That's a nice title, isn't it? President __________ and then everyone says: "Hail to the chief." But actually that's hard work, and the greatest temptation to go gallivanting from one's responsibilities is very strong, to moonlight, or to just taste the icing of the cake. Yet our country is so full of problems that anyone who is aspiring for that highest post could be in for a lot of sweeping to do, sweep the corruption, sweep away the corrupt and rebuild a new life ethic that will value people and the environment.
Hence, we welcome the many presidential aspirants in our midst -- for it shows that we still have idealistic people -- I hope and pray so -- who will spend a lot of money and smile and shake hands with as many people as possible just to be able to get their votes come May 2010. The temptation is really strong -- to vie for a post -- because the people are really in need of true leaders.
I was buying chocolate bars from a tiangge when the seller told me how the water rose too swiftly. She was so dedicated to her business that she had failed to notice the waters. And so it was her husband who egged her on to get out of the store. Unfortunately, they were not able to take anything to safety except their bodies and the little sales that they had made during the day. They had to climb the fence of the Buddhist temple which was accommodating them at the corner of the street where their store stands and wait there inside until the waters had subsided the following day.
As I was departing she told me, "Ma'am tell us whom to vote for because we know that you read a lot, you know a lot. So we will follow you -- whomever you want us to vote for." I was humbled by her statement, and felt very sad that she could not decide for herself. I also felt the great burden of having to make the right choice or else, if that person turns out not to be good at governance, then that would mean a lot of people who will get frustrated again.
Hence, I resolve now to keep a list of all presidential aspirants, make a tickler -- of their background, their politics, their parties, and their accomplishments. In this manner, we could also be reaching out to the people on how to make choices based on reasonable factors. I think that the people have wizened up, especially after the storms that hit us. Those who survived them are now thinking that life is precious after all, and that we need a government that really cares for us -- one that will not allow erring officials to go scot free, one that will not give us loans but rather grants whenever it fails to give us a secure, safe, and protected life; when...so many things to aim for.
But we must start now. Seven months till May 2010, is not so long for many heads to think together, and many bodies to act together. As they say, at the end of the rainbow, we will always find a pot of gold.
- Lila Rose Kennedy poster
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