NO A LA GUERRA Y SI A LA PAZ...PERO...

I have always worked for peace and have been against the war both in Iraq and Afghanistan since day one. But I am also cognizant of the reality that has already been created and the importance of America being responsible for its' actions which includes having a clear plan to get out of both countries in a organized and effective manner. President Obama has ONLY BEEN PRESIDENT FOR 1 YEAR! He is not God, a savior or free of sins. He too must weigh all of the issues, options that only he knows. I fully support my President. He has been clear since day 1 on his stance on these two wars. He has not back tracked, he has not lied! On the campaign trail he discussed defeating Al Quaeda and he is following through on that promise, it does not surprise me at all.

My own cousin has been to Iraq twice. Both times it tore me up inside to know this beautiful young man with a young daughter would have to fight for this empire and possible die. He is a lucky person and has returned and I pray everyday that he is not sent on another tour. I have spoken to him about war and what he has seen. Iraqi children being killed by gun shots from American and Iraqi soldiers, by mines and other weapons of mass destruction. Of the guerrilla warfare tactics never knowing if your friends are out to kill you. Has Iraqi society really changed for the better? For whose purpose? Now Afghanistan is another story and there America is fighting back -fighting back against 9/11.

So yeah, I am not surprised with Obama's speech. I do not expect him to change everything overnight. One thing I have learned is that it is all a process. This process takes time, evolution and I believe that 1) his manner of addressing the nation, 2) his clear and succinct plan and 3) his heart really are signs of evolution. For me this means that Obama will end the war in 18 months (June 2011). When I heard him speak tonight, I know that it was one of the hardest things he ever had to do. I felt it in his voice, his eyes, his face. I believe in him and his judgment.

This doesn't mean that we stop holding him accountable, protesting and demand the end of the war and that our troops be brought back home. We must keep a watchful eye, we must continue to organize, organize, organize!!!!

I am against war, I support Obama -what a contradiction. I refuse to abandon him -even if he has abandoned us- and just characterize him as another war president, that is he just like all the rest of them. I refuse to let the military might claim him and take him captive. He is our president. I voted for him, I mobilized for him, I went to witness his inauguration and to make sure that world knew that no one can mess with him without reprecussions.

As my friend Jacqui says, once you are an official part of the establishment you must act accordingly. He will not act in any real radical way unless we make him. He will bring about change when the time is right, when it makes sense and most importantly when we as a nation demand for him to act accordingly. Voting for him is not enough, we must fight for his heart, soul and mind everyday to do what is right for the world.

(picture credit: www.zoriah.com)