Son,

Hope. What is it? It is perception. Obama, Clinton, a Republican? Many of us have similar hopes and dreams. A country of economic prosperity, religious freedom, a safe family with easy access to health care, freedom from war and despair – is this dream any different for Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives?

You wake up in the morning and the first thought is of your children – are they safe, are they hungry, are they ready for the day? You seek a home, neighborhood, city, state, and country where your children will have the best opportunity for a healthy and happy life – is this any different than anyone else, democrat or republican, liberal or conservative?

What are the dominant hopes and dreams, the dominant values, of our country – of civilized man? Are the people in our country so different than people anywhere else?

We hear the news daily – more war deaths, housing crisis, 47 million with no health care, failing schools, O.J. Simpson again. Barack Obama comes along with his pretty face and spreads a message of hope – people rally around him – hopeful. Hillary Clinton preaches the same hope, tempered with the reality of Washington D.C. politics – we cautiously listen. The Republican theme is consistent – the only hope is in power and control.

We want to be hopeful – but we know we have to be realistic. The American populace is on tight alert. We are sifting through the messages of people who want us to believe in them.

We are hopeful of the future – but we are cautious.

Dad