A change is a coming

HOPE Takes on a new meaning

For years I have lived by the motto: “Prepare for the worst but hope for the best.” My cynicism kept me from keeping faith in anyone or anything without concrete evidence. Evaluating the odds and the circumstances with a fine toothcomb was preferable over blind belief and yes, even hope.
There are many people who had no hope for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team because history had proven the odds were against them.
Many even believed in a mysterious curse on the city. But recently, against the statisticians odds and against many who had lost faith, the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series igniting a fire throughout our region. It made people finally believe again that anything is possible. Everyone hoped for the best and it happened!
This led me to examine the power of hope. It is an emotional feeling based on dreams. Those without any hope become desperate. Those without any hope become dangerous.
I saw another monumental thing happen this year with the concept of hope in hand, the first black democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama.
Studying in school about the Civil Rights Movement, I always questioned my mother if she thought there could be a minority president or even a woman president in her or my lifetime. She would always say, “I hope so.” That answer was never good enough for me. To me, it was a “yes” or “no” question.
In my mind, hope had nothing to do with it. It was the same as me asking to do something or get something and her saying, “We’ll see.” It was the candy-coated “no.”
But now we have amongst the liars and crooks in politics a man who has restored my faith in the power of hope.
In the past few months, I have had the pleasure of hearing him speak in person and I know why people are so passionate about his campaign and message.
Sen. Barack Obama has restored the concept of hope and power of faith. He has made me and so many others excited about the political process. No longer will we accept the batch of lies fed with greed through deceit that we have all become accustomed too.
After awhile, so many people had lost faith and hope in leaders to the point where we have become numb and indifferent.
With Obama’s message and his dream for what America can be - it is impossible not to listen to his speeches and be reminded of the man who inspired so many to accept those who were different.
That man I am referring to is one of the most influential people in our nation’s history. He changed the face of America with his courage. His name was Martin Luther King, Jr. The man who dared us to dream big and who had hope for the future.
Recently, a group of friends from the Reading area took the concept of “hope” and applied its power to baseball with a deliberate nod to Obama. They took the inspiration planted by King and nourished by Obama and out of it sprung a fun idea.
These guys took the word Hope and put it on t-shirts except the “P” wasn’t any “P.” It was the Phillies logo “P.” They added “08” on the back because having hope in 2008 was not a fluffy hippie concept but was made real by this political campaign.
They took their shirts, not having any idea if anyone would buy them, and went down to Philadelphia for the first game in the World Series. Hundreds of fans converged on Penn’s Landing to see the game on the big screen they erected. Braving the bitter cold, these guys sold some shirts with a little bit of hope.
Before they knew it, the shirts exploded. Everyone from networking websites- like Facebook and Myspace- were so excited and requested the t-shirts. Friends and family were buying them, but many strangers in local pubs were impressed with the idea and believed in the concept.
The country gave up on hope for a long time under the George Bush administration and many became indifferent because they felt powerless. Obama has made so many people stop and listen and believe that our votes do count and we could bring about change.
Living through a time when I can explain to my son how change is possible, faith is not unrealistic and hope is not naïve is more than I could ask for.

Obama must win Pennsylvania

As the polls will soon come to a close, the anxiety builds inside of me. History will be made today and I will have helped with my one vote. My son said to me, "You will be part of history." His social studies teacher explained to him that the events of this past year and this election will be in written about in future text books that children like him will be reading someday. This excited him and he literally couldn't wait to tell me something I already knew. Today is a new time. A time for change. A time for Obama.
Hope is all I have until the polls close . . . sigh

Biden will lead with his head and heart

By Antoinette Colón
Connection Editor

Being able to identify, connect and fight for the everyday people you represent is my idea of a good vice president. As second to the highest-ranking office in the country, one must have experience in and out of Washington.
He/she must have knowledge of the current state of the country and world and identify ways to further the progress of this failing country. Sen. Joe Biden has these qualities hands-down in my opinion.
He has an enormous amount of experience in world affairs and doesn’t hide behind empty rhetoric and rehearsed statements drilled into him by others. He speaks from his experience as an accomplished Senator, father and human being.
Coming from Scranton and overcoming the loss of his wife and mother of his children has made him a stronger man who appreciates the value of life. I, as many other Americans, know how hard it is to lose a loved one and still push on and be successful.
I particularly have respect for a candidate who can speak clearly and doesn’t get flustered when asked a direct question. When someone is a good person and has confidence they don’t stumble and draw a blank every time a camera is put in their face.
After all, political positions rely on public opinion and media know-how. If you can’t answer a direct question in public, then you need to find a new job. Biden knows the American people want answers not anecdotes and pageant-perfect winks into the camera.
It really floors me how Gov. Palin could try to impress crowds with her flirty winks. Many retirees have lost thousands of dollars of their 401k retirement savings in the past few weeks and she thinks it is cute to wink.
Biden has more respect for the people of this country than to make a mockery of this very important election. We are in the midst of a war and facing another great depression it isn’t time for forced winks.
The joke is her lack of knowledge and skills to be a vice president. She needs to recognize that motherhood and a communications degree doesn’t prepare anyone for politics. She needs to stop relying on her hockey mom references and finally say something that qualifies her for the job she clearly wants.
Biden’s relaxed yet confident demeanor is refreshing from the arrogance that we seen with McCain. He is a tough man that sticks to the facts. He doesn’t have to resort to condescending rhetoric to inflate public opinion like that of McCain.
He knows his place and isn’t trying to outshine Sen. Barack Obama. He is ready to be the best wingman possible in order to offer strengths that Obama will need in his cabinet while sharing the same family values and work ethics necessary for the most important jobs in the world.
Biden knows how serious the country’s vice presidency is and vows to fight for the shrinking middle class, while Palin doesn’t even know what the vice president does!
In the recent debate Biden said, “The economic engine of America is the middle class.” Being fair and acknowledging that the economy needs some real help here at home is vital in the next 10-20 years. The mess Bush has left the next president is horrendous.
Biden wants to slow down on foreign assistance because Iraq has an $80 billion surplus and we have a deficit. We (the tax payers) are spending $10 billion a month in Iraq. It is common sense to shift those funds elsewhere! Feed your own family before you feed the neighbor’s family.
Biden is in favor of eliminating wasteful Washington spending that now caters to big corporations with their unnecessary tax breaks meanwhile the American people can’t even afford to pay for healthcare and gas to go to work.
Investing in alternative energy and the jobs it could create are important today and the Republicans want to waste time bickering about the causes.
Biden said, “If you don’t understand what the causes (of the environmental crisis) are than it is impossible to come-up with a solution.”
Palin’s only idea is to drill. There are more efficient immediate answers to this global problem. How could she ignore the imminent polar bear extinction when she lives in Alaska? She needs to open her eyes!
Biden has been supporting clean coal for 25 years. Palin can’t touch that experience if she tried.
Biden supports spreading Democracy without having to make tons of enemies along the way- unlike Palin and the Republicans. Supporting diplomacy is crucial now that so many of our allies are fed up with us. Concentrating on the real threats in Pakistan and Afghanistan are critical.
Doesn’t she want her own son out of harm’s way in an unnecessary costly war? Palin follows others and doesn’t speak from experience or knowledge, she agrees with McCain who is one of Bush’s most loyal supporters on this costly war that has destroyed our surplus, our foreign reputation, and the lives of so many innocent people.
As a mother, Palin should show some compassion for people. Example: the mass genocide in Darfur. Biden said, “I’ve seen the suffering. I don’t have the stomach for genocide.”
Biden doesn’t see violence as the only answer to problems. He especially cares about women and children. That’s why he wrote the violence against women act and supports equal pay for women.
Biden will lead with his head and heart and Palin won’t be able to lead at all.

Being an American today

"All the president is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing, and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway."
Harry S. Truman

So we are about to choose our next pr man, right? I think Obama is smarter, younger and more pleasant to look at- sooooo in the real business world, he would get the job.
How historic of a time that we live in where we can have a senior citizen running with a soccer mom or an Ivy League grad with a diverse background including experience with real people- the common folk- and an experienced man with true family values and isn't afraid to express it like Mr. Biden. Then- we have the almost nominee Hillary who frankly surprised me with her down and dirty political candor- just like them boyz. Finally! Some lines have been blurred (whether I agree with the choices or not) when it comes to race, gender and age. What an exciting time to be an American!

Stop being naive: There is a need for sex-ed

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than three million teenage girls have a sexually transmitted infection (STI.) This emphasizes the need for real comprehensive sex education. The national policy of promoting abstinence-only programs is a $1.5 billion failure, and teenage girls are paying the real price.
The latest casualty to the religious-based cause is the daughter of the Republican Vice Presidential Nominee! Are you kidding me? The same people who don't believe in science- like global warming, evolution, and stem-cell research and preach so many hypocritical concepts can add sex ed to the list.
She has 5 kids, one of which has Down Syndrome. Maybe if she spent more time raising all of the kids she chose to have- her daugher wouldn't be out practicing that "abstinece-only" practice of hypocrisy.

Obama makes history tonight

On the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il) will accept the democratic nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
This full-circle moment for those who witnessed the historic civil rights speech will be and can be defined as another pivotal moment in the history of this nation. With the struggle for equality still waging on in the background rather than in the foreground, those who have resisted change will have no other choice but to recognize it.
Having a dream can come true if you work hard, believe in yourself, and never back down in the face of adversity. These are the ideals the American dream was built upon, and these are the values I pass down to my son.
God bless America.