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Oct. 29, 2004 I attended my very first ever political rally this week when President George W. Bush appeared in a nearby community. From the onset, there was an upbeat feeling of high energy and anticipation long before the president even arrived. Parents with small children in tow eagerly staked out the best seats for viewing the action. People--young and old, black, white, men, women, married and single--chattered loudly while grabbing their giant "W" placards and "Bush/Cheney" or "W is for Women" signs for subsequent waving. Smiles and good nature abounded. One could not help but be energized and engaged by the entire scene. When the speeches began, they too were full of hope and optimism. Each successive speaker provided added reasons why the doom and gloom messages endlessly paraded in the media do not represent the lion's share of today's reality. When John Kerry's name was invoked it was usually mentioned in the context of his actual voting record and his own words as opposed to baseless name-calling or unsupportable accusations. Finally, when President Bush and his wife Laura arrived, the excitement in the areana reached a crescendo and the president did not disappoint, delivering a powerful and moving speech (despite the fact it was his fourth appearance of the day covering two states). Like the others before him, President Bush concentrated on where this nation is heading, what we are capable of accomplishing and how he intends to help lead us there in another term. He also acknowledged the difficulties encountered to date and emphasized how important these sacrifices are to the future of freedom and democracy in the U.S. and around the world. When George W. Bush speaks, there is little doubt that he truly believes in what he is saying down to his core. (I simply do not see this characteristic in his opponent, Senator Kerry, who gives the appearance of saying whatever is deemed to have the greatest impact on his audience. Mr. Kerry's belief in the subject is irrelevant. The latest example of this is the missing weapons issue in Iraq, which John Kerry has completely misrepresented in his stump speeches for no other reason than to further manipulate the voters. He continues even now with his story even as more firm evidence shows him to be wrong.) President Bush's earnest resolve is especially evident when the subject is terrorism and its related battle. Clearly, the president took the events of 9/11/01 very personally in that they occured on his watch, despite the fact that his predecessors had done little to prevent such attacks from happening. Make no mistake, what transpired on 9/11 changed the course of this presidency completely and took it in a direction in which Bush had no intention of heading when he took the oath of office. The president firmly stands behind his decision to invade Iraq despite its unpopularity and the immense pressure to cave to the media and Kerry bandwagon. Our president knows that giving into political pressures may help him personally in the short-run, but will do tremendous harm to our nation and the world over the long term. He has stood by his decisions regardless of his poll standing, and somehow the collective media and the Democrats view this as a fault as opposed to a character strength. In contrast to Bush, Senator Kerry appears oblivious to the potential impact of seeding freedom in Iraq. He waffles when questioned as to whether or not we should have invaded and what should be done now to "win the peace". And he would rather lob verbal grenades at the Commander in Chief for the purpose of gaining an electoral upper-hand than truly stand with President Bush and our troops and help facilitate the best possible course of action to aid Iraqi freedom and minimize our casualties. As I pulled out of the parking lot from my first campaign rally, I was filled with optimism, hope and a renewed belief in this country and what we're all about. (Sure I am a Bush-supporter but doubts creep into the minds of everyone from time to time; it's what makes us human. Bush's words, as usual, dispelled any of those doubts in a hurry--another sign of a true leader.) I passed the relatively small group of Kerry supporters who were standing on the corner screaming epithets at passing cars. I could not help but notice how angry these people looked, how bitter they were at some "injustice" they feel has been perpetrated. I overheard one comment from my open window, "Go back to your own neighborhood." And, with this comment, it became clear. It was apparent these people just assumed anyone attending a Bush rally would have to be upper- crust and certainly did not belong, and were not welcome in "their neighborhood." All evidence of the very average and ordinary cars, even many junkers, leaving the parking lot was completely ignored. These people have been lied to for decades by a political party they naively trust to look out for them, to tend to their interests. If that party tells them the mean Republicans are out to get them for the benefit of "the rich," what else are they to think? ------------ About the author: Ed Abraham is a concerned citizen living in flyover country, U.S.A., who happens to be truly disgusted by the loss of common sense in our society and is doing all he can to try to reinstall it. Email: eabra@myway.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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