I have debated long and hard about whether to discuss politics on MySpace. But this election is the most important one of my lifetime. As a writer, I feel I must speak out and at least express my strong advocacy for Sen. Barack Obama—though, of course, I respect whatever opinions each of you might hold. Part of what I envision for America with an Obama presidency is this: the ability to "disagree without being disagreeable."
You might recognize this phrase, and I do not claim it as my own. I first heard it from Barack Obama when he was running for U.S. Senate, well before he entered the national political arena as a candidate for President.
As a maturing woman and as a Jew in "Christian America," I see in Sen. Obama a leader who can bring together all kinds of people no matter their gender, age, ethnicity, or religion. He has already done this in the Illinois legislature, working across the aisle to pass tough measures that aid real people. He has already done this in the U.S. Senate, working on issues as difficult and diverse as ethics reform and nuclear proliferation. And he has done this in his campaign as well.
His life experience reflects both his character and his core values. As a child, he lived for four years in predominantly Muslim Indonesia before moving with his mother to Hawaii. Pernicious internet rumors that Obama is a Muslim are false; he has belonged to the same Christian church in Chicago for twenty years, but believes deeply in the separation of church and state. After graduating from Columbia University in 1983, Obama worked as a community organizer for a church-based group in the poor neighborhoods of Chicago rather than pursue a more lucrative career. He earned his law degree from Harvard in 1991, becoming the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review.
Rather than work on Wall Street after graduation, he returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights lawyer and to teach constitutional law. His advocacy work inspired him to run for the Illinois State Senate, where he served for eight years. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, he became the third African American member since Reconstruction. In total, Obama claims eleven years of legislative experience, during which he was known for his unique ability to work in a bipartisan way to tackle tough issues.
More than his experience, more than his judgment in speaking out to oppose the War in Iraq back in 2002 when his current opponents were voting in favor of authorizing it, Obama's vision of bringing the country together and putting a new face on our foreign policy have inspired me and disenchanted voters to re-enter the political dialogue. His candidacy attracts not only Democrats, but also young people, minorities, independents, and yes, evens some Republicans, making it a golden opportunity to reunite America with itself and with the world. We cannot afford to return to the divisive politics-as-usual of the past. Not now. Not anymore. Obama will be the most electable of all the Democrats this fall. And he will have the best chance of working across the aisle to pass the kind of legislation that all three Democratic candidates support.
If you have not yet decided to whom you will award your vote in the upcoming primaries, I hope you will learn more about Barack Obama and his policy positions at www.barackobama.com. Or check out the facts or any rumors you might have heard-- verified by independent sources--at www.factcheck.barackobama.com.
With respect,
Sheri Sinykin