So, if political strength does not come from words, where does it come from?

I very rarely venture into exploration of arguments in this venue. This is supposed to be my personal venting and exploration of soul venue. But, lately I have become increasingly passionate about a man who has inspired hundreds of thousands of people to dream about change, to desire a different kind of politics, to want to keep the faith and hope and fight to put him in the White House as the first ever African-American President.

I have just finished reading an editorial from the New York times by Alec MacGillis in which one can read about Barack Obama's oratory abilities. The story includes several criticisms from the Clinton and McCain campaigns which basically claim that there is no substance to Obama's words. A former Reagan and Bush senior speech writer claims that his speeches are not really as eloquent as people think they are (surprising?), but they are heard as such because of Obama's delivery style. The story also notes that his speeches include lines from famous and able speakers such as MLK and JFK, which in turn takes the originality away from them (the speeches) and gives ammunition to critics. The story ends with an assertion from Baylor University about Obama's eloquence: "Can that eloquence be maintained? No, it can't -- it's impossible."

Yet, there seems to be an embedded cynicism of the kind that the Obama movement is currently defying. All of these questions about the power of language are an attempt to keep people from desiring, from realizing that action starts with talk. The "talk Vs. action" duality seems arbitrary particularly when it comes from a campaign which has been primarily talk. Hilary and Bill Clinton are terrific campaigners but they seem to have met their equal. If Bill Clinton in 1992 did not as well on the stump, as well as in other things, would he have been elected president? Would he have given Hilary the opportunity to run for the highest office 16 years later? If political strength does not come from words where does it come from? How are people supposed to start thinking about choice between candidates if not by listening to them talk? Why is it such a "terrible" thing to concentrate on the inspirational and full of hope words of a person who rose up through adversities? Why is it so "bad for democracy or for the country" to realize that people like you and me cannot necessarily understand the details of policies, that we come to feel the effects of them over time (like the loss of jobs as a result of outsourcing), and that we can make decisions every four years?

I can understand the dangers of not knowing where a candidate stands. About half of this country is feeling the dangers and the frustrations of the last eight years. However, my experience and expertise (somewhat) say that the only way you can have policies or even politics is through words. If people are inspired by Obama they should be proud to shout it to the world because a little inspiration never hurt anyone. Quite the contrary! It brought about equal rights for everyone. Inspiration brought about the fall of a wall that divided the world in half. Inspiration brought about the creation of this country. So, if political strength does not come from words, where does it come from?

because I think, love, breath, and get mad

These days I seem to pump energy from a newly found source. I don't know what that source is or where it comes from, but I seem to be getting fuel from it. Don't get me wrong, that's not a bad thing. It's certainly something I needed.

I cannot stop thinking about different things. Politics, language, how much I want a baby, how much I love my husband, how I should stop treating the dog like a human being, the fact that I should get a job, the fact that my best friend is pregnant and I am not there, how much I want two of my closest friends to get married, the fact that I should lose weight and start working out again, that I am a PhD candidate! Oh, lord this is tiring!

Then I remember that I need to breath so I turn on the TV. It's time for some cheesy, bad, maybe brainless TV show. And all of a sudden I find hidden meanings that make me think a little more and that's when I get pissed off!

I get mad with the fact that I should be able to push pause in my head. That I should be able to stop thinking and judging, evaluating. Stop doing that and make love instead. I should stop thinking and have sex.
Thank God for Valentine's Day!