The Zimmermann Note

As an American, for the past 35 years I have seen our nation grow more divisive with each passing year. Red states and Blue states seem to have walls built up and rather than tearing them down we constantly fight and bicker rather than believe that the other side has any logical argument.

As an American, I have always considered myself a bit of a moderate Democrat. As I peruse the three final candidates for election on the Democratic end I want to bring a candidate into office that I believe will be able to work with both sides of the aisle and to bring upon a new chapter in American history that does not look to divide this country but bring it together.

Our country has been wounded by the attacks not from 9/11 but the attacks that have gone on by both sides of the aisle that look to take down the other side with dirty politics.

Carolyn Kennedy wrote in an op-ed piece in the New York Times which described her feelings about Barack Obama as associating Obama with her father, John F. Kennedy. In my opinion, Obama is this person that can bring this nation back together.

On the issues alone, Clinton, Obama and Edwards are all pretty similar.  So for me it came down to who I thought was not just going to inspire me but inspire someone that does not always agree with me.

One of the things that I have noticed in the past 8 years of Republican leadership is that either you are “Good” or you are “Evil”, you are “For Us or you are Against Us”. This divisiveness has created more harm than good. It has taken our friends and made them our enemies.

That is the element that our great nation needs. That is the element that needs to heal our country of its differences and inspire and truly lead our great nation. As I listen to Barack Obama speak as he did last night in South Carolina I am reminded that even we as individuals have become just as divisive and willing to not listen to the other side. Here is a man that has passed this message wherever he has gone, since catapulting himself in the national spotlight nearly 4 years ago when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

What has strengthened my resolve for Barack Obama is how he has handled the attacks by both Hillary and Bill Clinton who have tried to paint him as a Black Candidate rather than a candidate. I have always felt support for a candidate not based on their race, gender or ethnicity but their ideas and values.  The last two months have seen me as well go from having a positive opinion of both Hillary and Bill to an overall negative one.  It has gotten to the point where I have questioned whether I could vote for Hillary in the general election if she was the Democratic candidate.

I believe that Hillary Clinton is an intelligent viable candidate for the Presidency.  In the manner in which her husband was a former president would have offered this country the unique experience of rebuilding the country.  What has discouraged me is Bill Clintons lack of empathy this election cycle that has turned me against both of them. I was a big Clinton supporter for years but cannot get past this element that is threatening to divide the Democratic party.

In talking with other people what really has strengthened my beliefs is the idea of so many young people that have been inspired by Barack Obama. I speak to the older generations specifically about this of who do you want to lead our country. Think to yourselves not what your vote means to you but what it means for your children and grandchildren. We see a leader that has different ideas and values of what it means to be president in Obama.

I have listened to many people get driven to tears listening to his speeches which reminds me that politicians still have the ability to move and influence rather than bicker and fight. Barack Obama is the first candidate that I felt has spoken to me and that is why I am supporting him for President of the United States.

With all the problems with our world, I know that there is always one constant in the world that we can always trust and abide by. Rock and Roll.

Rock and Roll, under all the shit that goes on in our lives is the constant. It is what allows our blood to flow, to breathe and see tomorrow.

It is not as Peter Buck might say just a couple of chords and a cloud of dust. Jeff Tweedy said that music was his savior and he got his name from rock and roll.

If I ever went into a coma I would want those around me to put my headphones on, to turn on the Ipod and let the songs breeze through my brain, for then I would be in paradise.

I miss walking around the neighborhood listening to music. I miss the idea that this constant in my life in viewing the moving pictures, images and thoughts are gone. All I have is a blank white computer screen that grasps my inner thoughts.

Rock and Roll is the nectar, the sweet and bitterness. The sour tasting apple, the sweet ripe orange filled with the seeds of growth. In the same way that Adam and Eve bit into the apple, we are both filled with pleasure and sin at the same time.

I can always be counted on though to save me.

Which reminds me, one of these days I still have to write an article about my favorite albums of 2007. The R.E.M. stuff has taken much of my time and while there are tons of politics posts floating through my head, putting a list is imperative in the next couple of days.