Doing the Right Thing!

Confessions of why this middle-aged, female Democrat will vote for Obama

 

Doing the Right Thing

 

Let’s get one thing straight. Politics is a business of persuasion, convincing and more often than not, conniving. Most recently in the Democratic primaries, we have been witness to the gamut of emotions by candidates from exhaustion to aggression. These primary debates, caucuses and events have stimulated a public from a catatonic, minimal eight year trance to feeling that hope and energy do come alive in unity of like minds and hearts. This is due, not only to the novelty of the proposal of the first possible woman or first inter-racial president of the United States, but also the pendulum which is swinging from the numbness of two terms of Bush to the hope of change proclaimed by Barack Obama.

 

Let’s get another thing straight.  Despite the differences, people have many of the same hopes and dreams. Everyone wants to have a certain degree of happiness, comfort, satisfaction, peace and fulfillment in their lives. Have you ever heard of anyone who CHOOSES to be dirt-poor or who ENJOYS fighting in the family every minute of the day? Most people don’t.

There are factors in everyone’s life which are common to everyone…every race, culture, background, religion. 

 

          Predominantly Caucasian, professional, middle-aged, divorced, sole-supporter of the family, mom of one teenage daughter are all descriptions of the person I am and am becoming – a life unfolding. I had a middle-class upbringing, went to good schools in college and grad school and belonged to a “once-privileged” class – the middle-class of the 50s, 60s and even the 70s. But soon after the 70s and with the dominance of certain political philosophies of deregulation, trickle-down economics and the like, the middle-class gave way to the rise of the corporations as control. Those in power saw this as a way of securing their political futures on the backs of the working man and now woman.   Households became more and more likely to have a working couple rather than just the husband, and the nuclear family began to take on a very different role. I am a product of that generation.   A child of an immigrant mother and second-generation immigrant father, both of whom were officers in the military during the Korean War, World War II and were lifelong Democrats, I also took up the values that the Democratic Party had meant for me. I don’t consider myself “elitist”. I have been given values by my parents and grandparents who believed in the value of education and pursued that end, rather than the glorification of money for money’s sake.   I also eat arucola (known in these parts and on certain television talk shows as “arugola” – an elitist lettuce.) The truth is that arugola is a main ingredient in Greek “peasant” salads (horiatiki) origins of which reflect these greens that grow plentifully in summer gardens and fields. Hardly elitist, I would say!

           With Bill Clinton on the ballot, I voted for him both times, even as I was in Vice-Chair of Democrats Abroad for Italy. I reveled in his victory and watched the economy finally take the side of the “mythical little people” once again.  But then something happened - scandals, set-ups, psychological warfare and the mass mutiny of a country with a balanced budget and contented well-being. People started distancing themselves based on their presumptive “moral ground”, rather than on the necessities of the country. Then, a catastrophe ensued that somehow cemented that same psychological warfare tactic on the same people of this country. Since then nothing has been the same.

           In the following years, the Constitution has been re-written, trod upon, morphed into a document that the powerful use for initially- clandestine purposes now being revealed with the passage of time and puzzle pieces being fit together. Everything “touched” by those in power in the past eight years has resulted in nothing but one fiasco after another – Hurricane Katrina failures, pre-emptive striking of Iraq, the No Child Left Behind mandate, the disappearance of Habeus Corpus, the allowance of torture in the name of this country, the scape-goating of immigrants – the list seems endless. People have become more divided than ever. And more than anything, the wealthy have increased their wealth, while the poor are vilified. As economist Robert Reich states,

          “Wealthy Americans used to add to government revenues mainly through their tax payments. Now, wealthy Americans add to government revenues by lending the government money….Combine the Bush tax cuts and the soaring federal deficits and you go from one method of financing government (which we used to call it a progressive income tax) to another method—consisting of loans from the wealthy—and interest payments to them from everyone else.” (Who Pays and How, Reich, www.TomPaine.com, 2004)

                 

The reason for all this background is simple. As commentators and pundits propose, being part of the middle-class, this professional, predominantly Caucasian middle-aged working woman would support another professional, Caucasian middle-aged working woman for president. But, that’s not the case. In fact, I can sincerely say that I identify, yes, “identify” more with the tenor of Senator Barack Obama than I do with Senator Hillary Clinton.

          While I listened to the two Democratic candidates put forth their ideas and debate on details, strong realization cut deep when Senator Clinton spoke in Rhode Island. The opportunistic “fun” Senator Clinton admitted when she mocked Senator Obama left me 110% certain that her brand of ridicule was neither becoming behavior of a lady nor of a leader: 

 

“the sky will open, the light will come down. Celestial choirs will be singing, and everyone will know that we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect.”

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          As a person of deep spiritual conviction, the mockery resonated deeply within. How many people who have historically brought hope to people otherwise suffering have been mocked by those powers who chose to expose their folly! How can anyone ridicule another who says “we should do the right thing”? And when ever did Senator Obama say that the world will be perfect? As I recall his words, he has always stated that doing the right thing will be difficult, that doing the right thing will take hard work and unity among all people, that doing the right this is the only option if we want to effect a true and meaningful change, otherwise, it is politics as usual. 

         One more thing in Senator Obama’s favor - it’s called presence, demeanor, aplomb. The presence of Senator Obama is one that exudes confidence, calm, seriousness of purpose and most of all, leadership as a “servant of the people”. That is truly what being a “civil servant” means, but not what it has become in our society. The impression Senator Obama offers is that his service in the office of the presidency is one for the people, about the people and by the people. It is not about him becoming president. It is about him lifting up the people in the capacity of president. Senator Obama carries himself with the dignity and presence of a leader, while ascribing to higher values and inspiring others to do the same. He bridges gaps between young and old, rich and poor, Democrat, Republican and Independent - all along while “doing the right thing”. I believe he will maintain that confident presence not only with his constituents here in the United States, but very significantly, also with heads of state around the world. 

          It is for all these reasons that as a middle-class, Caucasian, professional mother, I identify with and support Barack Obama as my choice for President of the United States.   And I know in my heart, it is “the right thing” to do.

          And one last thing!  I also eat “rucola” (known in these parts and on certain sensationalist talk shows as “arugula”, rocket or roquette lettuce – denounced as an “elitist lettuce” when referring to those who support Senator Obama.) Truth be told that rucola is a main ingredient in Mediterranean “peasant” salad (horiatiki in Greece) origins which may surprise accusers. These greens are actually bitter herbs related to the “mustard family” that grow plentifully in summer gardens and fields in Greece, Italy and Egypt.  Hardly elitist, I would say!

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

Your views mirror mine, jjill. America has really fallen ill these last few years, and Mr Obama offers our best chance for recovery, so I believe. Thank you for this piece. Sam