http://www.newsweek.com/id/115397?from=rss
How true. It has been said that while Hillary is a woman by gender, Barack is the feminist.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Where is the Trust
One of the biggest benchmarks where Barack Obama is beating Hillary Clinton by a landslide in exit polling is on the topic of 'trustworthiness'. Why do people not trust her. She hasn't been caught in any outright lies the likes of Bill Clinton a la Monica Lewinsky style. So what is it?
Well, today in the latest (hourly) shift in strategy for the Clinton campaign, they are back to the populist approach. She is blasting the corporations that she said are hurting the American workers.
Of course, most of the public should know that she worked on the board of Walmart as a corporate attorney for 15 years. And in those other years, she was also working at corporate law on the side of corporations.
At least John Edwards can make the populist claim with a history to back it up. He made his fortune fighting corporations on behalf of the victims as plaintiffs. Hillary, I don't think so.
While not everyone in the public might know the finer details of Hillary's history, it might not be too hard to get a sense that she will say what you think you want to hear.
Another profession where folks are known for that kind of skill is a salesman. And we have all developed a similar aversion to trusting those same folks. Sadly, once you lose the trust of the people, it is much harder getting it back.
Well, today in the latest (hourly) shift in strategy for the Clinton campaign, they are back to the populist approach. She is blasting the corporations that she said are hurting the American workers.
Of course, most of the public should know that she worked on the board of Walmart as a corporate attorney for 15 years. And in those other years, she was also working at corporate law on the side of corporations.
At least John Edwards can make the populist claim with a history to back it up. He made his fortune fighting corporations on behalf of the victims as plaintiffs. Hillary, I don't think so.
While not everyone in the public might know the finer details of Hillary's history, it might not be too hard to get a sense that she will say what you think you want to hear.
Another profession where folks are known for that kind of skill is a salesman. And we have all developed a similar aversion to trusting those same folks. Sadly, once you lose the trust of the people, it is much harder getting it back.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Does Hillary Have Multiple Personality Disorder?
Feb 23, 2008.
Two nights ago at the CNN debate, Hillary Clinton ended the evening by saying that 'she was honored to be here with Barack Obama with this campaign'. Yet today Hillary was quoted as saying 'Shame on you Barack Obama.' And comparing his campaign to a Karl Rove campaign.
Now I doubt the Obama campaign has changed any from last week to this week. They are doing well so there is no need to change anything, much less go aggressive or make up lies. And their message has been consistent day in and day out. They are the front runners so their position is not to take risks.
On the other hand, Hillary is struggling to figure out what will help her connect with voters. She has tried the crying thing. But it is shocking that she can go from the crying thing (one extreme) to the crazy irate New Yorker in just 48 hours. Not only is that manipulative, it is unbecoming of a president. This is a sad characterization of 'I will do anything, say anything, to get myself elected president'.
In a very small way, I find pity for Hillary Clinton since she sees the world in such selfish perspectives, almost of a whining spoiled brat. Almost kind of like George Bush.
Many Americans feel that the Clintons exude a sense of entitlement, again not too different than the Bushes. And from the way that Hillary is acting with her campaign, it reflects the notion that the end justifies the means.
Just as Bush shouldn't be in the White House, Hillary should also ask why she should be in the White House. This should not be a matter of entitlement but respect that is earned.
Two nights ago at the CNN debate, Hillary Clinton ended the evening by saying that 'she was honored to be here with Barack Obama with this campaign'. Yet today Hillary was quoted as saying 'Shame on you Barack Obama.' And comparing his campaign to a Karl Rove campaign.
Now I doubt the Obama campaign has changed any from last week to this week. They are doing well so there is no need to change anything, much less go aggressive or make up lies. And their message has been consistent day in and day out. They are the front runners so their position is not to take risks.
On the other hand, Hillary is struggling to figure out what will help her connect with voters. She has tried the crying thing. But it is shocking that she can go from the crying thing (one extreme) to the crazy irate New Yorker in just 48 hours. Not only is that manipulative, it is unbecoming of a president. This is a sad characterization of 'I will do anything, say anything, to get myself elected president'.
In a very small way, I find pity for Hillary Clinton since she sees the world in such selfish perspectives, almost of a whining spoiled brat. Almost kind of like George Bush.
Many Americans feel that the Clintons exude a sense of entitlement, again not too different than the Bushes. And from the way that Hillary is acting with her campaign, it reflects the notion that the end justifies the means.
Just as Bush shouldn't be in the White House, Hillary should also ask why she should be in the White House. This should not be a matter of entitlement but respect that is earned.
...What about MY Idea...
It is always interesting seeing how people exchange ideas. For the most part, the idea exchange for the majority of the population is not much of an exchange at all. It's mostly 'my idea is best, take mine'. That's why you see people so often talking over one another often times interrupting each other. No one is listening to another person's idea because they are too busy propagate their own ideas.
Of course, it is part of basic human nature, part of the ego to express itself. It is very instinctual and reactive. Very low on the food chain on the hierarchy of needs. It is more about the needs of 'self' than the needs of the greater whole.
Watching political pundits on MSNBC is a classic example. Most are so aggressive and believing that their view is right that they just speak over one another and often times the overlap literally became noise. How ironic.
An intellectual brilliance would not just listen to their own ideas and then giving themselves a pat on the back. They would strive to listen without the ego tied to the process of other's ideas, and make judgments to whether the ideas have validity. That is something that I strive for as well. Not always easy. One reason I support Barack for president is because he is an example of this patience and intellectual brilliance.
Of course, it is part of basic human nature, part of the ego to express itself. It is very instinctual and reactive. Very low on the food chain on the hierarchy of needs. It is more about the needs of 'self' than the needs of the greater whole.
Watching political pundits on MSNBC is a classic example. Most are so aggressive and believing that their view is right that they just speak over one another and often times the overlap literally became noise. How ironic.
An intellectual brilliance would not just listen to their own ideas and then giving themselves a pat on the back. They would strive to listen without the ego tied to the process of other's ideas, and make judgments to whether the ideas have validity. That is something that I strive for as well. Not always easy. One reason I support Barack for president is because he is an example of this patience and intellectual brilliance.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Obama vs. Clinton; Non-Zero Sum gain vs. Zero Sum Gain
In college, I took a class on negotiation. One of the essential theories of the class in successful negotiation is breaking through the traditional paradigm that when someone wins, the other one must lose.
What the old theory says is pretty much typical of sporting events. That there is a winner and there is a loser when the clock runs out. You can't both be winners. Not in the same game. And often times, people apply those same rules to all other parts of life. It's winner take all. And if you don't win, you get nothing so you better do everything you can to win.
This theory is called 'zero sum' because it always adds up to zero. The winner goes up by 1, the loser goes down by 1. It always goes back to the baseline.
For a lot of folks this mentality is pervasive in everyday thinking. Do you sometimes tell someone you know that something great just happened to you, like you got a raise or got engaged. And to your surprise, the person reacts with jealousy or unpleasantness or as if it was an attack on them? In some way, what happened to you has made their 'sum' go negative. I, of course, try to stay away from those folks.
What easily happens with these folks is they easily make enemies, usually in their minds. George Bush falls into this camp. As their need to always define themselves as the 'winner' and the other as the 'loser' often times at all cost, their list of adversaries grow in their head and their circles of allies shrink smaller and smaller. Pretty soon everyone is an 'asshole' or the enemy. I can imagine Bush saying that.
Conversely, the opposing theory or the 'non-zero sum' theory assumes that there is more of the pie out there for everyone. What if a photographer 'A' gets a job and tells photographer 'B'. But photographer 'B' knows that there are literally thousands of jobs out there and if he just does what he does, his business will continue to grow. Instead of perceiving the pie as being fixed, finite, and limited, there is enough for them to share and be content. So photographer 'B' won't have to dislike his peer for telling him about his successes and vice versa. In a larger context, it's not winner take all since there is too much of the world to take.
So what does all this have to do with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton? Hillary Clinton is of the camp that believes in the zero sum theory. That means if you are on the other side, we will not talk to you. Whether you are the Republicans, the Iranians, the Obama supporters, fellow Democrats that questions her health care reform in the 1990s, etc. Pretty soon, that circle of influence and support starts to shrink.
More importantly, a zero-sum mentality will not enable a person to think outside of what is possible besides just them getting what they want. In an negotiation with a zero sum approach where each side thinks that there is only one winner, each side will just dig its heals in because it doesn't want to be the loser. There will never be progress as each side just stall until the other side gives up. Nothing creative will ever result.
With all the debate on issues and policies, the details are irrelevant. The difference between Hillary and Barack is that Barack will actually get it done. Ding. The reason being that he thinks in the non-zero sum way. That it is possible to create solutions where there were none, that there could be 2 or 3 or 4 winners in an outcome of a negotiation. That no one has to go home beaten down as the loser. That is the fundamental difference. It is a collaborative approach verses an adversarial approach. We already tried the adversarial approach under a different brand and it didn't work. It's time for something new.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-sum
What the old theory says is pretty much typical of sporting events. That there is a winner and there is a loser when the clock runs out. You can't both be winners. Not in the same game. And often times, people apply those same rules to all other parts of life. It's winner take all. And if you don't win, you get nothing so you better do everything you can to win.
This theory is called 'zero sum' because it always adds up to zero. The winner goes up by 1, the loser goes down by 1. It always goes back to the baseline.
For a lot of folks this mentality is pervasive in everyday thinking. Do you sometimes tell someone you know that something great just happened to you, like you got a raise or got engaged. And to your surprise, the person reacts with jealousy or unpleasantness or as if it was an attack on them? In some way, what happened to you has made their 'sum' go negative. I, of course, try to stay away from those folks.
What easily happens with these folks is they easily make enemies, usually in their minds. George Bush falls into this camp. As their need to always define themselves as the 'winner' and the other as the 'loser' often times at all cost, their list of adversaries grow in their head and their circles of allies shrink smaller and smaller. Pretty soon everyone is an 'asshole' or the enemy. I can imagine Bush saying that.
Conversely, the opposing theory or the 'non-zero sum' theory assumes that there is more of the pie out there for everyone. What if a photographer 'A' gets a job and tells photographer 'B'. But photographer 'B' knows that there are literally thousands of jobs out there and if he just does what he does, his business will continue to grow. Instead of perceiving the pie as being fixed, finite, and limited, there is enough for them to share and be content. So photographer 'B' won't have to dislike his peer for telling him about his successes and vice versa. In a larger context, it's not winner take all since there is too much of the world to take.
So what does all this have to do with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton? Hillary Clinton is of the camp that believes in the zero sum theory. That means if you are on the other side, we will not talk to you. Whether you are the Republicans, the Iranians, the Obama supporters, fellow Democrats that questions her health care reform in the 1990s, etc. Pretty soon, that circle of influence and support starts to shrink.
More importantly, a zero-sum mentality will not enable a person to think outside of what is possible besides just them getting what they want. In an negotiation with a zero sum approach where each side thinks that there is only one winner, each side will just dig its heals in because it doesn't want to be the loser. There will never be progress as each side just stall until the other side gives up. Nothing creative will ever result.
With all the debate on issues and policies, the details are irrelevant. The difference between Hillary and Barack is that Barack will actually get it done. Ding. The reason being that he thinks in the non-zero sum way. That it is possible to create solutions where there were none, that there could be 2 or 3 or 4 winners in an outcome of a negotiation. That no one has to go home beaten down as the loser. That is the fundamental difference. It is a collaborative approach verses an adversarial approach. We already tried the adversarial approach under a different brand and it didn't work. It's time for something new.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-sum
How Hillary Will Try to Win on March 4
If New Hampshire and the finale of the debate on CNN tonight (Feb 21) are of any indication, it is pretty obvious what Hillary will do on the eve of the Texas and Ohio primary. Hillary will show her 'emotional vulnerability' self to win over the folks out there that are hoping to define the real her. A.K.A SHE WILL CRY AGAIN.
After her first crying episode, one political anchor said that in the 20 years of him covering politics, he has never seen Hillary Clinton shown any emotion. While whether it was true emotion or not, only Hillary herself knows (and Mark Penn). But I think emotion may be what the public wants. It is movie drama.
I do hope and believe that we are at a different point of the political process where Obama is far more along in name recognition and following than during New Hampshire. Now the Obama campaign has more breath both in its core following as well as depth in what the public knows of him.
I also like to think that people should not be basing their decision on selection the next leader of their country based upon these last minute distractions. I like to think that people won't be fooled by the same trick twice (or 3 times) If Hillary does the crying thing again at the next debate, it will start to wear its effect. If the public senses that it is coming off as not being genuine, then it will truly backfire. As Bush says, 'fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.' Well, Bush botched that one too.
After her first crying episode, one political anchor said that in the 20 years of him covering politics, he has never seen Hillary Clinton shown any emotion. While whether it was true emotion or not, only Hillary herself knows (and Mark Penn). But I think emotion may be what the public wants. It is movie drama.
I do hope and believe that we are at a different point of the political process where Obama is far more along in name recognition and following than during New Hampshire. Now the Obama campaign has more breath both in its core following as well as depth in what the public knows of him.
I also like to think that people should not be basing their decision on selection the next leader of their country based upon these last minute distractions. I like to think that people won't be fooled by the same trick twice (or 3 times) If Hillary does the crying thing again at the next debate, it will start to wear its effect. If the public senses that it is coming off as not being genuine, then it will truly backfire. As Bush says, 'fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.' Well, Bush botched that one too.
Why Not Likee Hillary
Needlessly to say, I am a strong Obama supporter. There is actually a scale that the campaign uses to gauge a potential voter's interest level. I would be a '1' for sure. In spite of that, I still think about why I don't like Hillary as a candidate.
Recently a book came out by a female author that talked about her soul searching for whether she should support Hillary. As a woman, she felt that it was her obligation to do so. And that it would be an historic opportunity for a woman to be president. And yet she had a hard time convincing herself to like her. Anytime that you have to convince yourself forcefully anything, something is not right. But that still begs the question. Why did she not like her? Maybe the problem she has is the same problem a lot of other people have. And maybe she is not alone, even including some mild mannered men.
Yesterday a pundit on the NPR piece noted that Hillary's rating never went above 50% anytime in the last 2 years. She noted (I am giving credit here:) ) that it was as if people were waiting to see what else was out there that they could like more. And then came Barack. So maybe a lot more of us feel that way.
While some would argue that people dislike Hillary for the reason that she is a strong women, that she is willing to speak her voice. I personally don't buy that argument. I like strong women. I married a very strong willed woman who speaks her voice everyday to me and to the world. And she is backing Obama. There are a number of strong women that we have a lot of respect for. We love Oprah and Michelle Obama who are also very strong women who speak their minds. So I don't believe it is a sexist thing.
When I listen to Hillary speak, the first thought that comes to my head is 'why is she trying to sound like a man?' Well, I do know the reason. In theory, in the tough political world, you have to sound tough and act tough. And if you don't, they will run you over. You cannot show any sign of weakness. Or they will exploit it. (That could also be why Hillary refuse to back down from her vote for the Iraq war.)
While in theory it may sound good, the problem is that it is not genuine. It is an act. When I see Hillary, I still cannot figure out who the real person is. For most people, when they cannot truly tell who you are, they don't feel they can trust you. Or like you. I think it is as simple as that.
Hillary has been changing her campaign tone literally from week to week from aggressive to 'grassroots' to victim as they try different approaches to see what works. People are left confused. As one reporter said, they are trying to see what sticks. I shake my head as I write this.
When people are looking to choose a president, they are looking for someone that has a consistent set of values. No matter how rough the times get, whether its good or bad, that person will pull through all the same. It is that they are dependable. It is that they are reliable. In selecting a leader of the free world, that person is someone you feel you can count on. You want to feel that you have confidence and trust in this person. Sadly, Hillary to this day is still having an identity crisis in figuring out who she wants to be that people will best like her for even with all the political machine behind her.
Note: Her top political adviser Mark Penn gets paid $2 million for his advice on 'branding' her to the public. Today she is reportedly $7 million in debt with a large percentage going to consultancy. Of course, the race is not over yet as Ohio, Texas, and PA are still looming on the horizon.
Recently a book came out by a female author that talked about her soul searching for whether she should support Hillary. As a woman, she felt that it was her obligation to do so. And that it would be an historic opportunity for a woman to be president. And yet she had a hard time convincing herself to like her. Anytime that you have to convince yourself forcefully anything, something is not right. But that still begs the question. Why did she not like her? Maybe the problem she has is the same problem a lot of other people have. And maybe she is not alone, even including some mild mannered men.
Yesterday a pundit on the NPR piece noted that Hillary's rating never went above 50% anytime in the last 2 years. She noted (I am giving credit here:) ) that it was as if people were waiting to see what else was out there that they could like more. And then came Barack. So maybe a lot more of us feel that way.
While some would argue that people dislike Hillary for the reason that she is a strong women, that she is willing to speak her voice. I personally don't buy that argument. I like strong women. I married a very strong willed woman who speaks her voice everyday to me and to the world. And she is backing Obama. There are a number of strong women that we have a lot of respect for. We love Oprah and Michelle Obama who are also very strong women who speak their minds. So I don't believe it is a sexist thing.
When I listen to Hillary speak, the first thought that comes to my head is 'why is she trying to sound like a man?' Well, I do know the reason. In theory, in the tough political world, you have to sound tough and act tough. And if you don't, they will run you over. You cannot show any sign of weakness. Or they will exploit it. (That could also be why Hillary refuse to back down from her vote for the Iraq war.)
While in theory it may sound good, the problem is that it is not genuine. It is an act. When I see Hillary, I still cannot figure out who the real person is. For most people, when they cannot truly tell who you are, they don't feel they can trust you. Or like you. I think it is as simple as that.
Hillary has been changing her campaign tone literally from week to week from aggressive to 'grassroots' to victim as they try different approaches to see what works. People are left confused. As one reporter said, they are trying to see what sticks. I shake my head as I write this.
When people are looking to choose a president, they are looking for someone that has a consistent set of values. No matter how rough the times get, whether its good or bad, that person will pull through all the same. It is that they are dependable. It is that they are reliable. In selecting a leader of the free world, that person is someone you feel you can count on. You want to feel that you have confidence and trust in this person. Sadly, Hillary to this day is still having an identity crisis in figuring out who she wants to be that people will best like her for even with all the political machine behind her.
Note: Her top political adviser Mark Penn gets paid $2 million for his advice on 'branding' her to the public. Today she is reportedly $7 million in debt with a large percentage going to consultancy. Of course, the race is not over yet as Ohio, Texas, and PA are still looming on the horizon.
Post Wisconsin political analysis on the News Hour
Pretty good analysis. Talk about accusing people of plagiarism... Hillary closed out her speech by saying 'We are going to take this country back.' I can tell you that definitely wasn't one of her lines.
http://www-tc.pbs.org/newshour/rss/media/2008/02/20/20080220_campaign28.mp3
http://www-tc.pbs.org/newshour/rss/media/2008/02/20/20080220_campaign28.mp3
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
11 Hours on a Street Corner
Monique and I wanted to do everything we absolutely could for this campaign on its very last day in California. So we stood on the busiest intersection for 11 hours waving our Obama signs.
If there was doubt in the minds of those that know us whether we felt a true importance for what we believe in to this point, we proved it to ourselves and to the thousands that saw us.
After passing out voting literature in the predawn hours, Monique and I got to different corners of a busy intersection in San Rafael near the 101 and stood there with our arms held up high all day until the skies darkened. We knew voters were passing us to the polls throughout the entire day and would likely be the last campaign impression they see.
We know how excited we get when we see others holding Obama signs. So we decided that we needed to be that inspiration for somebody else. We hope that maybe it would inspire them to go vote for Barack. Maybe that would inspire them to call their friends to vote. Maybe that would inspire them to hold up a sign of their own and be that inspiration for someone else.
Too many times in the last 7 years when we see what's wrong with how this country is, we just sit and complain about it. And yet we do nothing. All of us have done it. But now some of us are realizing that we CAN do something about it. We CAN channel that frustration. And we don't have to just settle for someone else that's a safe bet that will be good enough.
For some people in this country, they just sit in their cars and couches and go about consuming with no meaning. We all need to take part in making this country a better place so that we can be proud to be part of it. Barack stands for courage, the courage to make a stand when it seems the odds are against us. I, for one, would never guessed that I would be standing waving a sign at an onramp for 11 hours next to garbage until my back and legs were as sore as after a 15 mile run. But if something is important enough, everyone one of us will have the courage and the means to do what may seem like the impossible.
(On a side note, waving a sign for Barack gives you a very personal glimpse of who his supporters are. And just as he suggested in his campaign, it transcends race, gender, class, and age. I had an 90 year old lady giving me the thumbs up. I had a brand new Range Rover and Mercedes S520 with Obama bumper sticker cheering for me. I had Latino guys sitting 3 across in their trucks all cheering in unison as they saw my sign. I had big monster trucks that had Obama signs on the back tailgate. His ability to connect with people from all backgrounds shocked me. This correlates with the fact that he is able to triumph in the most Republican of states; Idaho, Utah, Alaska, Wyoming... Maybe we are more similar than we think.)
A high school student in our town had just donated $250 to Barack's campaign and he is going to Texas to volunteer. Be part of the movement. Barack hasn't had to dip into his personal savings yet. It's a good thing since he doesn't have much to dip into.
If there was doubt in the minds of those that know us whether we felt a true importance for what we believe in to this point, we proved it to ourselves and to the thousands that saw us.
After passing out voting literature in the predawn hours, Monique and I got to different corners of a busy intersection in San Rafael near the 101 and stood there with our arms held up high all day until the skies darkened. We knew voters were passing us to the polls throughout the entire day and would likely be the last campaign impression they see.
We know how excited we get when we see others holding Obama signs. So we decided that we needed to be that inspiration for somebody else. We hope that maybe it would inspire them to go vote for Barack. Maybe that would inspire them to call their friends to vote. Maybe that would inspire them to hold up a sign of their own and be that inspiration for someone else.
Too many times in the last 7 years when we see what's wrong with how this country is, we just sit and complain about it. And yet we do nothing. All of us have done it. But now some of us are realizing that we CAN do something about it. We CAN channel that frustration. And we don't have to just settle for someone else that's a safe bet that will be good enough.
For some people in this country, they just sit in their cars and couches and go about consuming with no meaning. We all need to take part in making this country a better place so that we can be proud to be part of it. Barack stands for courage, the courage to make a stand when it seems the odds are against us. I, for one, would never guessed that I would be standing waving a sign at an onramp for 11 hours next to garbage until my back and legs were as sore as after a 15 mile run. But if something is important enough, everyone one of us will have the courage and the means to do what may seem like the impossible.
(On a side note, waving a sign for Barack gives you a very personal glimpse of who his supporters are. And just as he suggested in his campaign, it transcends race, gender, class, and age. I had an 90 year old lady giving me the thumbs up. I had a brand new Range Rover and Mercedes S520 with Obama bumper sticker cheering for me. I had Latino guys sitting 3 across in their trucks all cheering in unison as they saw my sign. I had big monster trucks that had Obama signs on the back tailgate. His ability to connect with people from all backgrounds shocked me. This correlates with the fact that he is able to triumph in the most Republican of states; Idaho, Utah, Alaska, Wyoming... Maybe we are more similar than we think.)
A high school student in our town had just donated $250 to Barack's campaign and he is going to Texas to volunteer. Be part of the movement. Barack hasn't had to dip into his personal savings yet. It's a good thing since he doesn't have much to dip into.
An Obama Pin in the NYC Subway
On a recent trip to New York, we stopped by the Obama headquarters downtown to visit and pick up a couple of buttons to show our colors. As expected, it was not the least glamourous. You could tell these folks cared not for how they were perceived to outsiders but more importantly the greater good they were trying to accomplish. After getting our buttons, we hastily put them on and went on our merry way back down into the subway.
As we walked out of the building, I was a little surprised when someone held the door open for us. Growing up in New York, New Yorkers aren't known for their Southern hospitality. As we got onto the A train, we noticed a group of African American teenage kids acting rather loud and rowdy. As much as I like to think of myself as a person that does not carry any prejudices, there was a fear in me like most typical New Yorkers, that I should not make eye contact and keep my distance. To my surprise one of the kids, without a sarcastic tone, invited us to sit and moved down the row of seating and made room for us. In all the years that I have grown up in New York when all such situations like this one have played out over and over again thousands of times, never have a group of rowdy kids responded so drastically different than I or anyone in New York would have expected. After sitting down, my wife who is from the woods in California started chatting with them about Barack. I then realized maybe it had something to do with the pin I was wearing.
Seeing us with that pin, which simply read 'Obama '08', brought about a whole different level of assumptions of character, values, and morals. What the kids saw in us was someone like Barack, a person that does not try to find what it is that's different between us, whether it is race, wealth, or elitism, but rather what it is that we have in common. The possibility that you are not my enemy. Especially in a place like New York City, millions of people live side by side but all act as strangers. Barack tells us that the person standing next to us in the subway isn't always the bad guy, isn't always going to hurt us, isn't hating us for the way we look or dress. And one simple piece of plastic and metal symbolizes just that possibility, that possibility to take away all those prejudices, all the hatred, all the division. If a group of kids can find the courage to move themselves out of all the years of ingrained transgressions, in the harshest of place like New York, maybe all of us Americans can too find that place in our hearts to feel Barack Obama's message of hope and unity for not just our community, for not just our country, but for the world. We have always been a beacon of hope for all the world. Barack Obama lives up to that symbol with his life and his actions. I believe Barack Obama will bring this hope back and be that great leader.
That is why I support Barack Obama.
As we walked out of the building, I was a little surprised when someone held the door open for us. Growing up in New York, New Yorkers aren't known for their Southern hospitality. As we got onto the A train, we noticed a group of African American teenage kids acting rather loud and rowdy. As much as I like to think of myself as a person that does not carry any prejudices, there was a fear in me like most typical New Yorkers, that I should not make eye contact and keep my distance. To my surprise one of the kids, without a sarcastic tone, invited us to sit and moved down the row of seating and made room for us. In all the years that I have grown up in New York when all such situations like this one have played out over and over again thousands of times, never have a group of rowdy kids responded so drastically different than I or anyone in New York would have expected. After sitting down, my wife who is from the woods in California started chatting with them about Barack. I then realized maybe it had something to do with the pin I was wearing.
Seeing us with that pin, which simply read 'Obama '08', brought about a whole different level of assumptions of character, values, and morals. What the kids saw in us was someone like Barack, a person that does not try to find what it is that's different between us, whether it is race, wealth, or elitism, but rather what it is that we have in common. The possibility that you are not my enemy. Especially in a place like New York City, millions of people live side by side but all act as strangers. Barack tells us that the person standing next to us in the subway isn't always the bad guy, isn't always going to hurt us, isn't hating us for the way we look or dress. And one simple piece of plastic and metal symbolizes just that possibility, that possibility to take away all those prejudices, all the hatred, all the division. If a group of kids can find the courage to move themselves out of all the years of ingrained transgressions, in the harshest of place like New York, maybe all of us Americans can too find that place in our hearts to feel Barack Obama's message of hope and unity for not just our community, for not just our country, but for the world. We have always been a beacon of hope for all the world. Barack Obama lives up to that symbol with his life and his actions. I believe Barack Obama will bring this hope back and be that great leader.
That is why I support Barack Obama.
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