People on the left and the right of our political spectrum have argued recently that Obama can't fix our problems. I would agree that they are correct, that alone Obama will be unable to dig us out of the hole that we now inhabit. I think that they are missing the point, the truth is that while Obama is important this election is not about Obama. (more on the flip)...
It's not about Obama....
It's about the Baby Boomers: raised by parents who fought a depression and a war, who felt that they could bring something new to the world; who celebrated these new ideals in the summer of love, at Woodstock and at folk festivals since then all across the country; who for the first time believe that maybe just maybe those values will be accepted by the greater society.
It's about the generation Xers who grew up among soaring divorce rates and latchkey families as a period of social unrest drew to a close; who developed independence and self sufficiency in a revolving door job market to hopefully find some stability for themselves in their family; who throughout life learned to take care of themselves and those they care about and for the first time in their lives believes that maybe just maybe there might be something more than that.
Its about the college and high school students, who grew up watching Barney, and Bob the Builder and learning in school that by working together as a team anything can be accomplished; who experienced and were deeply affected by 9/11 as adolescents and who saw in their teens that disaster that was Katrina and watched day after day as the most powerful country in the world could not bring the most basic of supplies to tens of thousands of our fellow citizens and vowed that would never happen again if they can help it; who have no working memory of any Presidential administration other than that of George W. Bush and who are now finding themselves as young adults in this difficult world and are waiting on the world to change so together they can begin to fix this nation.
It's about the tech workers who provided the foundation for the 1990's technological boom; who faced a bust or boom economy and contributed to the tremendous gains that were made and who would now like to use the skills they developed to find solutions to the problems that are facing society at the moment.
It's about the African Americans whose ancestors were slaves and second class citizens; whose basic right to participate in this nation was denied to them time and time again and who for the first time will make that trip to the polls this November believing that maybe just maybe their voice does matter.
It's about the union workers who have seen their jobs disappear overseas and after a lifetime of work have no idea what they should do next; who hope for a way to support themselves and their families and want to believe that America will recognize the skill they posses and willingness to work hard and will not leave them stranded after a lifetime of contribution.
It's about the religious among us who feel that religion shouldn't be used to divide and to bring people down but rather suggests to them that it is imperative that we work together to take care of each other and the environment which we have been fortunate to inherit.
It's about the second generation immigrants, the young men and women whose parents voice may have been muted but who will not stand to have the same thing happen to them; who led protests all across this country and who will in this election for the first time will show that their voice does matter.
Its about the conservatives who voted for Reagan believing that if the people were allowed more freedom to pursue their economic dreams the nation would be stronger for it; who built up businesses in the 1980's and help fuel the transformational technology boom of the 1990's; who while their essential values may not have changed can sense that this is a different time requiring a different approach and realize it is a time to pull together and sacrifice together.
It's about everyone from every generation, background and region who has ever looked at the world and said "Wouldn't it be better if....." or "I wish we could....." and wondered if there would ever be a time when such change could be possible....
We face a time of great hardships and challenges. But, with great hardship comes great opportunity. For those who think that a different world is possible and that someday we may be able to begin to work achieve it; that time is now upon us.