Inspiration

I think I’m finally starting to believe.

While I’m not really fond of putting too much political talk on this blog, I can’t help but be impressed by Obama and an honest opportunity for change in this country.

I don’t know where the historian Howard Zinn stands in this election, I can’t help but think he’s impressed by the youth that is out there supporting Obama, and the unprecedented number of people paying attention. To me, this is what the election is about, and I finally believe that there is a possibility of change.

It’s taken a while for me to get here. I’ve written before about politicians and my skepticism of their ability to actually do anything. Obama now seems capable of this – but not because I think he can change things on his own.

As a teacher I’ve not seen this level of attention given to a political candidate. My students know what’s going on. They know the candidates. Although you would hope that they would always know – they simply don’t normally pay attention.

Obama has them riveted.

So maybe there is something more to this election than one man. Maybe Obama has the message and the chance to bring in the rest of the population into the mix.

Zinn is fond of seeing history through the eyes of the people – how people change things, not politicians. I agree… and I now think that Obama may be the first politician in my lifetime that can inspire young people of all races and beliefs to get outside their doors and change the world.

As I watched the speeches McCain and Obama gave, the differences were striking.

McCain was surrounded by old white men and women. You could almost smell the dust in the air. In his speech he tried to warn against believing too much in a message that the Democrats might bring. It seemed he was trying to warn people that Obama was falsely offering a vision of America that could never be. I didn’t believe a word of what he said, and he represents everything I despise in politics.

Obama gave me chills. I watched the crowd around him, and the faces there were youthful and vibrant. They were inspired and roared approval throughout. More than anything, they were hopeful . Sure – Obama’s words are powerful, and his charisma is simply unmatched – but I think there is something more in the air than another politician who knows what to say and how to say it.

The people in that audience see not only what Obama can do for the country as President, but also an opportunity to be a part of that change. Not just change that is cast with a vote – but change in their own lives that they can control.

Not very long ago at all, black men and women were not allowed to vote in this country, and yet right now we are on the brink of possibly having a black President. Mr. McCain warns us of the dangers of hoping too much, yet if we never believed in hope and the possibility of change, then Obama would have never stood on that stage tonight giving that speech.

I don’t believe one man or woman can change this country, even if they are President. We must always remember that the civil rights movement was not a movement that was started or even championed by politicians. Real people were there, fighting and sometimes dying for the hope of a better America. Regular people with bravery I could never imagine would protest - would fight - would bleed. What we are seeing now, with Obama on that stage, is a result of their pain. We are seeing their hope, even if we still have along way to go.

I believe that an inspired America is one to watch out for – one that I can finally be hopeful for and believe in again.

Sign me up.