Valerie Schultz: Are you there, Mr. Obama? It's me, Valerie
| Thursday, Jan 15 2009 01:56 PM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 01:40 PM
Dear Mr. Obama,
Now that I have your attention, I’m afraid it will be hard to say everything I want to say in 500 words. After following the long presidential campaign, and seeing your name every day on my car and lawn, I feel a camaraderie with you. We have things in common. You have daughters. I have daughters. You root for the Bears. I root for the Packers. You lead the free world. I write a newspaper column. On second thought, maybe we aren’t that similar.
We do have in common our nationality. To be an American is a special call, not to the “Me First” attitude that has consumed us of late, but to the generosity and ingenuity that once endeared us to the rest of the world. To be American is to believe in kindness rather than self-absorption, in justice instead of fear, in hope instead of cynicism, in reaching for the future rather than resting in the past.
I believe you’ll be a president who is neither vindictive nor prone to knee-jerk reactions, and who understands that it is more productive to lead by example than by force. Please continue to surround yourself with experts, listen to all sides calmly, and use your intellect to make rational, nuanced, effective decisions. But don’t neglect to listen to your heart, to your gut, and to your wife.
I hope that you will think globally and act globally to heal a critically ill planet. You represent the generation now in charge that can change our destructive way of living into a more nurturing one. The torch is being passed. Our children’s and grandchildren’s environment is up to you.
As a mother, I pray that all of our children will be safer because of your presidency, whether they are deployed to a strange land or living in a familiar town. I hope that your policies will value all human life, from womb to tomb, from the unborn to the disabled to the aged to the condemned. I trust that you will challenge us all to act on behalf of the common good, with love for our brothers and sisters, no matter how different or difficult they may be.
Remember the beautiful prayer that you hid in a crack of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and that some nosy reporter fished out and published? “Lord — Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will.” May we all breathe your prayer together.
I must presume to mention revitalized education, clean energy, fair labor laws, a rescued economy, a protected Constitution, and universal health care as goals for your first term. Oh, and world peace.
While you may need another four years to finish the work, I hope that you will always act with the grace, good will, common sense, humor and dignity that you have already shown us. As my grandmother might have said, you’re a class act. Thanks for applying for the job. Make us glad we hired you.
Your friend,
Valerie
