This Mama is for Obama

[Jo Knowles]

Jo Knowles is the author of LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL and the forthcoming JUMPING OFF SWINGS (out in Fall 09). She teaches writing for children at the Simmons College MFA program and is a volunteer writing mentor at a women’s prison. You can learn more at www.joknowles.com

Our son was one year old when George W. Bush came into office. For years, he has listened to my husband and I despair over the direction our country has taken. He has watched me cry over the loss of thousands of lives caused by a war based on lies. He has watched us rage against the Bush Machine as they manipulated the election, destroyed the economy, disintegrated U.S. standing in the world, thwarted attempts to care for our planet, and widened the divide between the haves and the have-nots.

But through all this, we have tried to instill hope. While we have become cynical, we’ve tried hard to raise our son on optimism. For the past nine years, we have worked hard to live by and teach our son the following basic principles:

1. Be kind.
2. Tell the truth.
3. Take good care of yourself in body and mind.
4. Treat all people with fairness and respect.
5. Help those less fortunate than you.
6. Don’t leave people out.
7. Be a good friend.
8. Settle disputes with words, not weapons.
9. Do your part to help care for our planet.
10. Live to learn and love.

These are the principles I feel a responsibility to live by as a parent, as a citizen, and as a human being.

For eight years, we have had a president who has lacked all but one of these principles. President Bush has certainly taken good care of himself, and so has his administration. But I am hard-pressed to find anyone in the bunch who follows the other basic principles of being a good citizen and a positive role model for the next generation. For eight years, the children of our country have had a president not to look up to, but to be ashamed of.

I want more for my son and our nation’s children. I want more for all of us. I want a president I can cheer for. I want a president who can give me real hope. I want a president I can point to and say, “Look! Look what he’s done and is doing.” And mean it in a positive way.

When John McCain was running against George Bush for president eight years ago, I actually admired him. We watched him on Now with Bill Moyers and I was moved by his words. Four years later, watching him hug George Bush for the camera, my heart sank. Exploring his voting policies, particularly in the last four years, my heart sinks further still. Too easily, he let go of the principles I once thought he held dear. The deep-rooted sexism behind his choice for a running mate shows his absolute disregard for what is best for this country. His commitment to making the rich richer, to stripping what remains of health-care for the poor, to solving conflicts through force and not diplomacy, to pandering to the very groups he once rightly opposed, shows how much this man has changed. But that is not the change our country needs.

In Barack Obama, I see a man who stands by the basic principles of good citizenship. The same principles I hope my son learns to live by. The same principles I hope our young people learn to emulate. Barack Obama and his wife gave up lucrative careers to work in their communities to help those less fortunate than them. They worked for a better tomorrow, and are working still. They will fight for the children in this country—but not with violence. They will fight by providing better health-care, jobs and tax cuts to the working class who need it most. They will fight for equal pay, and equal rights. They will help us clean up our country, reduce our dependency on foreign oil, and fuel the economy at the same time.

We need strong leaders, not vicious ones. We need leaders who understand that patriotism is more than wearing a flag pin. That love of country goes beyond a service of duty performed over 30 years ago. We need leaders who make choices that are best for the country, not their political career. Leaders who tell the truth, not repeatedly distort it. We need peacemakers, not warmongers. We need someone who wants to help all Americans, not just the privileged few. We need someone who cares about our children and what we place in their hands and hearts. We need a visionary, with real plans on how to make that vision come true. We need hope. We need a leader who will lead us ALL into a better future. And that’s why I believe we need Barack Obama.

[Megan McCafferty]

I shared your list with my six-year-old son. He replied, "Well, no duh!"

I wish these principles were so obvious to everyone.

[lauren myracle]

Loved this, Jo. You are one good mama. ;)

[Jeannine Atkins]

Good rules, Jo! I'm proud to be the mom of a nineteen year old who was so excited about voting absentee for Obama. She kept calling to have me check that our town clerk had sent the ballot! Then when I ran into the clerk in the p.o. of our little town and said E mailed it back, the clerk said she'd check that it got there. We're all a little nervous. But very hopeful too. Thanks for your strong clear words.

[Stephanie Bodeen]

Well said. It's been so long since I've been proud of a President.

[Heidi R. Kling]

I agree too, Jo. Our boy was a newborn baby when the war broke out and we've been in war his whole life and are in the same war while I hold our new baby girl. This is so not okay. Watching Obama the other night on Daily Show I was filled with...dare I say it? Optimism. That this amazing man could be our next leader. I don't care that much about myself, but at least give my childrens' future a beautiful chance.