I have this friend whom I've known since the early 90's. I took him to his first (and only) Jerry Garcia Band shows, as well as his first (and only) Grateful Dead shows. Nowadays we both play City of Heroes. Recently, he freeked me out by reacting violently to an Obama ad on the tv and parroting in a vague way, some of the smears against Obama. So, I decided to write him this email. (I've changed his name to protect his privacy)
Hello Dude,
I suppose you might be wondering why I've not returned your phone calls, why I don't just call you, why I don't really interact with you in the City (City of Heroes). Well, here's the email explaining it.
You remember a couple weeks ago you came to my house to watch Heroes with me? Remember there was an Obama commercial and you remember your reaction to it? I remember you yelling at the tv, yelling at Obama to "SHUT UP!" I was understandably upset by your outburst and asked you what the hell that was about. You gave some vague b*s about how "dangerous" Obama is, yet you offered nothing concrete to support this weird idea. You did say you had "seen a video" and you did say you would send me that video. That night, after you went home, I went online to dig up some dirt.
I figured you might have been worried that Obama is not a Christian since apparently there is a 2 minute video out there purporting to "prove" that Mr Obama is not Christian. I found the complete text of the speech that two minutes was lifted from, and I sent that to you. I also sent a link to a Newsweek article that also debunks that idea.
Next I thought, well, could it be that some things were lifted from Barack's book, Dream's of my father and twisted out of context? I found the most out of context quotes, put them in context and sent you the whole thing.
Three emails I sent you. Three chances I gave you to show me where I was wrong, to show me evidence to the contrary. Three chances you apparently refused to acknowledge in any way. You did not answer the emails, even to say you had seen the emails! Not only that, but the video you said you would send me is no where to be seen. Why is that Dude? Why can't you even send me this video that got you so emotionally worked up that it caused you to yell at my television? I would like to see this video if it would elicit such an extreme response!
Dude, We've known each other for many, many years. In fact, I've known you longer and been in contact with you longer than any other friend I have. Of course if we take into account the two estrangements, well then I've known Tracie and Joey longer. However, there is something you've always said about yourself, you don't like "drama" and you're not into politics. While I respect the "no drama" ideal, the "not into politics" idea is pretty much abhorrent to me. Then again, I'm a lesbian so I have a huge stake in politics and you are a handsome, blue eyed, blond white man with no disabilities who's parents have money and who gave you every opportunity, over and over so the world is very different for you, so different you think you can afford to not be bothered by politics.
The "no drama" thing is pretty funny though. Did you know that Barack Obama (and his family) is referred to as "no drama Obama"? That would be for many reasons, not the least of which is his ability to keep a cool head, most recently shown by his calm, rational reaction to the financial melt-down. Mr Obama did not flip out and start making, and just as swiftly discarding "solutions" to this crisis. Mr Obama clearly thought it through and chose the best path for his campaign at this time, a path that, if he is elected in November will naturally evolve into sound, rational plans to put our economy back on track. To further illustrate Mr Obama's calm, centered demeanor, I will point out that he is married to the mother of his children, his only wife, not his second (or third, or whatever) wife. That speaks to his stability at least, as well as his decency and his integrity.
So, why do I support Barack Obama for President of the United States of America?
I support him because he talks about an America that includes everyone, not just a few. He talks about an America that includes and respects traditional families, as well as LGBT families. He talks about an America that values all its citizens, black, white, brown, whatever. He talks about an America that respects our Constitution, and all the rights and privileges laid out therein, including the right to worship as each individual sees fit. Barack Obama talks about an America of equality between the sexes, where women no longer make only 77 cents to every dollar a man makes. Barack Obama seeks to brings us all together to confront the challenges facing all of us.
Barack Obama believes in "green energy". Why is that important? Green energy is energy made here in America, creating jobs that cannot be shipped over seas, cannot be outsourced. Green energy is the only thing that will save this planet. Seems to me that that bible you say you love so dearly has something to say about humans being stewards of this planet, something about us humans being charged with protecting this precious planet. Green energy in the form of solar power, wind power, geothermal power will change the dynamics utterly. Clean energy sources will give this old planet a chance to renew its self and also give America a chance to grow more jobs. Good jobs with good pay and good benefits. If you remember Dude, when we first met I was working for Greenpeace. How could I not be for green energy? A green economy?
Then again, you are the one who said a few months ago that if you saw yourself from 1992 you would not recognize yourself whereas I would certainly recognize myself. My core being was formed long ago, yet is still being refined. When we met all those years ago, I was then as I am now. I am a liberal, hippy, free thinking feminist lesbian. I love my country deeply and I believe it can and will be better. I believed then and I believe now that we are stronger when we pull together and strongest when we show not only compassion for those less fortunate, but take real action to lift those up and support them. I believed then as I do now, wise governance is the key, not "smaller government", not "bigger government", but WISE governance.
Barack Obama is possibly the wisest man to run for that office in my lifetime. It's not a game to him. It's not a game to me and it's not a game to the millions of other Obama supporters in the country. I believe Barack Obama is the Babylon 5 of this election in that I believe he is the last, best hope we have for making this country great.
Yes, making this country great....for the FIRST time.
A country is not great when it practices genocide.
A country is not great when it goes out of its way to force more and more people into homelessness and abject poverty.
A country is not great when it treats its children as something less than an animal.
A country is not great when it values its women as something less than any man.
A country is not great when it treats it minorities as something to be vilified, despised, destroyed.
A country is not great when it gleefully destroys its infrastructure by willful, deliberate, chronic neglect.
A country is not great when it actively destroys its public education system.
A country is not great when it thoroughly destroys its natural geography in the name of short term, short sighted profit.
I believe Barack Obama will change these things. I know it's time. I know it's time for this country to pull together. I may not like certain aspects of Africa-American culture, but so what? Black people are my brothers and sisters. Someone else may not like aspects of homosexual culture, but again, I say so what? We are your brothers and sisters.
Barack Obama is the man of the people, not the man of the dollar bill. Barack Obama wont save us, but through him we have the strength to save OURSELVES.
So Dude, again I ask you, whats your problem with Barack Obama? Dude, I hope you will come to your senses and understand how crucial this election is and how crucial it is that we elect Barack Obama as President, not for me, but for all of us. Until you can answer why you're so against Barack Obama for President, until you can explain how the corruption and greed of the Republican party is "good" for America, until you can explain these things, sadly I don't really have anything to say to you.
I hate to lose a friend for Obama, it goes against what I believe this election is about.