A BIT OF HOPE - FINALLY!

By Dr. Linda Seger, author
Jesus Rode a Donkey: Why the Republicans Don’t Have a Corner on Christ

Something new seems to be happening in the world of politics. After seven years of fear, cynicism, divisiveness, and some despair, hope and excitement and a sense of possibilities and vision seems to be returning. I’m very impressed with all the Democratic candidates, but found Barack Obama’s speech upon winning the Iowa caucus masterful. I felt the same sense of hope in 1988, when I supported Jesse Jackson. Although I knew Jackson wouldn’t win, when I looked around at the people attending the various fundraisers and parties for him, and saw the rainbow coalition, I felt this was what America was supposed to be – all of us from different backgrounds coming together with a shared vision of what the future of America could be. We focused on our places of connection, rather than our differences. We felt that America need not be homogeneous for us to find unity among us. And that equal rights could be, truly, equal rights.

There was a palpable excitement when Obama spoke. Yes, Edwards was caring and compassionate, Clinton gracious and concerned, and both of them would also bring change and also could be, might be, great presidents. But something else was going on with Obama. We were in the world of possibilities, where the best of who we could be could come to the forefront, and we could dream and en-vision a much better future. We could see what America might be, with better, more caring, more enlightened leadership. We could hope, instead of make decisions out of fear. We could be raised up rather than put down.

Perhaps this comes about because Obama is a man that has lived in many different worlds. He knows the white world, the black world, the Asian world, the African world. He knows poverty and the life of the middle class. He knows issues, problems, challenges from the inside out. He knows how to reach consensus and unity without compromise. He knows individual and national identity. Perhaps this is what is needed in these troubled times.