Kay’s Sacred Space

It started at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Democrats were hopeful that we could catapult John Kerry to the presidency and be free of the abuses of the Bush administration.  We never expected to be moved so deeply by the introductory speech given by Senator Barack Obama.  He blew us away!  This eloquent man, who spoke from his heart, captured our attention.  The seed was planted, to grow and blossom four years later.  The time is now.

We are a nation ready to dream, visualize and co-create a magnificent existence.  Barack Obama has the passion to guide us to this reality.  When he enters a room he fills the space with his powerful presence.  He moves with grace and his words flow like pearls.  It is more than charisma.  He is a man who has lived the most unusual life and one who appreciates everything he has been given.  He wants to share with us his riches of wisdom, compassion, and brotherhood.  We are sometimes stirred to tears because of our common dream of hope.  The hope that we can truly live what our forefathers declared in the Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Barack Obama is being compared to John F. Kennedy.  I was a college student when J.F.K. ran for president.  The atmosphere was entirely different on campuses in 1960.  Unless you were a political science major, students were not that politically motivated.  I remember nothing of a Democratic organization on campus and just barely recall a group called The Young Republicans.  We began to pay attention after he was elected and yes, we were wowed by his optimism and vision for this country and grateful he had been elected.  It is different today, millions of young people are eager to get involved to work for the betterment of their fellow human beings.  All across this country there are groups of interested students listening, believing, and being inspired by the vision Barack Obama holds for his country men and woman.  And, they are showing it with their vote.  But it isn’t just young people.  All ages of voters are embracing what he stands for: living our dreams as One American Family, relishing in the richness of our magnificent diversity.

How wonderful it would be to have an African-American man as our leader.  We can show the world what we have known for some time; we are capable of looking within and not judging a person by the color of their skin.  As a painter, color is one of my strengths.  I never use a pigment straight from the tube; I mix it with another shade for refinement and richness, creating a very special blend.  I believe this is true of Barack Obama; he is exceptional.  His DNA is impressed with the best of each parent.  Ever since I was a child I have thought people born of mixed races were unique.

Last night at the debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, before this important Election Day next Tuesday, each of them promised John Edwards to continue to work for the poor and middle class.  I saw many similarities between the two candidates.  The biggest differences were with their plans for ending the war in Iraq and health care.  Both would represent the Democratic Party with intelligence and dignity.

The question I have is who is going to be the most adept fighter?  Let’s not kid ourselves.  The Republicans are ruthless in their strategy to defeat the Democrats.  This election in November will be one of the toughest we have ever seen.  This show-down will take a plan.  Hillary Clinton, is a formidable presence and is used to the cheap shots made by the GOP pundits.  She holds her own when pinned to the ground but when Senator Clinton speaks she loses me in verbosity.  When Senator Obama communicates he does so with calm intelligence.  There is something in his demeanor that speaks to the very heart of ones soul.  It is as if he is speaking to each of us individually like a concerned father.  How would this represent itself in a confrontation of wits or with deception thrown at him from the opposing side?  I see him as the adult, aligned with source, calmly grounded to his ideals and one step at a time reaching his goals.  It may not be a knock-out but the decision at the end of the fight will go to him.

I would be proud to see Barack Obama elected as the President of the United States of America.