Opponents criticize Obama on his nominations, so far, of those who will serve America with him in his cabinet. They say that his choices do not reflect change. That is because they view his choices as Clintonian, and that is not change; but this not the overarching message of change which Barack Obama has been promoting, as demonstrated in his speech, “A More Perfect Union”.
I believe that his leadership skills, his ability to inspire, his wisdom and intelligence will be the impetus that will bring Americans and America to a better place: “… a more just, more equal, more free, more caring and more prosperous America.”
Robert F. Kennedy in quoting George Bernard Shaw often said, "Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.”
A future of things that never were requires change. Change not for the sake of change, not just to make things different, but change that in one way or another alters, modifies, converts, varies, shifts, transforms, and/or transmutes our world to a world of peace, for in peace lays the resolution to our most urgent problems.
Dreaming of things as we would like them to be, and believing that anything can be achieved, is a hoped for expectation that things can be different than they are now. Envisioning things that will make our world a better world, and not looking it as utopian, and therefore remaining stuck in the status quo, but instead engaging the mind and heart by asking, why not? Change is a process; it will be a distant dream, seemingly utopian, but not unreachable, not impossible.
Barack Obama, like the late Robert F. Kennedy, has visions of what America can and should be: a vision of equality for all people. A vision of a compassionate America, and compassion for all Americans from America’s leadership.
Robert F. Kennedy in announcing the death of Martin Luther King Jr. at a rally in Indianapolis Indianan on April 4, 1968 said:
“What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.”
I believe Barack Obama also shares the vision of John Kennedy as expressed in the commencement address he gave at American University on June 10, 1963:
“I am not referring to the absolute, infinite concept of universal peace and good will of which some fantasies and fanatics dream. I do not deny the value of hopes and dreams but we merely invite discouragement and incredulity by making that our only and immediate goal.
Let us focus instead on a more practical, more attainable peace, based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions -- on a series of concrete actions and effective agreements which are in the interest of all concerned. There is no single, simple key to this peace; no grand or magic formula to be adopted by one or two powers. Genuine peace must be the product of many nations, the sum of many acts. It must be dynamic, not static, changing to meet the challenge of each new generation. For peace is a process -- a way of solving problems.”
The dreams of John and Robert Kennedy are the change Americans must seek. I believe that change in the attitudes we have toward each other and between nations will ultimately lead us to a world of peace. It will bring about the economic, social, and foreign policy changes Americans seek.
Barack Obama has said over and over again, “I’m asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change … I’m asking you to believe in yours.” And, a quote from the remarks delivered by President-elect Barack Obama, “This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you. Together, we will change this country and we will change the world. Then you and I - together - will change this country and change this world.”
As with Barack Obama, the change that I believe Americans seek requires a belief in ourselves that we as a people can bring about change. To perpetuate a viable evolutionary change we must nurture, educate, and assure every child has love, a feeling of belonging, is safe, and has the physiological needs of food and shelter, for it is our young people who will be the forerunners of the change we seek. Transparent leadership with probity, and leaders who have the ability to inspire and who are of high moral character, is the final ingredient that will bring us to that place for which we all yearn.
In closing a word from T.J. Turner who served nine months in Afghanistan with the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group: "I hear lots of talk in our nation about the global war on terror, and my opinions evolve with that debate. However, we seem to miss the root cause. Hell is what causes terrorism. It’s about pure desperation, and feeling like there’s no way of recovering the hope of childhood. I’m not saying that we’ll be able to win this conflict with teddy bears alone, but when I deploy next I’m packing a bag full of them just in case."
