BARACK OBAMA: OUR NEXT AMERICAN PRESIDENT
by William Fredrick Cooper
Written August 29th, 2008
“…with profound gratitude, and great humility, I accept your nomination for Presidency of the United States.”
Those words, spoken in a cutting, uncomplicated tone with power, precision, passion and promise, came from a man of my complexion with direction. Because so many were dangled from nooses, endured fire hoses full blast, were firebombed, horse whipped, or felled by a sniper’s bullet, he stood at that podium on August 28th, 2008 a mile higher than us all.
Conducting a symphony of hope, our next President spoke of individual and mutual responsibility, signing the words with conviction, sealing the envelope with hope for change, and delivering the fantastically flawless address to the doorstep of a Republican candidate whose stale political tactics echo the sentiments of a President who has brought the economy to a fiscal and financial brink only a miracle bailout can save. That Republican candidate agrees with a president who aligns himself with the progressive contentment of Smith Barney over the everyday struggles of Barney Smith. That Republican candidate agrees with a President loathed the world over for worn philosophies, questionable shot-calling and bullying tactics that have backfired in strained foreign relationships.
A master at double talk, this Republican candidate, while selecting a running mate whose experience in foreign diplomacy is the equivalent of a speed date, says that he’ll splinter his party for the good of change, yet remains in alignment with a Commander-in-Chief growing more discredited by the second. John McCain agrees with George Bush 90% of the time. What does that say about judgment, wisdom and experience?
Surprisingly, at least for those who know me, there were no tears when Barack Obama accepted his nomination; in the alternative, only the slightest of smiles escaped me. While he is of my skin pigmentation, I was color blind for forty-plus minutes as our next President launched a plan for renewal of American progression with the restoration of common purpose. Liberally emphasizing the need for compromise in gun laws, same sex relationships and the right of choice, I saw an objective balance between marching into the future with new ideas and a carefully structured maintenance of traditional values. Embodying the spirit of service of John, Robert and Ted Kennedy, the power of eloquence spoken by William Jefferson Clinton, and the dogged determination of Hillary Rodham, the concrete agenda of aid to middle class America seemed reasonable.
But humbly, I ask one thing from this nation of which he spoke so lovingly and which he could not: patience. Cleaning up a catastrophic mess takes time and effort by all, not merely a brother, in the human sense, with blueprint alone. Realistically, he simply can’t do this by himself, nor should we expect him to. Fundamentally speaking, Barack Obama asks us to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper.
So, as he attempts to give tax breaks to companies creating jobs in America that won’t be outsourced; create better, affordable healthcare; cut taxes for 95% of all working families; invest money in the pursuit of education while setting a clear goal on eliminating oil dependency from abroad and delivering us from the economic crisis, we must help him by becoming better people to our families and communities.
Teamwork, people. Teamwork.
Periodicals and pundits disguised as political correspondents call him a talented orator with vaporous credentials, inexperienced in the ways of the home of the brave. He must strengthen the U.S. dollar, some say; be more specific in problematic areas, others argue. But my gut tells me on that morning of his inauguration, Barack Obama will begin to find a way to get it done. Innately level-headed, our next President is willing to fight, but only in a way that will uplift our stars and stripes, not break them down with subjective rhetoric.
In my humble opinion, the only question standing in the way of change is fundamental one, but one that’s embedded deep within the fabric of which this country broke ground:
“Is America ready to bid adieu to its subconsciously bias yesterday and entrust the power of the highest office in the world to a person of color?”
Giving that speech on August 28th, our next President looked more like an American to me than ever.
From sea to shining sea, from the Aloha state to this special fundraiser at which we are present tonight, something new is stirring, and in this writer’s opinion, its next destination is the Oval Office.
Written August 29th, 2008
“…with profound gratitude, and great humility, I accept your nomination for Presidency of the United States.”
Those words, spoken in a cutting, uncomplicated tone with power, precision, passion and promise, came from a man of my complexion with direction. Because so many were dangled from nooses, endured fire hoses full blast, were firebombed, horse whipped, or felled by a sniper’s bullet, he stood at that podium on August 28th, 2008 a mile higher than us all.
Conducting a symphony of hope, our next President spoke of individual and mutual responsibility, signing the words with conviction, sealing the envelope with hope for change, and delivering the fantastically flawless address to the doorstep of a Republican candidate whose stale political tactics echo the sentiments of a President who has brought the economy to a fiscal and financial brink only a miracle bailout can save. That Republican candidate agrees with a president who aligns himself with the progressive contentment of Smith Barney over the everyday struggles of Barney Smith. That Republican candidate agrees with a President loathed the world over for worn philosophies, questionable shot-calling and bullying tactics that have backfired in strained foreign relationships.
A master at double talk, this Republican candidate, while selecting a running mate whose experience in foreign diplomacy is the equivalent of a speed date, says that he’ll splinter his party for the good of change, yet remains in alignment with a Commander-in-Chief growing more discredited by the second. John McCain agrees with George Bush 90% of the time. What does that say about judgment, wisdom and experience?
Surprisingly, at least for those who know me, there were no tears when Barack Obama accepted his nomination; in the alternative, only the slightest of smiles escaped me. While he is of my skin pigmentation, I was color blind for forty-plus minutes as our next President launched a plan for renewal of American progression with the restoration of common purpose. Liberally emphasizing the need for compromise in gun laws, same sex relationships and the right of choice, I saw an objective balance between marching into the future with new ideas and a carefully structured maintenance of traditional values. Embodying the spirit of service of John, Robert and Ted Kennedy, the power of eloquence spoken by William Jefferson Clinton, and the dogged determination of Hillary Rodham, the concrete agenda of aid to middle class America seemed reasonable.
But humbly, I ask one thing from this nation of which he spoke so lovingly and which he could not: patience. Cleaning up a catastrophic mess takes time and effort by all, not merely a brother, in the human sense, with blueprint alone. Realistically, he simply can’t do this by himself, nor should we expect him to. Fundamentally speaking, Barack Obama asks us to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper.
So, as he attempts to give tax breaks to companies creating jobs in America that won’t be outsourced; create better, affordable healthcare; cut taxes for 95% of all working families; invest money in the pursuit of education while setting a clear goal on eliminating oil dependency from abroad and delivering us from the economic crisis, we must help him by becoming better people to our families and communities.
Teamwork, people. Teamwork.
Periodicals and pundits disguised as political correspondents call him a talented orator with vaporous credentials, inexperienced in the ways of the home of the brave. He must strengthen the U.S. dollar, some say; be more specific in problematic areas, others argue. But my gut tells me on that morning of his inauguration, Barack Obama will begin to find a way to get it done. Innately level-headed, our next President is willing to fight, but only in a way that will uplift our stars and stripes, not break them down with subjective rhetoric.
In my humble opinion, the only question standing in the way of change is fundamental one, but one that’s embedded deep within the fabric of which this country broke ground:
“Is America ready to bid adieu to its subconsciously bias yesterday and entrust the power of the highest office in the world to a person of color?”
Giving that speech on August 28th, our next President looked more like an American to me than ever.
From sea to shining sea, from the Aloha state to this special fundraiser at which we are present tonight, something new is stirring, and in this writer’s opinion, its next destination is the Oval Office.
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