A New Hope
Today President Obama lifted a ban on federal funds for steam cells research that was in place for tha last eight years. I cried as I read the memorandum released by the White House.
It has been just a couple of weeks from January 20th and we can see a huge departure from the old ways, i.e., from the Bush years.
When George W. Bush was elected eight years ago, it was over a great debate over the counting difference in Florida. And I remember thinking "well, let's see where it goes". Four years later I was stunned when Bush was re-elected. No, that is not right, I wasn't stunned, I was dumb strucked, by the fact. How could that guy be re-elected?
The worst thing with the Bush years was the sudden and brutal turn of the U.S. to the "Extreme Conservatives", where religious political groups dictated the direction that the United States should follow.
Back in 9/11/2001, I was going to work, in Boston, and passing through the Copley Hotel to catch the "T" when I saw a bunch of people watching intently to the lobby TV, I as most people stopped to watch it, just when the second plane hit WTC. I was shocked beyond believe. I remember listening to the radio for news instead of music, for the first time in a long time.
Yes, it was a dark day. If December 7th, 1941 "will live in Infamy", September 9th, 2001 will never be forgotten.
I also remember listening to the people on the streets on that very day, saying that the towers would be rebuild, better, stronger, taller, to show to anyone that U.S. would never accept defeat.
But, then, somewhere along the path U.S. took a turn for the worse, exchanging freedoom for a false sense of "security". The "Patriot Act" was (and is) an affront to everything that America represents.
No, that was not the Country I once knew.
In the Country I remember due process meant something. The Constitution wouldn't be shred into pieces to satisfy a minority of self-appointed "truth-bearers".
In 2007, when the presidential pre-campain began, I (like the rest of the planet) noticed the debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. At that moment it doesn't matter who would win, it would be historical either way. The United States would have either the first woman sitting on the Oval Office, or the firstblack afro-american.
Yes, it would be historical, if Hillary had won. But for some reason I don't think it would be that much different from Bush.
Don't get me wrong, yes, it would be different from Bush, but I'm just not so sure how much.
I watched Obama winning the primaries over Hillary, and I started to watch his campain closely, I cheered form him, and I campained for him.
And he won! Big time.
He promised changes, changes from the "old" ways...
I know it will be hard, I know it will be difficult...
And I hope that The United States will be again the Country I knew.
And the Country I love.
God Bless us all.
It has been just a couple of weeks from January 20th and we can see a huge departure from the old ways, i.e., from the Bush years.
When George W. Bush was elected eight years ago, it was over a great debate over the counting difference in Florida. And I remember thinking "well, let's see where it goes". Four years later I was stunned when Bush was re-elected. No, that is not right, I wasn't stunned, I was dumb strucked, by the fact. How could that guy be re-elected?
The worst thing with the Bush years was the sudden and brutal turn of the U.S. to the "Extreme Conservatives", where religious political groups dictated the direction that the United States should follow.
Back in 9/11/2001, I was going to work, in Boston, and passing through the Copley Hotel to catch the "T" when I saw a bunch of people watching intently to the lobby TV, I as most people stopped to watch it, just when the second plane hit WTC. I was shocked beyond believe. I remember listening to the radio for news instead of music, for the first time in a long time.
Yes, it was a dark day. If December 7th, 1941 "will live in Infamy", September 9th, 2001 will never be forgotten.
I also remember listening to the people on the streets on that very day, saying that the towers would be rebuild, better, stronger, taller, to show to anyone that U.S. would never accept defeat.
But, then, somewhere along the path U.S. took a turn for the worse, exchanging freedoom for a false sense of "security". The "Patriot Act" was (and is) an affront to everything that America represents.
No, that was not the Country I once knew.
In the Country I remember due process meant something. The Constitution wouldn't be shred into pieces to satisfy a minority of self-appointed "truth-bearers".
In 2007, when the presidential pre-campain began, I (like the rest of the planet) noticed the debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. At that moment it doesn't matter who would win, it would be historical either way. The United States would have either the first woman sitting on the Oval Office, or the first
Yes, it would be historical, if Hillary had won. But for some reason I don't think it would be that much different from Bush.
Don't get me wrong, yes, it would be different from Bush, but I'm just not so sure how much.
I watched Obama winning the primaries over Hillary, and I started to watch his campain closely, I cheered form him, and I campained for him.
And he won! Big time.
He promised changes, changes from the "old" ways...
I know it will be hard, I know it will be difficult...
And I hope that The United States will be again the Country I knew.
And the Country I love.
God Bless us all.
posted by Paulo Santos
|
3/09/2009 11:26:00 PM
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