Well, this certainly has been a great week for John Kerry and the Democratic Party. Stirring, thought-provoking speeches from the fresh up-and-comer Barack Obama and the formidible and passionate Rev. Al Sharpton really emphasized the DNC's new strategy of unity and optimism over fear and divisiveness. Sen. John Edwards furthered this plan of action last night with his own speech of the "two Americas" needing a reunion over common goals and values. Sen. John Kerry crowned this week-long demonstration with his own stirring speech that succinctly outlined his plan for America while ascertaining his ability to lead this country to a stronger national identity as well as a restoring its credibility in the global community through hard work, integrity, and unison & pride among its own citizens. Outside respect can only occur once we can respect ourselves and each other here at home. Only when we can look our collective self in the mirror with pride and self-assuredness can we demand that the rest of the world look at us and do the same.
This week has done two things aside from laying out the groundwork for Kerry's plan for America should he become president. It presented an image of Kerry that the republicans will have a hard time combatting, that of a true war hero, a man of integrity, a compassionate human. I must admit, I supported Kerry in the beginning because he wasn't Bush. Now that I have spent every evening this week watching the convention on PBS, I support him more because I feel like I know and understand him better, and at the risk of falling victim like so many before me to the intricate rhetorical tools of a talented politician, I believe wholeheartedly in the goals and ideology driving the Democratic Party and its presidential ticket this election year.
The second thing that happened this week concerns the political arena itself. It is something that the Democrats have touted all week and a thing to which they hold true in the trying months to come. The politics of hope, and the methodology they have employed in sending this message to American voters. With a couple of mild exceptions, there have been no outward attacks on the Bush administration by name. Of course, one cannot make the case that he or she is the best choice without drawing some comparisons, as was the case this week. However, the method in which those comparisons were made, again with a couple of exceptions, occurred without the venom and mud-slinging we have all become accustomed to in American politics. These were critiques. These were explanations of how the things that went wrong, did. I believe the bar of American politics has been raised substantially, lets hope the republicans can meet it. Candidates should highlight their own strengths and let the voters decide who is the best person for the job, not highlight their opponents' weaknesses and faults in an attempt to demonize those candidates enough that voters either vote against them or do not vote at all.
The challenge to build a better, safer, stronger, and healthier America wasn't only directed at the voters, it was directed at whoever wins in November by setting a political standard that we the people of the United States of America can do better for our country. These are the politics of hope and unity. Hope for a better, safer future and unity of everyone here in the United States as well as with the global community. The bar has been pulled from the mud and set high; now it is the republicans turn to reach for it.
This week has done two things aside from laying out the groundwork for Kerry's plan for America should he become president. It presented an image of Kerry that the republicans will have a hard time combatting, that of a true war hero, a man of integrity, a compassionate human. I must admit, I supported Kerry in the beginning because he wasn't Bush. Now that I have spent every evening this week watching the convention on PBS, I support him more because I feel like I know and understand him better, and at the risk of falling victim like so many before me to the intricate rhetorical tools of a talented politician, I believe wholeheartedly in the goals and ideology driving the Democratic Party and its presidential ticket this election year.
The second thing that happened this week concerns the political arena itself. It is something that the Democrats have touted all week and a thing to which they hold true in the trying months to come. The politics of hope, and the methodology they have employed in sending this message to American voters. With a couple of mild exceptions, there have been no outward attacks on the Bush administration by name. Of course, one cannot make the case that he or she is the best choice without drawing some comparisons, as was the case this week. However, the method in which those comparisons were made, again with a couple of exceptions, occurred without the venom and mud-slinging we have all become accustomed to in American politics. These were critiques. These were explanations of how the things that went wrong, did. I believe the bar of American politics has been raised substantially, lets hope the republicans can meet it. Candidates should highlight their own strengths and let the voters decide who is the best person for the job, not highlight their opponents' weaknesses and faults in an attempt to demonize those candidates enough that voters either vote against them or do not vote at all.
The challenge to build a better, safer, stronger, and healthier America wasn't only directed at the voters, it was directed at whoever wins in November by setting a political standard that we the people of the United States of America can do better for our country. These are the politics of hope and unity. Hope for a better, safer future and unity of everyone here in the United States as well as with the global community. The bar has been pulled from the mud and set high; now it is the republicans turn to reach for it.
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