We Are Truly One - More Than The Sum Of Our Parts

While I was away on vacation something wonderful happened - America was reminded that we are a nation of people of all races, creeds, religions, and world view. We are a mixture of all of these. We, as a nation, are not black, white, red, yellow, green or blue. We are the most gorgeous hues of every color God created.

America was reminded that we do not all think alike and each school of thought has been labeled, boxed and sorted in an effort to keep America divided. But that's okay because under our box lids (in our hearts) we harbor the common goal of prosperity and fullness of life for all.

America was reminded that we are more alike that different, that we are all imperfect beings working for a more perfect union - a nation that reflects our goodness instead of our fears.

I listened to Barack Obama speak and read the full context of his speech with tears in my eyes. Never before have I been so touched by a politician's words. For so long I've railed against the smiling politicians who told me only what they thought I wanted to hear no matter their true convictions. For so long I've sneered at political figures as they spoke well crafted half truths as if they were afraid of and in love with everyone at the same time.

Today I am proud to be an American and look forward to the day when we have a president in office who speaks his/her mind with honesty and integrity, who tells me the hard truth in a gentle voice and who will mentally walk a mile in the other person's shoes instead of firing on them.

Even if Barack Obama does not make his way to the Oval Office in 2009 he has set the bar higher for the person who does. He's opened the door to an America I can wholeheartedly embrace. And now, no matter who our leadership, I recognize my power as a citizen. I live in a nation of beautiful people with love to give. I will not let go of that vision without a fight.

I heard my innermost thoughts spoken in Senator Obama's speech, thoughts that no one speaks outside of their close circle of friends but ideas that need so badly to be voiced. Here is the link to the full text of the speech. The networks are still playing clips but we, as Americans, owe it to ourselves to hear or read it in its entirety.

There are a few speeches and documents we should all be familiar with. I believe this is one of them. He is representative of our coming together as one people from many backgrounds and was uniquely positioned to lay out an extrodinary treatise on race. No matter the outcome of the upcoming election Senator Obama has found a place in history.