Do me a favor. Read the title again. You got it. This is NOT a political post.

I saw a blurb somewhere online this morning talking about Barack Obama's victory speech last night after winning Iowa. There are links to YouTube video on Obama's Campaign Site, and the NY Times has the transcript.

I can't honestly say that I usually listen very closely to political speeches. Like Obama mentions, I usually find them chock-full of what people want to hear versus much factual information. I thought this one was pretty good. I can say that I enjoyed reading it.

I did "furrow my brow" at his talk about hope. For all of it's blemishes and faults, the United States is the place people want to come to when hope...is all they have. For the most part, I'd say that the ones that make it here are to take that hope, and improve their own quality of life as well as that of their loved ones. The assertion or even the slight implication that we don't have hope or that our level of hope is somehow lacking is typically American; rose-colored glasses, if you will. The woman in college in Cedar Rapids? In many places she wouldn't be able to even go to college. That son in Iraq? He enlisted. He wasn't drafted. In many places, he wouldn't have had that choice.

I think I would have much preferred that he use the word optimism, instead of hope. It's not quite as strong a word, but much more accurate and appropriate, methinks.

This has NOT been a political post.

Know What I'm Sayin'??