It's everywhere, all over the news. (I think I'm going to crazy from hearing about it.) Barack Obama. The first African-American president in the history of the United States. He's a sign of hope, a sign of peace. He will save America, he will give us change.
Obama has sparked the minds of young people everywhere. Parents are thrilled, teenagers are ecstatic. Maybe this bloody war will finally be over and we'll finally enter a time of peace and stay that way.
But it's not that simple . . .
You can't just change a country so quickly, you can't change the minds of people around the world in a year. You have the military, U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans, and the hundreds of countries around the world to consider. The economy, the Republicans, the environment.
It's not that simple.
I want change, I want to be able to go on summer vacations more often without worrying about gas prices. I want to be out of Iraq and I want everything to just get BETTER. I'm tired of watching America slowly wash down the drain. We're better than that.
Obama has promised us change.
And I'm nervous about that.
I want it, I really do. But for some reason, I do not trust Obama as our leader. I feel like he has sped through the presidential campaign like a little kid wanting to get the red crayon in art. He's only been in office for about a week, but I am constantly biting my nails everytime I look at a newspaper.
George Bush has turned this country inside out and upside down. I'm not sure what is right and what is wrong anymore. I want a strong leader, a resolute individual to open my eyes and help me see past this smudged gray that is covering America's borders. I feel Obama can't do that for me. But if he can't, then who will?
He has been advertised, labeled, STAMPED as the first African-American president in America. His campaign was run by "change" and that by becoming president, he will be the first step toward change.
Doesn't he know? Oh my, doesn't he know? There are so many other people out there that have made a greater difference than he! Gandhi, Bono, MLK, McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, Abe Lincoln, Bishop Tutu . . . they've helped the world. Black, white, brown, yellow, green, purple, no matter what color, religion, or country they were from they changed Earth for the better.
Obama shouldn't be called a great leader because of his skin color. He shouldn't be called amazing because he's a Democrat, not another stupid Republican. Abe Lincoln was white and a Republican but you didn't see people calling him "America's Hope" when he stepped into office, did you?
I'm so scared of another crash and burning of our president. I want, no, I need Obama to show me how we can improve. I was for McCain, yes, but I am trying to see the better side of our new president without my biased self getting in the way. I want him to keep his promises, but honestly, we can't really trust politicians anymore, can we?
I know better.
-msof57
