Re: Barack 2008!
Doris, do you live in Australia? America? Canada? You seem to have a very personal stake in this candidate. If it's not an intrusive question, could you tell us why?
Hey Julia...
My son tells me I 'discharge'...
I should make a NY resolution not to discharge!
My best friend on the planet is American and lives in Orange County CA. Second best friend is Canadian and lives in Calgary. My favourite place on Earth is Lake Louise! Summer or winter.
It's so easy with the internet and their cheap cell phone contracts to keep in touch. Indeed I spend more time talking with them than with local friends!
I go up and spend time between them every second year. As a teacher I get 6 weeks summer holdays. Last Dec, Jan, Feb I was up there on long service leave. OC... Calgary etc... then went to Texas for a few days en route a Caribbean cruise... then OC again.
I'd scan their newspapers each day to get a feel of what was happening and in Canada at least, news from Oz. No-one watches TV (it's a waste of good conversation time) but one afternoon someone put it on and Oprah was just starting. My friend said I should look at it... a repeat that had impressed her.. during their TV silly season.
It was an interview with Barack and Michelle and I was instantly glued. It was incredible how this guy presented himself and his philosophies and attitudes. It's one thing for people to complain about situations but he made statements of concerns and then proposed ideas for solution. I fell in love! He is what I would call my ideal man. Sensitive, considerate, funny, rational, articulate, compassionate, composed, decisive. Love his voice. His mannerisms! He seemed so much more mature tonight... amazing how he's developed the aura of a statesman over this past year.
He was also a guest on Letterman. I bought his book,
The Audacity of Hope, and devoured it. So easy to read as it was entertaining and enlightening. I liked everything I read. He made me think. He made me care. I just had this instinct that this man could clean up the mess GWB has made over his time at the controls. He doesn't need much sleep so he wrote his books at night whilst his family slept. He treasures the time with his family.
I was impressed that he wrote his first book
Dreams From My Father to establish his identity. I bought it to find out more about his background. I believed his experiences gave him a grounding that as US president, the leader of the free world, he could gain the world's respect, including of muslims. He used the proceeds to pay off his college debts and buy a house in Chicago. He was no 'silver bum'! They lived frugally.
I googled him and listened to all his podcasts. In OC in Feb, I signed up as a supporter and have been getting emails from him, his campaign manager and Michelle since. About one a week. I only wish I could donate to his campaign! When I got requests to join rallies, I wish I could have gone to support.
The world is one village. I feel such sympathy for Africans as they're run by dictators who are corrupt, from getting into power to fleecing their countries' resources and their people live in poverty and fear. I studied up on Nigeria when my oldest daughter chose to marry a Nigerian. My two gorgeous grand children are thus half Nigerian but I would not want them to visit their father's country of birth. I feel anguish and no doubt Barack does too, about the Kenyan situation. People sheltering in a church which became their funeral pyre in the aftermath of a purportedly democratic election!
I really believe Obama has the potential to do what 'the most powerful nation' could do. Foster world peace. When I think of the trillions the US owes China for funding the Iraq war I feel anguish for the waste of resources and lives. The US has been a blatant bully under GWB. Obama has rational ideas developed from a lifetime and a lifestyle of really listening to others' concerns and ideas and is the man to right the wrongs! I hope he wins again next Wednesday our time!
Now you know why I'm obsessive.