A new day has come

Here it is; January 20, 2009. The day Barack Obama has taken office as the President of the United States. Love him or hate him, this is history and we are living it.

I know a lot of people don't like him, his ideas, or policies. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But he is our president now and he deserves a chance. Just because you don't like his name or his skin color or people he USED to associate with, does not mean he is a terrorist. He is not Arab. He's also not a Muslim. And it shouldn't matter if he was! He is an American Christian.

We make pretty decent money (combined, anyway) and we cannot afford private health care. For the two of us, who are healthy, and our newborn baby the cost is around $600 a month. So we go without. We have insurance for April. But, that wasn't the case for a few weeks. While we tried to find some coverage for her, no doctor would see her for a checkup without insurance. So our two month old baby couldn't have a dang checkup! Finally at 10 weeks old, we found a doctor who would see her if we paid out of pocket. Oh, just $500, up front. It's absurd. Heaven forbid something happen to one of us. We already have medical bills out the wazoo! I have yet to have a post-partum checkup because my insurance through work was canceled right after she was born. Nice huh?

I want to see this war over. I want to gradually bring our troops home. I want young men and women to be able to enjoy their children. Not watch them grow up in photos and see them once a year if they're lucky. I don't want another person to have to tell their children that mommy or daddy won't be coming home.

I want my daughter to remember that when she was a kid, the country was in good shape. Like I did when I was a kid. I want her to be proud to be an American, and not embarrassed.

I want people to have jobs. But not just any job. A job making a livable wage, with benefits and insurance. No one should have to choose between paying the power bill or buying food. No one should have to tell their children they have to go without basic needs. No one who is willing and able to work should be at home.

I want people to be able to marry whoever they want. Whether you agree with gay marriage or not, it is a basic American right. No one's forcing you to be gay. Or watch gay people have sex. Or tell your children to be gay. Stop being so afraid of everything. Love is love is love. I hope someday soon will be the day when we look back and say "remember when gay people couldn't get married!?!" just as today we are saying "remember when black people couldn't even vote?!?".

These are just a few of the things I hope to see change over the next four or eight years. There's a million more.

I guess it's no secret that I am pretty liberal. But to tell you the truth, looking back, I feel sad for President Bush. I think he is honestly a good person. He surrounded himself with not-so-good people and made some mistakes. I truly feel that he is remorseful. I don't think he wanted to ever see our country in the shape it is in now. Who would? I hope he has a relaxing retirement out on the ranch.

So whatever your views are, feel blessed today. I feel proud for my country. But at the same time I feel sad for the people who are misinformed and bitter, for whatever reason. The greatest patriotism you can display is to support your president (unless he gives you a reason not to ;) ).

God bless America.