Dear President-Elect Obama, (CONTEST)

Dear President-Elect Obama,1

The country seems fairly evenly divided in opinion: they think you are a new Messiah, or the Antichrist. I'm sure you'll forgive me for not having such lofty opinions - it seems to me that you are only a man set to give up four years of his life in an attempt to make the world a better place...and it seems to me that that's enough. No matter what political lines they fall on, I don't think anyone can disagree about the importance, the monumental nature of your election. With that gesture, our country proved a great deal about how far we've come in terms of race relations in a relatively short time. Your election has also enabled millions of jaded, apathetic young people to care again - to take an active interest in the government, to be willing to try trusting it again. If that were the only reason, I would still have been thrilled by your election - taxes last a time, and foreign policies have repercussions, but enabling a generation to care again will have an everlasting effect.2

While I don't think or expect you to be perfect, I have every hope that you will be good. I live in a home where conservative talk radio plays 24 hours a day, and all the commentators seem to think you took office with a devious view towards running the country into the ground. I couldn't bear to believe such a thing. You haven't exactly been straightforward about your plans, and I'm sure part of that is the necessary posturing that comes with campaigning, and part of that is that you just don't know what some of them are yet. That's okay - even the President can't be expected to have every duck in a row every moment of the day. It would be a lie if I said I wasn't a bit nervous about what's coming, but I wanted you to know that I am making the conscious decision to trust you. I know that you will work to make your view of the best possible world come to light, and even if it disagrees with mine on some points, that's all you can expect from anyone. We do disagree now and then, though - quite often, actually. It doesn't keep me from liking you, because I know my opinions aren't universal, and that yours aren't, either, but I'd like you to know where I stand on a few things. 3

I believe in life - it is to be cherished, protected, and lived with flair. This means that I think abortions are completely wrong. I think the considerable resources put into upholding and providing them should be channeled into support for unwanted mothers, and staffing adoption agencies so they can screen prospective parents faster in order to match the millions of resulting unwanted children with the millions of aching, empty-armed people who want them. Group homes and foster homes need to be worked with, to provide a good life for those children who can't be placed. To facilitate this, I think sex education needs to be stressed in schools - not abstinence-only, but a program stressing abstinence while teaching young people how to have sex as responsibly as possible if they choose to do so. Two young people probably shouldn't me making love, but if they are, they shouldn't have to jump through a ring of fire to find a way to do it safely.4

A belief in life doesn't just mean saving it at the start, but making it better once people are here. This country was built by people bucking the status quo, who wanted a chance to worship the God they chose and live the lives they wished. Those facts seem to have been forgotten somewhere along the line - this country wasn't founded as a theocracy, but as a wild and radical idea. Rather than scoffing at the "radicals" today, we need to embrace them. People should be able to do what they want with their lives, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else - allowing anything less is an insult to where we began. Two adults who love each other should be able to be together with all the rights entitled to any two other mutually affectionate adults, no matter the gender or name of the relationship. Marriage should be sacred, a lifelong commitment and celebration of love - I believe that, above all else. I also know that I have met gay couples whose lifelong romances uphold the word more truly than the scores of straight people I've met who've wed legally several times over.5

Of course, nobody can have a life together if they can't afford to have a life at all. On a metaphorical plane, this speaks to all Americans - we need to get our economy fixed when we can. I don't have all the answers, and I know you don't, either, but we need to get the ball rolling. This is where you need to turn your back on public opinion once you're in office - dig in, do some research, crunch some numbers, look at the past. Figure out what actually will help, whether it's more bailouts, more spending, or letting everything quickly hit rock bottom so it can bounce back. Once you know, keep things as even as possible, but do it. We don't need another Great Depression. Of course, at our worst of times, the United States was still one of the most fortunate countries in the world - we need to remember that there are many, many people for whom the initial statement is painfully literal. As the wealthiest country in the world, a country where the average person throws away fourteen percent of the food they buy, we have a responsibility to help the rest of the world out. Our resources are wasted on such a ridiculous military - it's all well and good to try to help bring people better government, but they don't care about the government until they're fed. Giving people a new leader doesn't keep their children from dying...putting that money into funneling America's excess into feeding them and providing clean water does.6

As a young person, I know that I don't understand everything. I know that I have a lot of life left to lead, and most of it will be affected by the actions you take now. I have every hope for the future of my life, and the future of our country. I think it is foolish and erroneous to claim that it is the greatest on Earth, but it has certainly been blessed, and I trust that you will lead us to use that which we have gained from this blessing wisely and spread it to others. As a child of the globe yourself, I know that you know there if life outside our border, and an abundance of rich and beautiful life within. I wish you the best of luck, President-Elect Obama, and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. 7

With Hope,
Lusie