I took a break from my catch-up work to stay in touch with the Democratic National Convention last week. My political leanings have varied over the years, which I figure is the natural course of things. As I get older my perception changes and I re-fine (or re-define) my opinion on certain issues, but I generally stay close to “home”, meaning it’s rare for me to change my mind entirely on a given issues. Rather, what seems to change is the degree to which I am willing to invest time and emotion into a given issue.
As some of you know, the Obama Coupon represented VibeReview’s official support. But I didn’t reveal my own thoughts on Obama, because I didn’t want to strain any existing relationships – both personal and professional, sometimes with the two mingling. Strange as it may seem, I wanted to wait until the DNC to discuss political matters on this blog. My hesitancy: I wanted to see substance and style, not rhetorical bravo alone – which I felt had been Obama’s main contribution during the primaries. Of course, at no point did I consider voting for John McCain, a man who has proven himself incapable of truly understanding women – what motivates us, what appeals to us, what we really want, and how we want to live our lives.
(I use “we” very loosely, I know. I don’t intend to be the singular voice of all women, so please don’t be offended. My only motivation in doing so is to share my own wants, wishes, and hopes that I know parallel so many other women’s hopes, dreams, wishes, and wants.)
So, Obama sealed up my vote when Hillary Clinton lost in the primaries. No, I have no lingering bitterness toward what happened during the primaries, as I don’t see such sentiments as being productive in the short-term or long-term. At this point, during these uncomfortably dysfunctional times, I felt that I couldn’t waste my vote on an Independent Party. Reform must come from within the two main parties, if this country is going to overcome current obstacles. While the primaries proved upsetting, I did recognize some of Obama’s brilliance, eagerness, and desire to lead.
Then I watched Obama’s speech.
Impressed? Inspired? Grateful? Humbled? Excited? Connected?
All of those things and more. I feel like I was smacked with a wake up call – not only as it pertains to my own individual actions, but also as it relates to participating in community affairs. I can be better than I am without feeling bad about where I’ve been.
This is huge.
Breakthrough.
Wild.
I felt a sense of responsibility to my fellow citizens. Probably for the first time in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I am a failure on a daily basis if I don’t treat people with respect (even those who don’t deserve it). I care about people. But this was a new sense of purpose. A calling, if you will. Now I don’t want anyone thinking I’ve fallen off the sanity-wagon, because I am still obsessed with self. (Sounds silly as hell to admit, but I suppose we are obsessed with self to an extreme. Only, well, we may not realize it all the time.)
Yes, I feel like I am obligated to myself and others, to say, as Obama did, “ENOUGH!” Resonates with me, it really does. No more, no longer, no way. I hate campaign slogans, but the Democrats hit the jack pot this time around.
My favorite new slogan: McSame. And true as can be.
Seeing that sea of people at the baseball stadium. Remarkable.
I enjoyed all the convention speeches. Gore and Kerry and Biden and Hillary. Even ol’ Mr.Cant’s Keep.His.Pecker.Tucked.Away President Clinton. It was a great event that energized me.
Did anyone else watch it? If so, what did you think? Agree or no? And why or why not?
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