SISTER OTHELIA'S LETTER TO HILLARY CLINTEN
Dear Hillary, I saw you last night at the fire station in our small town of Iowa. One of our boys had been sent home dead from Afghanistan to his parents in a box. You spoke to us the day after his funeral..
I am a 56 yr old independent with no party at all. I honor the earth; do my part to contribute, and have an open mind. I live with a die hard Republican husband from a die hard American Navy Service family. They believe Honor is akin to religious faith, and that even when wrong you support your Republican President. They also feel that way about their NASCAR hero.
I came to see you numb. Being an Iowan I have seen all the candidates up close and shaken their hands.
I left O Bama feeling passionate and hopeful.
I left Joe Bidden confused.
I left John Edwards disappointed. {But loved Elizabeth}
And then there was you.
The fire station was full of T.V. cameras from all over the United States.
The back row seats were filled with newspaper reporters and lap tops ready to type your every word.
One bright red antique fire truck remained inside the station, packed with kids ready to see a historical moment. The room was filled to the brim.
I remembered how you looked like someone I would want to have coffee with, regal, earthy, pretty and “REAL”. You took our questions.
The first question asked of you was:
You told us when bridges start to fall as in Minnesota, and town infrastructure crumbles from age, the National toll will be monumental if we do not attend to the problem NOW. You told us that other world countries are tending to this silent scream….and America needs to also. What good are we to the rest of the world rebuilding THEIR infrastructures, if our OWN TOWNS decay and crumble as we speak?
An elderly man that attended the dead soldier boy’s funeral the day before spoke:
You told us that Bush has gradually given less to the soldiers fighting his war in Iraq, and more to his personal agendas. You proved to us that this was another silent scream….”Where is our country’s compassion to heal us, when post traumatic head injury, amputation and disfigurement are the result of patriotic service? Where are the benefits promised to our brave soldiers?”
You said this was another reason you would take us out of this war when in office to lead as President.
A woman in a wheel chair came forward. She asked of you,
“MY BODY IS BROKEN. WHEN WILL PEOPLE LIKE ME BE GIVEN THE BENEFITS THAT STEM CELL RESEARCH CAN PROMISE FOR HEALING?”
You were compassionate for her. The room was still enough to hear a pin drop. You told her you understood how frustrating it must be for her that the research had been held off. If you were in office you would assure that the most advanced forms of stem cell research be allowed to continue. So many advancements and not enough money to research stem cell research is yet another block in the path from the Bush Administration.
These were just a few of the questions answered. I left feeling so much stronger about you Hillary. The numbness was gone. I shook your hand and told you I was the daughter of one of your teachers at Main East High. My father bragged about a brilliant young girl where he taught, and I like to think he was speaking of you.
The following is why I have decided to vote for you now Hillary:
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You are a REAL person addressing REAL issues
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Your presence is magical, and I saw the room go from laughter, to tears to shouting. That takes passion.
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You are warm. {I came expecting a cold turkey.}
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I forgot Bill Clinton existed once I saw and heard YOUR essence.
{This is important as I did not want to see a wife filling a husband’s agenda}.
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Your message spoke highly of wind power and alternative fuel source.
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My intellect was satisfied, my heart warmed and my soul inspired
Thanks for giving me my presidential choice. It will be you. I have shaken hands with all candidates in Iowa. You are the one most needed for the reality and truth of rebuilding America.