Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Obama, Rumors, and America


Overcoming Rumors

In “The United States of Europe” the T.R. Reid writes about a television show that spoofs the stereotypical American. Americans are portrayed as overweight, loutish and stupid. It is my hope that this stereotype is incorrect but this upcoming election will show just how intelligent, or unintelligent, we are as a people.

If one votes for John McCain because one believes in his policies I can respect that. I disagree, but I still respect one’s freedom to choose one policy and politician over another. However, if one votes for McCain, and against Obama, because one believes that Obama is a secret Muslim who is also a radical Christian who plans to bring his relatives from Africa, where apparently he was born, then one is a fool. We get the leaders we deserve in our democracy. This election cycle will demonstrate the worth of Americans as a people.

We are a nation of people who are more concerned with gas prices and the mortgage crisis than our men and women who are dying and being injured in Iraq. We are a people who pretend our politicians are all evil despite the fact that we pull them from our own ranks. We are a people who have thus far let rumor mongering choose our president in the last two elections. It is my hope that we are also a people who can learn from our mistakes and choose with our heads as opposed with our xenophobic fears. How we choose our president this cycle is almost more important than whom we choose as our president. This is our test as a nation and a people. I hope we pass.

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