(Finally broke my Huffington Post cherry. I've mostly tried to stay away, because it's so america-centric, but that just involved me not leaving comments to pretend I wasn't reading it, which is a lie and I'm trying not to lie anymore. *laugh*)
So this is in response to the following comment, left on an article talking about Obama's open letter to his daughters on Parade.com:
To those of you whose hearts are touched by his open letter, and angered by those who you call 'bashers', can you tell me what his letter inspires you to do?
Other than posting a comment on here, WHAT, specifically, do you think is next, or is going to change?
In some detail if you can.
I can't decide if this was supposed to be a trolling question or not, but I think it's the best comment I have heard on this site recently.
What does this inspire ME to do? It reminds me that everything I do, little ol' me effects people who care for me in ways that I can't foresee but need to acknowledge. I am not the president of the United States. I am not even from the US, I'm Canadian. But I find Obama to be inspiration to me, regardless of imaginary lines. I was one of the people who lost sleep praying that McCain would not win. So vital a question, completely out of my control, but very critical to my life. What your country does, effects everyone. What the US does, effects all of North America. Obama, from his actions so far, remembers this. But first, he is a dad, a husband. He reminds me that first I am a friend, a lover, a daughter. I am an employee, I am a citizen. Because of him, *I* am more interested in my own political process. I know my own city/province/nation's issues, who is speaking for me, and what they believe. He has given me hope that I can do my part, to change my part, like he changed his.
He reminds me daily that even people I disagree with are human beings. Not all conservatives are self-serving, violent, over-controlling asshats. Not all liberals are weak-spined complainers with no ideas of their own. His example helped me, in our own recent election, to look beyond the spin and the mudslinging and truly see that there were five flawed people who truly were doing what they felt was best. I can disagree with their viewpoint and/or implementation, without demonizing them. I can compromise, without selling out. And also, I can be accommodating, without allowing myself to be walked on. That I can stand firm, without being an asshole.
Yes, his letter touched my heart, but your comment inspired me to leave one of my own. And I thank you for that. |