I Believe!

For the first time in my life, I am proud to be an American. I voted in my first presidential election and watched as our nation took one gigantic step towards making a change for the better of all people; hearts pounding, fists raised in the air. I saw tears and smiles and embraces. I even saw a girl outside of my window jumping and screaming in pure joy. I wholeheartedly admire Obama's grassroots efforts to reach voters that McCain simply did not try to sway. The young and the ethnic, two of the largest demographics in America, I felt were not adequately touched by McCain's campaign. I myself saw no draw to voting for him. What good would it do to vote for a quasi-Bush doppelganger?
Why is socialized health care viewed as Satan's HMO? What's so bad about taking from the haves and sharing that with the have-nots? No one calls Robin Hood the anti-Christ.
Barack Obama is not a terrorist. Nor is he a Muslim. His father was raised a Muslim in Kenya, a country where 10% of the population practices Islam, as opposed to the .6% of Muslims in America. His father later became an atheist. Barack was baptized in 1988 as a Christian and has evolved his religious views throughout most of his adult life.
Even if he were a Muslim, why should it matter? America was founded on the basis of religious freedom. Where Obama came from is not of importance. His struggles, race, family life, and beliefs are of no relevance to his political ideals and his leadership skills. Some may disagree with me, but I think a successful tenure as a United States Senator is experience enough. While I do recognize that he lacks the experience that McCain more than makes up for, Obama has qualities that far exceed political experience. Obama has good foreign relations and can increase our allies abroad. This is imperative in order to pull our hard-working troops from Iraq. Support of Obama is support of peace.
I'm finding a mixture of sadistic joy and unbridled disgust rising up in me as I read some of my friend's facebook statuses. There's even a few people I was friends with mainly for appearances whose racist and ignorant reamarks have swayed me to revoke that friendship. I'm ashamed to be associated with some of the right-wing nutjobs (for lack of better adjectives) that I had no idea were on my friends list. But I digress, it's not my opinion that matters here, but the blatant re-posting of things people put out on the internet.Don't be offended if your status shows up here. I respect the 1st Amendment right of all Americans to say what they feel and believe. I'm not pointing fingers or calling anyone un-American, racist, fascist, or ignorant. Just some of the phrasing of opinions come across as such to me and it bothers me down to my very core that my peers in the year 2008 would still have such backwards things to say.
To avoid any potential complications, I've removed names, but the stinging sentiments remain:

• "hang on America. The road to Hell is a rocky one. 4 years until this nightmare ends. Welcome to Socialism, comrades."
• "isn't looking forward to socialism."
• "says: Socialism is not the "change" America needs right now...South Carolina ready to secede again?"
• "Scared for my future though, no guns/ammo, gay marriage, taking troops out of Iraq??"
• "says congratulations to Comrade Obama. Heed my warning: he promisses change, but he didn't say we would like it." (NOTE: this person changed their profile picture to a Communist flag.)
• "is think how stupid america is for electing a muslim to be our president. Time to move to canada."
• "is trip to australia anyone??"
• "is so happy I'm getting a doctorate degree just so my salary can be cut in half!! Socialism is not the way to go!!"
• "is expecting a check for my college education from this whole share the wealth thing."
• "is moving to Canada...thanks Obama..."

I find it incredibly poignant that many of these folks spouting their distaste for Obama's socialist policies are opting to move to Canada... the poster child for socialized health care and a country far more liberal than the United States.
My one plea is that those who disagree with Obama can learn to accept the direction that the vast majority of our country is moving in. Respect the president and work together to forget our differences and patch up the holes in our nation. It's not about Republicans and Democrats anymore. It's about what's best for our country as a whole. It's not about red or blue, black or white, but about President Barack Obama. It's about progressive change for a better future for our country. It's about fixing the problems that have evolved over the past 8 years.
I voted for Barack Obama. I support change, hope, and peace. I do not support the war in Iraq. I do support socialized health care. I do support taxing those who make over $250,000 a year. Call me crazy. Call me Communist, Marxist, Socialist, or un-American. But I believe in the future. I believe in a president people can support. I believe in a president that I feel will listen to the needs of the people. I believe that my voice can be heard. I believe in America.