It has been said that the upcoming presidential election is THE MOST IMPORTANT in a long time. Certainly the world is wrestling with a number of life and death issues.
I've been aware and/or involved in presidential elections since Carter and Ford squared off. Each of the elections were dubbed, "The most important in a long time". The fact is, all our elections are the most important one because the rest are in the past.
It is important that we choose wisely.
Sadly it's too late for that. The two major party candidates weren't the wisest choice of their respective packs... After reading the 3rd party websites, their candidates aren't much better. What we're stuck with is the Republican whose turn it was, the democrat who the press chose and a herd of future also rans who are too stuck on single issue politics to make much of a dent in the outcome.
It is crucial that we ensure a better life for future generations. It is vital that we give up self-involvement in order to embrace causes that are larger than the self.
No, it is not vital that we give up on our issues and the stands we take on them. In fact, the exact opposite is true. It is imparative that we find the candidate who most closely matches our own ideals and stances. We should never embrace something or someone we don't believe in for party or campaign. It is also vital that we be willing to accept the outcome, even if we don't like who won.
To me the upcoming election is the most important because it will show if the American political machinery is capable of reflecting the values of the younger generation instead of standing in isolation from them.
I teach at a university and I observe daily the up and coming generation. The current way of exercising politics in America does not represent the point of view of these young people.
Traditionally the younger generation has isolated themselves voluntarily by not showing up to vote. Sure, they talk and discuss amongst themselves. Many of them are every bit as articulate and motivated as people in any other generation. However, when it comes time to "Rock the Vote", they seem to be too busy. As long as the 18-25 year olds continue to stay away in droves, they will be considered inconsequential by the candidates. Not because the candidates don't care, but because the majority of the 18-25's don't.
When Obama galvenizes people with his speeches, it is a reminder of a distant past when words mattered.
The galvaning is wearing thin. Where Obama used to inspire, he now perspires. The polls show him even with McCain (and in some important swing states, McCain is actually ahead). Even the press is having a hard time keeping the ship afloat. I'm not saying he is dead in the water, he is still a very viable candidate. Where he is now merely viable, a few weeks ago he was on fire.
I find it disconcerting that his opponents routinely criticize him for being all talk and no action. Such criticism clearly assumes that there is a disconnect between words and actions.
Considering his Senate record shows clearly that he has never championed any of the issues that he says are important to him now, I'd say that the disconnect is merely a reflection of reality.
That assumption is at the very heart of where politics in America has gone wrong. To these critics I submit that words lead to action. Words that carry value.
What is the value of the words of a candidate who says he cares, but hasn't seemed to so far? What is the value of the words of a candidate who can't seem to put two coherent words together when there isn't a teleprompter fueling his tongue? What is the value of the words of a man whose actions (or lack thereof) speak for themselves.
Words that come from the heart and the mind.
The words from his heart and mind are laced with too many "ums", "ers" and other stammering. You are a teacher. If your lectures were as incoherent has Obama's off the cuff answers to direct questions, how long would your students bother listening?
In a such a hopeless evironment when someone comes along who can gather large groups of people to listen to him speak FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME, that is not just talk...it is a miracle!
That's just it, Obama's words have not stood the test of time... not even for a matter of a few months. He is a master of the spoken word when it's someone else's words he's uttering, but his own words fail him. If he can't handle direct questions for Joe Sixpack, how will he handle meetings with leaders who he says he can talk openly with "with no preconditions"?
