It’s great when someone you admire sees merit in you too. Today, I needed an injection of inspiration for finishing up the talk I’m giving next week on @jeffpulver‘s first #140Conf event on a tour bus, and got it when Reda StCyr “fanned” me on Huffington Post. StCyr is the woman who introduced me to the #p2 hashtag and through it provided me with a ready-made mechanism for interfacing on the web with the progressive community. Following links from Huffington’s fan notification took me to an important article about the poverty tour Dr. Cornel West & Tavis Smiley undertook this summer. In it, Smiley says that when the American public pressures Washington to take action on any issue, action gets taken. He gives some examples to prove his case and suggests that we be a lot more vocal about the poor needing help.
Even though I’m a big-time Obama supporter, I recognize that in a representative democracy it’s important for citizens to tell our elected officials what’s important to us and how we want them to spend our country’s resources. This means speaking up when we’re pleased, and also speaking up when we want more. I applaud Dr. West and Mr. Smiley for taking the time and trouble to highlight – for the president and all other citizens of America – a national issue which ought to concern every American: the challenges being faced by the hungry and homeless in America. These are among our country’s most vulnerable citizens and unfortunately, a special needs group that could all too easily include you or me tomorrow, and which shouldn’t include any of us. By voicing concern, Americans will empower President Obama with the chance to champion us.
Want to see a list of Obama’s positive accomplishments?