Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Exit 44 and the Voice of Reason

Today I was traveling across the overpass of I-80 in Oakland. When I got onto the 880 freeway going to the Oakland Airport, I passed Exit Number 44. As I approached that exit, it suddenly dawned on me that the 44th president was going to be someone that I did not vote for and this was an exit I had to take whether I liked it or not. (How Ironic)

After watching the concession speach delivered by John McCain, I was stricken by a sad situation that the stigma of George W. Bush has put into the minds of everyone. I watched a war hero turned-Bush fall guy deliver the most impactful speach of the year. He moved me in such a way that I had no other choice but to believe in Barrack Obama. John McCain is truly a professional nice guy, and I will always remember the fight he had to battle. For every step he took forward, there was always some sand pit, or swamp, or hot dessert, or deep pit, or aligators pulling him back. It was a cliche of a campaign-in that McCain already lost before the election. For every step forward he took two steps back. Mostly, the two steps back were directly related to the dogma/stigma of being so close to the adminstration that over 69% of America did not approve of.

Shame on you America for not deciding for a man who could have provided change. The change we needed.

I will not leave you on a negative note, because like you, I was truly uplifted by the presence of hope that the elated faces looking upon Barrack Obama had. I told my cousin, who attended the Grant Park historic event that I fealt overwhelmed with feelings of being Patriotic after the announcement of the President Elect on Fox News. The sole reason, I think, is because of the barriers it breaks for a great number of people. American People! The People of the United States have spoken. I may not agree, but nevertheless, I feel patriotic about what happened.

I hope that Barrack Obama can live up to his Tiger Woods-esque expectations for his, our's and our children's sake. We do not need a let down, after so much uplifting hope has filled over 57% of all America. I hope the 57% is the Voice of Reason because exit 44 is a road we ALL have to take now. Let's support our President and serve our country to the best of our ability. I know McCain has, I know my dad has, and I know I have. Have you?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Tim, your opening paragraph WAS pretty ironic. I really don't like sticking my neck into something I have little to no knowledge in like politics but I feel like I have to here.
I was also touched by McCains concession speech and I know for obvious reasons you had hoped for McCain to win but I knew deep down inside that wasn't going to happen due to unfortunate reasons, like what you said, McCain having to be the "Bush fall guy" by having to take blame for what was created by Bush. Another unfortunate reason is McCain's 2008 campaign couldn't come at a worse time when a country was/is so desperately wanting "change". It's funny, the word "change" was perfectly placed in Obamas campaign slogan and was the key direction the american people wanted to take. A slogan simply phrased with a VERY powerful message.
Obama not only had impeccable timing but also had the financial backing of powerhouses such as Oprah and the Hollywood backing like Matt Damon among many other high profile celebrities supporting his campaign. McCain's service to this country and for what he went through as a POW should've been reason enough to elect him as our next president,but it was just a matter of bad timing. His patriotism is beyond comparison...and I'm reminded of it everytime Rogelio plays the "USS Forrestal Fire" video in every in-house 40hr. HAZWOPER class as McCain almost lost his life on that ship that day.
A little off subject, I heard this morning that this independent jackass Nader made the most ignorant comment last night after hearing about Obama's victory. I'm not sure if you heard it but he was interviewed by some reporter and he said and I quote, "...he's (Obama) going to be Uncle Sam for the people of this country or Uncle Tom for the giant corporations..." Wowsers! What a racist fuck! Uncle Tom? really? Uncle Tom? On a night when we elect the 1st African Americn president. OUCH. LOL, he just lost his 1% of supporters in his next election.
Anyhow, nicely written post Tim and I feel your pain brother. I will see you next week.

T-Atoms said...

I will leave my little bit of commentary here as well.

Being in Japan, I don't get as much exposure to the race as you guys in America, but I def did my reading and research before I placed my vote. For Obama.

I voted for the party more than the person, because I have always liked what the Dems have stood for since the beginning, the common man, the BLUE collar worker. Not all are lucky to have college education and make the money a lot of white collar folks make. Hell I went to college and doubt I could ever reach that upper echelon that so select few get to make in America. I have a higher chance here in Japan!

While I do respect and honor McCain for his service to the country as a Vietnam vet (my father too was a vet, and came away with his life, and a purple heart, serving for the US Marine Corps.), I do not see how this experience could lead America to a better place. I see it helped him gather the troops to support him, but relevant, it was not.

America has always been run by people with experience in some way or another, some with military experience, some without. Those before Obama, have done good, some have done bad. Experience is a moot point when coming into a presidency. America was founded on people being able to choose the person they felt comfortable with to run their country.

They voted in a Catholic, with JFK, amongst tons of hatred from the most vocal of American outcasts, and he was a great president, until his assassination. Living abroad makes me look at the US from a different perspective, and one thing a lot of my older students remember, is JFK's speeches. He had that big of an impact, that much respect, that reached all the way over here.

Living in Japan also gives me the experience to be an even bigger minority than in the US. We have the stigma of being from a country with a War President and Administration (Republicans), a country of only white faces (presidents 1 - 43) and a miltary obsessed country. Some is true, some is not, and yes ignorance is the foundation to a lot of this, but it can't be helped. I think the view of America from the outside is IMPORTANT, for making us the greatest country, not just in OUR eyes, but the world's eyes.

Countries that normally wouldn't respect America, are showing their support for Obama. The youth went out and voted for America, and hopefully continue to be interested in politics AFTER the election, in case Obama needs to be spoken against. Obama will indeed bring a change of a non-white face to the American forefront, he will think outside of the box than a typical president with experience of any kind, and let's hope in 4 or 8 years, the president after him, Republican or Democrat, can keep America's name and reputation out of the mud, and in the limelight.

I applaud you for accepting the loss, voicing your opinion, and moving on. I wish more people would do the same. I have read many DISGUSTING things from the mouths of Americans. It makes me happy to not be there to face such ignorance.

Very proud of America now, but shocked about California and Prop 8 passing. So stupid to make it legal, then months later, make it illegal... Conservatives are slowing down the progress of America, which tends to have an effect on other countries. Way to set an example...