An Open Letter to Mr. Obama
Dear President-Elect Obama;
First, let me congratulate you on your victory. You ran a well-planned and well thought-out campaign. While you claimed a slim margin in the popular election, you performed brilliantly in the campaign for electors. This tightly-contested election should tell you something - there is still much work to be done.
I have to let you know right off, I didn't vote for you. That said, I do support you as President. The Office of the President is larger than one man. It is an institution, and the holders of this office have, over the history of our great country, demonstrated what is greatest in all of us. They have also demonstrated what is weakest in all of us. As such, the President has a huge responsibility to all the people. You speak of healing, of reaching out, of moderation. While your record does not reflect that, being elected to this highest office no doubt changes a man. I hope for your sincerity in this area, and truth be told, I believe it.
These are dangerous times we live in. Not just for the physical security of this nation, but for the inner security of it's people. Rarely have so many social issues divided us. Most of us are children of the Space Age, where we showed we can do anything we put our minds to; most of us are also children of the Civil Rights Movement, where we showed that we can do anything we put our hearts to. It is important we get back to those ideals - that America is a great country, and that we are strenghened when we walk together. We must realize that what unites us, must be more important than what divides us.
This is a land of many disparate faiths and creeds. But the United States has always been a nation that stands for "God and Country." This is a nation undeniably founded on Christian ideals. While we may disagree on theological points as a people, we cannot deny that these ideals - faith, hope and love - must guide us as a nation, and guide you as President.
I hope that my brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as my fellow Americans, remember that. In the words of the great patriot Benjamin Franklin, "We must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately." You, Mr. Obama, must lead by example. While I know you have your thoughts and plans for this nation, be sure that all of us are included.
Many have said that you are not ready for this job. Who is, really? That small, round office has a way of humbling a man, I suppose. But you have no time for that. There is work to be done. I would caution you - change is hard. Changing rules is easy. Changing behavior is easy. Changing people's minds - now that takes work. You're going to have to go a long way to prove yourself to those who voted for you opponent. Your margin of victory was hardly a mandate. But with that work comes opportunity. You have, perhaps more than any president in a generation, an opportunity to unite this country on an unprecidented scale. You have an opportunity to remind the people of this nation what makes us who we are - that we are "one nation, under God, indivisible." In these times, what unites us must become more important that that which divides us. America not only needs restored faith in her government; her people need restored faith in each other.
God bless you...
First, let me congratulate you on your victory. You ran a well-planned and well thought-out campaign. While you claimed a slim margin in the popular election, you performed brilliantly in the campaign for electors. This tightly-contested election should tell you something - there is still much work to be done.
I have to let you know right off, I didn't vote for you. That said, I do support you as President. The Office of the President is larger than one man. It is an institution, and the holders of this office have, over the history of our great country, demonstrated what is greatest in all of us. They have also demonstrated what is weakest in all of us. As such, the President has a huge responsibility to all the people. You speak of healing, of reaching out, of moderation. While your record does not reflect that, being elected to this highest office no doubt changes a man. I hope for your sincerity in this area, and truth be told, I believe it.
These are dangerous times we live in. Not just for the physical security of this nation, but for the inner security of it's people. Rarely have so many social issues divided us. Most of us are children of the Space Age, where we showed we can do anything we put our minds to; most of us are also children of the Civil Rights Movement, where we showed that we can do anything we put our hearts to. It is important we get back to those ideals - that America is a great country, and that we are strenghened when we walk together. We must realize that what unites us, must be more important than what divides us.
This is a land of many disparate faiths and creeds. But the United States has always been a nation that stands for "God and Country." This is a nation undeniably founded on Christian ideals. While we may disagree on theological points as a people, we cannot deny that these ideals - faith, hope and love - must guide us as a nation, and guide you as President.
I hope that my brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as my fellow Americans, remember that. In the words of the great patriot Benjamin Franklin, "We must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately." You, Mr. Obama, must lead by example. While I know you have your thoughts and plans for this nation, be sure that all of us are included.
Many have said that you are not ready for this job. Who is, really? That small, round office has a way of humbling a man, I suppose. But you have no time for that. There is work to be done. I would caution you - change is hard. Changing rules is easy. Changing behavior is easy. Changing people's minds - now that takes work. You're going to have to go a long way to prove yourself to those who voted for you opponent. Your margin of victory was hardly a mandate. But with that work comes opportunity. You have, perhaps more than any president in a generation, an opportunity to unite this country on an unprecidented scale. You have an opportunity to remind the people of this nation what makes us who we are - that we are "one nation, under God, indivisible." In these times, what unites us must become more important that that which divides us. America not only needs restored faith in her government; her people need restored faith in each other.
God bless you...
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