A Remarkable Event

I came through the sixties. I graduated from high school in 1962. I recall the Kennedy Era, as short lived as it was. I remember LBJ signing civil rights legislation. I was too young to appreciate the impact and too isolated to understand segregation. I do remember seeing the attacks by police in southern cities on the peaceful demonstrators. I was shocked, angered, and embarrassed that citizens could not get along. I participated in civil rights discussions in college and always had a kind of naive misunderstanding about why should we grant Negroes rights under the law when they already had them. I did not understand a lot.

Part of my education as an adult was to develop an understanding. It did not change my feeling that we are all equal, not just under our law, but under the laws of nature. So today, January 20, 2009 is not a complete surprise. The swearing in of citizen Obama as our president is the justification for all of the demonstrations, all of the physical pain and psychological torment endured in the name of freedom. It is also natural. It is not just a coming of age of the black race, it is a coming of age of all American citizens.

I do not agree with much of his political agenda, or at least the means he ascribes to accomplish economic recovery. I do agree that he is the best man at this time for the job. I do not recall the presidential process creating such excitement in the electorate since JFK. Thank goodness we haven't attached any labels like Camelot to the start of the Obama administration. Right now, he is winning high marks from many people, six months from now we shall see. I wish him well, he seems like a good man.

What's good about anything?

I grew up in the 60's. Our involvement in Vietnam was growing dramatically. Martin Luther King was leading the good fight, and with courage and dignity, but it was a fight trying to right evil acts. The Cold War was in full swing and America was concerned about nuclear war. When our first child was born in 1968 I thought they are going to be raised in tough times.

Today I am a Grandfather in the new millennium. Now we have Iraq-Nam. Politics has become a vicious profession with gamesmanship being the watch word. I do not see much of an attempt by either party to move our society forward, just place the blame on the other guy. I hear Hillary proclaiming she will bring out country together, hell its together, the politicians just aren't listening. We are fouling our planet and it is a tougher time to raise children than at any other time in our history.

Are we divided? Yes, but then if we weren't there would be no politics. What I do not see is anyone reaching out to gain information on what the American public really wants. Everyone is using misleading surveys to put forth their agenda, they are not listening to mine.

Who among the major political figures do I like, John McCain, Joe Biden, John Edwards, and who knows Mit Romney might be a capable person. I do not like or trust Hillary. I see no sincerity in her whatsoever. Obama, he could be good, but I already feel like he is being seduced by the process instead of creating a vision.

I really wish the "Silent Majority" would step up and push term limits. Limit a Senator to one six year term, a Representative to two two year terms. "Throw the rascals out." Let people with ideals and vision vote for us, not the entrenched politicians who develop their own agenda. I recall those words stating a government for the people, by the people and of the people. Now it is rich people pretending to be regular "Joes" voting on our behalf when a lot of them haven't experienced life's travails. I wish those with the power would exert that power on our collective behalf.