bravery in the face of ignorance

i really can't imagine being barack obama. i can't imagine campaigning across the country. i can't imagine kissing babies and shaking hands. i can't imagine orating speech after speech in front of huge crowds. and i can't even begin to imagine having to defend my patriotism because of my name. or the color of my skin. or who my friends are. i can't imagine having the cover of a national magazine parody the appearance and beliefs of my wife and myself. i can't imagine the united states election system "mistakenly" confusing my name with that of the mastermind of the largest terrorist attack in the history of my country. and i can't imagine doing all of that with a singular though in my head - today might be the day i die.

you all do realize this, right? barack obama is the first black presidential nominee of a major party. jesse jackson he is not. in less than one month this man may just be the president of these united states. and as much hope and optimism as this may bring for so many us, it also stimulates an equal amount of hate and fear in a great number of our fellow americans. and this is why i am almost positive that, despite the overpowering dedication and passion that it takes for any person to run for the most powerful seat in the land, barack obama is contantly haunted by that thought - today might be the day i die. and it could be. hate and fear are strong emotions, especially when mixed with ignorance and stupidity. there are people in this country who do not want to see barack obama in the white house for one reason and one reason only. why? let's just say they want to keep it a 'white' house. and many of those people feel they have an obligation to keep this from happening. and for some, that obligation goes beyond the voting booth. i am relatively certain that there are people in this country who will do whatever it takes to prevent obama from taking office in washington. they believe he will taint, dishonor, and even destroy our nation. and i am utterly fearful of the lengths they will go to to prevent this.

so the next time you see barack obama smiling for the cameras, giving a speech, spending quality time with his wife and daughters, or just being - try to comprehend how much courage that takes. just to be him. i can't imagine...