The Eternal Cynic

The statistics clearly show how important this Presidential race is to Americans. Record numbers of voters are turning up to vote and political debates rage in even the smallest of circles. Everyone it seems has an opinion, I suppose it is my turn to voice my own.

It is no secret, I am a Barack Obama supporter. I find his unique approach on politics not only refreshing but incredibly promising for the future of America. Barack’s race has very little to do with race or religious preference, it would make little difference to me if he were white, purple, pink, female, muslim, christian, etc. It is his efforts and ability to enlist those around him that truly helps me to believe he will actually enact changes in our country.

I take great issue with comments that are made regarding his inexperience and how that will detract from his ability to change things in Washington. I tend to believe that his inexperience is actually an asset. Only someone who is not entirely immersed in politics as they have always been will be able to crack it wide open and make a difference.

Beyond that I hope that Americans are also watching, not just listening to what is being thrown out by other candidates and news stations. Barack Obama’s obvious ability to implement change is all around us and often left out of the news and other media sources or only briefly mentioned.

Barack has brought this election where it belongs, to the people. His my.barackobama.com and other areas of barackobama.com are ingenious ways of harnessing the power of the internet to enlist help from those who wish to do so and to utilize a medium familiar to most Americans. The election is decided by voters, it naturally should be put on their turf.

His direct approach to campaign financing once again should be proof of who it is that belongs in charge of our country. An unprecedented number of individuals have personally donated to his campaign, eliminating large lobbies and corporations from having influence in the race and what is done should the nomination and presidential race be won.

What I find most interesting is the other candidates surrounding him, only minor flaws or “dirt” has been found and in using it as fuel, the candidates in question have actually done themselves more harm than Obama. Barack tends to be very open about his associations, choices and in general who he is. Another refreshing addition to politics.

I am glad to see thus far Obama has been able to avoid participating in the major smear campaigns so typical of politics and hope that he is not forced to do so in order to defend himself.

While I have no delusions and understand completely he is still a politician in a political race and with a desire to win, I am thoroughly impressed by the changes and directions his form of politics are taking. I believe he is the only candidate on the ballot who WILL enact the changes in our country that are so desperately overdue and the proof is in his campaign.

There is an issue that plagues people and it manifests itself in a form of blind trust that I find rather unnerving. Have you ever noticed people with similar beliefs; be it religion or even simply philosophical, put a sort of trust in one another without truly knowing much about each other at all?

Quite often within communities and groups, we as individuals will place trust in an individual who may in fact be undeserving in that allowance simply because they fit a specific profile we have deemed acceptable. Sure my child can come and play with your child. You believe in the same things we do, surely you wouldn’t harm my child.

Or maybe we let them stay in our homes for a day or two because they have no where else to go and we feel badly for them. After all, they look so pitiful and harmless what damage could such an innocent soul do?

What a nice person, offering to help me carry my groceries inside. It is too bad there are so very few gentlemen left in this world.

Wow, that man is a doctor and a pillar of the community. Our daughter would be privileged to spend a day with their family.

I am sure I could list several scenarios where we knowingly put ourselves in danger not really thinking in the future enough to see the potential harm or trusting blindly in the humanity of this person or these people. We are then surprised when we are blindsided and burned by those who seemed so kind or “not the type”. Trusting people we barely know just based on their affiliation is as risky as stopping any Joe on the street and engaging them in the same manner.

What I think is often forgotten about those that commit heinous crimes, is their ability to be charismatic and often dubbed as the boy or girl next door. These individuals frequently pull the wool over the eyes of everyone they come in contact with and give them a sense of ease.

It is our job as individuals, parents, friends to be proactive in our encounters and relationships with others. Take the time to feel out a situation and environment before exposing yourself or your children to it. Listen to your intuition but don’t be blinded by it, sometimes even intuition is wrong. Most of all, remember that anyone can be the perpetrator of nefarious activities or even just an accidental mishap, winning their way into your inner circle doesn’t make them safe.

Knowing someone and building trust never fully eliminates the risk as even those who are nearest and dearest can harbor harmful behaviors and secrets, but hopefully we can lessen the possibility of a virtual stranger causing harm.