President Obama: A Perspective

I watched the inauguration and stood, along with my son Mitchell, as President Obama was sworn in as the next president of the United States and was happy. I was happy for a few reasons:

First, because Obama rhymes with Mama and that is what I am!

Second, to see and celebrate the peaceful exchange of power within a nation. For over 200 years we come together as a nation, and witness this change and celebrate it, setting aside our political view for a moment to recognize the great hope that is democracy--that the voice of the people has been heard. Not many countries can claim such a peaceful resignation of power so consistently. That is truly something to celebrate.

Third, I celebrate the fact that we have a black president. I feel it is historic. We have come a long way from our past. Really. When President Obama made mention that he stood at that podium addressing our great nation as the new president, when not so long ago his father would not have been served in a restaurant, I realized what an amazing social transition was able to take place in one generation. Good for you America! It brings me joy. On election day, I was deeply moved when I witnessed many blacks crying at the thought that they too can be president. Yes, You Can! Can you imagine what hope that gives young black men: to see a black man holding the highest position in office. A man who had nothing given to him, but had to work for everything he earned. A man who came from a very supportive family, but with very modest means. Like him if they work hard enough they too can become president? Yes You Can! It makes me a little giddy! really!. I can't help but think of all the kids who crossed my door into my classroom. I tried to teach them that they have the power within them to be great. That words are power and to educate themselves will make great change in their lives, but who am I, a white woman talking to them. I don't know how much credibility I had, when they had their real life experiences teaching them otherwise, but they knew I loved them and wanted them to succeed. However to see it happen, for them to see that it can be done, that is where the money is. They will believe us now! I am curious how this will effect black pop culture. How will this historic event sway the hip hop/ rap scene. What music, art and poetry will be created now, will there be themes of hope. . . I bet there will be! As an educator, citizen, mother, I celebrate this!

Finally I have hope he will be a great leader and lead us into change that will benefit our country. While I don't agree with all of his politics, I still hope he will be a great leader, one who can invigorate this nation, shake us out of complacency, and bring hope. I can't help but feel hopeful when I listen to him. I can't help but feel that the call he makes to each one of us to make more responsible choices, to appeal to the higher sense of ourselves, to reach out to others to make change, to become involved in our communities, to prioritize our children, to make tough choices that will benefit our world, our future and the future of our children is a call from a leader who will lead us into change. I can't help but think that he is right. A great leader inspires those around him/her. I have hope he can be such a leader. The power of democracy is in the people. We are the ones who make a difference.

Why do I feel this hope? Why do I like what Obama has to say, because he says that this country is great, and it is great because of its people, and whatever challenges come our way, we will rise to that challenge and triumph over it. Because of our heritage, our founding documents, and our values as a nation, despite the differences in race, religion, social status, and politics, we will come together and garner strength in one another and overcome. I believe it. And I believe him.

For two years I have received many emails and seen many posts about then senator Obama. Most of them have been negative and emotionally charged, some of them bigoted and fearmongering in nature. At the time, I was undecided about my vote, however, I was not persuaded or impressed by such efforts to influence my vote. After the inauguration I was curious what people people might say and was not surprised to see that of my friends that commented none were positive. That is perfectly okay with me. I am not offended, just curious why so many people dislike him so much.

Knowing that most of my friends and family may not agree with my stance that Barack Obama can be a good president. They feel that more conservative economic policies would better serve our country(in some cases this may be true, however, no conservative president has been able to overturn Roe vs Wade since it's decision although we would hope to be the case) I would like to call all my friends and family to engage in a discussion about President Obama and his policies. I have already heard from some of you on Facebook and have enjoyed the exchange of ideas there. I am coming to this with an open mind and ready to learn and discuss. Please feel free to share your ideas. I am looking forward to it. I want to hear what you have to say.

Post Script: I want to make plain that I do not support abortion or the freedom of choice act. I am pro life. My above statement was simply acknowledging that a change in the roe v wade decision has not come to pass while a pro life president has been in office.

Election Day 2008

"Yes We Can!"
Cesar Chavez and borrowed by Barack Obama in his acceptance speech
Yes WE can!
I love our country and our democracy. I love the freedom that we all have to express ourselves and be apart of that democratic process that says the real power is in the people. Whether we are for prop 8 or not, we all, every American, have the right and privilege to express our belief and to freely and lawfully fight for our cause. I am grateful to be an American and to know that I am protected by a government that has checks and balances that protect the people. I am grateful that the law protects those same people who have opposing view points to mine. I feel especially grateful to have been able to be a part of the yes on 8 campaign, to have participated in our democracy on a very personal level. To have joined with all churches in the community to work together for our cause and our belief. I am grateful for the many discussions that I have had with loved ones regarding the varying view points on the issue. It solidified my belief and made more firm my stance that although I do not judge another's behavior or their choices, I cannot condone it by voting in favor of same sex marriage.

I think that the Prop 8 experience was wonderful on many levels. First of all there were many discussion about choices:

"Why would a woman want to marry a woman?" with some giggling,

"People have a right to choose their partners for themselves, we may disagree, but we don't judge them for their choices. We know that Heavenly Father said that marriage should be between a man and a woman. So we are voting yes on Prop 8."

"But that is weird for a man to marry a man or a woman to marry a woman."

"Jesus wants us to love all men and women even if we don't agree or understand their choices. Even though they make different choices than us, it does not make them bad people."

These were very important discussion for me to have with my children and I am grateful for the opportunity to teach them. I don't want my children to judge or feel they are superior to another because of differing beliefs or actions, but I do want them to know what the standard is for them to follow and that although Heavenly Father does love all His children, He has laws that are irrevocable.

My children volunteered their time with me on Saturdays and on evenings. When waving signs, I reminded them that they were following the prophet, who asked us to volunteer our time for the effort. Too, I was able to teach them about tolerance and acceptance of another's view point. Some people obviously disagreed with us and communicated their feelings in an assortment of ways. I instructed the girls that the opposition has their right to express themselves but that we will just smile and continue to wave. We will choose not to engage back in a negative way. It was a lesson for them about appropriate behavior, now can we do it in our own home?:)

When going out on Saturdays early, Mitch the Kid was always a bit, how shall I say it, grouchy? (yes that about sums it up!) But his attitude always changed while participating in the activity. Last Saturday, he was especially grouchy and even asked, "how can you live with yourself?" for asking him to get out of bed because he was so tired. I felt fine about it. He had made a commitment before and he needed to fulfill it. Mitchell, Lily and I went around houses and hung voting reminders on the doors in our ward boundaries. I had Mitchell drive and Lily and I ran to the doors. After a short time Mitchell apologized for his attitude and even said that it was fun and a good activity to do together. (I think he was catching on!) A little while later he wanted to hang some of the fliers on the doors. We finished in about 45 min. We were all feeling pretty good and Mitchell said, "I am glad I came. It feels good to be apart of something bigger than yourself." (He Got It!). I am so glad that I gently reminded him every 5 min when we were leaving, right up to five minutes before we left.

All in All, it was worth my time and energy. I feel proud to have been apart of the movement and make a stand. I feel grateful for the lessons it taught my children. And just like Mitchell says, it feels good to be a part of something bigger than myself.

I love our country! I love its citizens. We need to band together and build on our great nations heritage of freedom, hope, courage to fight for the common good. Barack Obama stated yesterday, "The Strength of our Nation is not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals of democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope." I love that. I feel great hope. We are a great people and a great nation!

Yes We Can!

As a post script to the above essay, I may not agree with the way the opposition behaves, I may not like the way they protest, or their tactics, however, as long as they do it lawfully they can protest, that is what makes our country great. However, we should not let their choices affect ours. Like my friend Allison counseled her son, " don't get down with the turkeys, fly with the eagles!"

"Get on the Bus!"

I came out of my house
to check on my kiddies
yesterday,
and this is what I saw:
Lily was pulling Emma
on the trike
and Emma was calling out,
"Get on the bus,"
"Get on the bus,"
"Get on the vote YES on Prop 8 bus!"
It was a call for me to do my part.

Prop 8 defines marriage as being only between a man and a woman.

I am a Mother,
I am a Teacher,
I am a Christian,

I was taught that I should not judge any man or woman because of the color of their skin, their social status, their circumstances or even their choices, by my mother, by my teachers and by my church leaders.

I believe in tolerance, we should accept each other despite our differences in behavior or opinions, and I believe that we can learn from one another. I was taught this by my mother, my teachers and my church leaders. I was taught to love all men and women and to learn to love as the Savior loved--unconditionally-not easy, but that is what we are trying to learn to do on this earth and forever after.

I teach these same tenets to my children and in my classroom.

I believe that a loving God has placed us upon the earth to learn to live and love and he has given us the gift of agency and that gift will never be taken away, for this reason I believe a person has the right to choose for themselves their partners and should be given the same civil rights as any other couple.

I believe the Bible to be the word of God, believing that, I know that God created Adam and Eve. And Adam called his wife's name Eve because she was the mother of all living. And God commanded Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth. And so families were divinely created.

I must stand up for what I know to be true, that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. I cannot deny that or so I shall offend God. Therefore I will vote Yes on Proposition 8.