Imagine Congratulating, Instead of Being Hateful

It's hard to know sometimes if the McCain-Palin campaign is as discombobulated and directionless as it appears from the outside, zigging and zagging and blundering nonstop, or if there is a kind of mad logic at work here.

Ali's brilliant rope-a-dope strategy against George Foreman was necessary because Ali was overmatched; he thought he could not win using conventional tactics, so he hung on the ropes and dictated the terms of the fight, letting Foreman whale away at him and exhaust himself, then in the later rounds prevailed.

It's fun and necessary to watch the latest incredibly-shrinking-VP-candidate-video, or to marvel at McCain's willingness to say just about anything, but at some point we have to tune out the white noise and remember that this election is about much more than getting beyond the worse-in-the-history-of-this-country Bush administration, and much more than making sure McCain and Palin get nowhere near the White House.

It's also about finding the best within ourselves. It's all about standing up for ourselves - not wasting time on blaming someone else, but getting down to the work of turning the page. We the American people elected Bush to a second term. We the American people played our part in every crisis now convulsing this country.

It's about dreaming, and living those dreams - and talking about dreaming and living those dreams even when cynics would try to push us toward fear and hopelessness. It's about knocking down barriers, and showing people - really showing them - that it's possible for this country to change and once again find the best in itself.

I think of my neighbors back on Monroe Street in Brooklyn, about four blocks away from where Biggie grew up, and especially of six-year-old Devanta, a smart little kid trying to remain a kid, even when his neighbor (one house over from me) got shot and killed one night as he was reaching into the backseat of his SUV to lift out his baby girl.

When Ghost Wridah talks in this new video about imagining black folks with no drama, just peace, that's what I think of - and I hope we can all join Ghost Wridah - and John Lennon - in imagining how, even in a world of financial crisis and unending attack politics, we can at least begin to see hope and change unfurl around us.

Comments

[htd365]

ANONYMOUS part II: And the video... Everybody knows I love Tupac with the best of them, but I don't want to vote him into the White House... Sounded Like he was giving those little speeches.

[htd365]

FROM ANONYMOUS: I feel awful about it. The guy talks about dreaming and living the dream. Except under Obama, once you have the dream, and live the dream, and make money and become somebody...He will tax you and give it to some schlep-rock with no ambitions...Just looking for a handout.

[holdonpeople]

the article number 1 is correct and to the point and the video brings that point home

[howdidithappen]

I agree this is so meaningful and i think Obamas people should run with this video the rapper reminds me of what rap was supposed to be.

[thehappening]

i agree with you the article number one is great and the video is like a breath of fresh air, listen people this is our world we have to change not only for us but for our childrens children.

[thehappening]

Hey this video should be used for Obama's Campaign i think its head on.

[holdonpeople]

yes yes yes please put this out, it will definitely touch people and bring this great mans vision to the forefront, and the article is the icing on the cake.

[htd365]

This is an amazing and powerful music video! I really love the artist, he is sensational. The article was so pleasing to read, refreshing and full of hope. If only it were so easy to have everyone feel the same way and put our efforts toward the same goal.

[napapjd]

Right on, Steve. Well said. And after we win on November 4, we're going to need to hold onto that attitude, because things are going to be rough.

[SeriousBlack]

This is so excellent.

The Obama campaign should be playing this on TV. So what if it's 3 minutes and 16 seconds - just buy that much time!

Let's go people!!!!

[lord bunsky]

Hallelujah! Finally somebody is bringing back hope to the forefront of this poltical campaign business. It was about time! I can feel this hope in Steve's inspirational words. And I can definately feel it in Ghost Wridah's heartening song. Hopefully many voters can feel it as well and vote out of hope instead of hatred in November...

[thehappening]

Ghost Wridah is bringing back the era of knowledge rap, you see people just want to listed to how many girls a guy has or how much money they make or how big their house is etc. but this kid i s bringing the thinking game back and he does it in an amazing way.

[ugotme5]

This is th best video I've seen in a long time. As a person who supported Hillary in the primaries and have been somewhat reluctant to jump fully on board the Obama bandwagon - this video showed me just how important Senator Obama's candidacy is to so many people. It is not about Senator Obama - it is about the hope that his candidacy inspires. Well done Ghost Wridah and thank you Steve for bringing us something so uplifting.

[holdonpeople]

this country needs change and this country needs leaders not only in the white house but leaders like Ghost Wridah a guy who could've went the Bling route instead chose the right road and thats the road to redemption.