January 20, 2009
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Dear Mr. PRESIDENT:
This was a letter I had posted the night President Obama won the election by a landslide. I celebrated with my Xanga friends, jubilantly typing our excitements out in the BFN chatroom — definitely a night to remember. Now, as he is about to be sworn in, I wanted to share my letter to him with you once again. Today, the world will change forever … I am hopeful for us all.
First of all, I’d like to congratulate you on your fantastic win this evening. Not only is it a victory for the ages, but one that was hard-fought and most-deserved. I am writing to thank you, because for once in my life, I feel as if I was part of something bigger than myself. A single voice — lost far too often — has finally been heard.
I’ll be honest with you: I was never one for political dealings. After the 2000 election, I was jaded. Politics were well-known for being a dirty business, but why bother casting a vote that wouldn’t count? I was blissfully apathetic … until I heard you speak. Your words were eloquent and your presence, commanding. It felt like I was listening to a real person, not a fronting politician.
“If there is a child on the south side of Chicago who can’t read, that matters to me, even if it’s not my child. If there is a senior citizen somewhere who can’t pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it’s not my grandmother. If there’s an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It’s that fundamental belief—I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper—that makes this country work. It’s what allows us to pursue our individual dreams and yet still come together as one American family. E pluribus unum: “Out of many, one.”” —Barack ObamaI am one of millions that signed the petition to get you to run for president; I watched the live feed as you announced your candidacy; I proudly voted and caucused in the primary race; I swelled with pride as you accepted the democratic nomination.
It hasn’t always been easy to be your supporter, though. Like your candidacy, the road has been a bumpy one — I’ve been met with a great deal of criticism from friends and strangers, neighbors and family members. My faith and ability to think have been questioned. I am happy to tell you I never wavered from my position, thanks to your strength, convictions and hope for change.
Tonight, you legitimized our belief in your campaign for change. Tomorrow, I will hang my head high, knowing I’ve been with you from the beginning. And in January, America will watch you begin your journey to live up to your potential. Please, sir, do right by us. I know you will.
As I shed a tear or two, I realize that the world is different, and it started with an admirable man from Illinois. You won, sir. WE won.
The entire journey was worth it; thank you for letting us be a part of it.
Sincerely,
Jen
november 4, 2008
Comments (32)
I dont agree with this man, or his way of doing things, but I am proud to know that both you and I voted to make this country a better place and I wish him the best for the next 4 years. He is going to need it.
Congrats on your win Mr. Obama, prepare to shoulder the burden of 300 million Americans and nearly 6 other billion people of the world.
I honestly never knew you were an Obama supporter. I worked for his Tennessee campaign these past two years. Seriously, kudos to you, my friend.
the journey isn’t over, it’s just beginning
@CrazyKey123 - LOL, you missed my months of waxing Obama on here! I’ve been an avid supporter and blogger for almost two years
I bet working for the campaign was amazing!
@AnallyNoble - And I would say the same thing if your guy had won. Class act, Mr. Shaun
Ah, that night was great… Xanga was jumping! We were all pulsing and posting and commenting on each other… it was the best sort of party. We really felt like things had taken a step in the right direction and we couldn’t have stopped celebrating if we had wanted to. Huzzah.
Tomorrow begins four long years for our nation. God help us all. Read Proverbs 29:2.
Wow, I loved how you incorporated that quote into your fantastic post. Rec’ing
I have never seen people this excited and hopeful before. I have lost a good friend over this election. It is her loss and fear.. Not Mine.
I am jubilant and thankful that he won. It really was time for Change and he offers us the best scenario that was on the table.!! He will work for all of us and do it with thoughtful action!!
I cannot wait for tomorrow to come!!! I so wish that I was off tomorrow. I will have to dvr it!!
By the way, I think this was one of your best post!!! Great job and a big REC!!!
I’m still amazed how, after listening to so much crying about Obama’s win, I’m now finding people who support the guy. There were people who were (and likely still are) treating his win as an American tragedy. Tragedy this is not. History this is!
@paoguy118 - I’m with ya on that one.
I’m not sure 365-173 constitutes a ‘landslide.” Now 525-13 was a landslide in 1984. 489-48 in 1980 was a landslide. 520-17 was a landslide in 1972 when 49 states went for Nixon.
I hope Obama does the right thing, although most of his rherotic since the election has been less than bi-partisan. He’s not even getting along with Pelosi and Reid.
His first moves will be to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in Iraq. Seven score and five years ago, another man from Illinois promised that 53,000 soldiers killed at Gettysburg shall not have died in vain. Now our new president seems willing to let those who died in Iraq have done so in vain to further his ‘exit strategy.’
I’m not alone in this. Many of us know the 3 great ‘exit strategies’ of the last century were failures too. Gemany in 1919 didn’t work, we had to fight them again 25 years later. Southeast Asia in 1974 was a failure as well. The Khemer Rouge overwhelmed the South Vietnamese leading to the killing fields of SE Asia. We left Iraq after the first gulf war without finishing the job there.
I fear that Joe Biden is right. We will be tested after this debut of weakness from our new President. God help us.
great post!!
Even though I don’t whole heartingly agree with Obama, and was completely for Hilary Clinton I had to do some serious thinking when it mainly came down to Obama and McCain, my opinion was split for the longest time, and I had to do some research, pathetic yes, but even though I’m fourteen I still wanted to know who I would have voted for if I could vote. I considered the economy, abortion, life/health insurance, and many other things that when I tell that to people they find shokcing that I thought all of that out, well I did so I tell them that it’s people my age who are going to be affected in the long, which is why I wanted to know as much as I could. Now some people in my family are racist, but I’m not like that, never have been and never will be, I don’t care if you’re white, black, brown, purple, gay, straight, lesbian, Catholic, atheist, I don’t care. So unlike a good portion of my family I didn’t factor Obama’s color, or ethnicity into the equation, of who would I have voted for if I could. I took important issues, and worries and based my decsion on that. After I got the facts straight, I decided Obama, even though I’m supossed to become a Republican, I went with Obama, and sat there all night watching those polls, and fell asleep in math the next day…..so the point is I’m for Obama…..
Excellent letter.
Sincerest thanks for sharing this, and to watersedge62 for leading me here, and for the many millions who have been responsible for the success of this journey.
Very nice….so sad I wasn’t in the BFN that night!!!
Now, we must all back him and help him make the right decisions. We must convince him that world govenrment isn’t needed and that freedom is and everlasting thing. National sovereignty must prevail.
@Garistotle - “There were people who were (and likely still are) treating his win as an American tragedy.” You can count me in that group. I will be buying more guns and bullets before he does something really dumb. (Sorry, somebody’s got to express the opposing view.)
I am praying for him though…that God will change his heart and truly save him.
Great post.
today is the day.
Oh man, this was tear jerker!
@BB61 - Oh, Nixon … yes, we all remember him. Very well. What an honourable gentleman he was.
I’m not sure that you really understand what the rest of the world sees when we look at your invasion of a sovereign nation for no particularly good reason. To liken Hussein to Hitler is ridiculous. Iraq had separation of church and state, was not pushing an Islamic-Fundamentalist agenda, and was not really a threat to anyone. Yes, his regime had its share of violence and repression, but nowhere close to what’s happened in Myanmar, Iran, East Timor or most of Africa. And North Korea actually does have nukes, and is communist (oh horrors!) and has a terribly repressive regime. They are a threat, so why don’t you advocate taking them on? Because it wouldn’t be so easy to bully them?
Your war-mongering attitude does you no credit.
Good one, Jen!
Everyone I know would’ve voted for Obama if we could’ve.
1. (واحد) Barack Obama
truly great letter, Jen…like you, i signed the petition, and anxiously watched the country step into a new direction…it’s a new day…i’m proud to be your friend, and delight in that we have a common belief, and have been heard…God bless you, and God bless America…hugs, animal
@BB61 - This is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally a smart man! That right there is sexy!!! If your not married already… Will you marry me? =) Yes, God save us!!!
@CanadianBroad -
Wow, all I can say is that I’m so happy I’m a conservative repbulican who is honored to be a American and so very proud of our troops! Maybe that pride in the American way is why I clearly see the comparison of Hussein to Hilter. So, just beacause “Iraq had a seperatin of church and state” ( which can’t really exist ) and “Was not pushing the Islamic-Fundamentalisitic agenda” makes it okay for “His regime having it’s share of violence and repression” okay? Are you kidding me? Yeah, he wasn’t a threat to anyone but his own people!!!!!!! Hello!!!!! So, America is just doing all this to ” Bully” Iraq. That is so disgusting to me!!! Ugh!! If we didn’t help and I repeat HELP Iraq we would be torn apart for that too. Go Bush for maning up and making decisions without tryin to please everyone!! God BLESS America!!!!!
@CanadianBroad - In 1936 Germany reoccupied the Rhineland, in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles. France sought action to stop this within the League. Britain, the US, Canada, and other nations opposed this, so Germany thumbed it’s nose at the world community. Hindsight is 20/20, but it could have prevented the Germans from becoming so bold if we’d nipped it in the bud.
Saddam was the same, thumbing his nose at the UN resolution and not allowing inspectors to do thier jobs. We did the right thing. Fortunately, we did so before you had to get involved.
Saddam wasn’t a threat to anyone? Take that up with the Saudi’s, the Kuwaitis, the Iranians, and the Israelis. The last nation to use chemical weapons, with the 4th largest standing army in the world, tumbing it’s nose at the UN, was a threat.
There was an interantional agreement not to sell Saddam any arms. Russia, Germany, and France opposed this operation. Behold uncovered weapons manufactured in 2002 in (shock) France, Germany and Russia showing up.
Now, let’s discuss 550 tons of Yellowcake uranium found in Iraq. It seems it now is the property of a Canadian company. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jul/06/world/fg-cake6
Yes, Canada has some of the WMD’s from Iraq. You’re welcome, by the way, since our country made it possible.
Your smug, self righteous attitude does you no good.
@Claudi_a_Lexis - Bummer. I’m already married. If I was 20 years younger, and single….
Right on & well said. I also liked a t-shirt one man was wearing at the inauguration that said, “yes we DID!”
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