Rock that has the ear of the next president of US. Trippy

[soulatom]

Hey Piper, that's pretty funny. I mean I wonder who George Bush comes up under for his speed dial or who feeds the lines for his press conferences. It is a strange world indeed and I think that this points to our electronic age. Strange things have always happened but we just didn't hear about it. Now that the world has become one giant link and you have instant access to just about anything or anyone then we will become increasingly aware of surprising bedfellows.