Thanks for sharing your very personal story as a way to illustrate a great point.

I'm not a member of the younger generation and I support Obama for a whole lot of reasons. But reason #1 is that I'm sick of the idiots in Washington digging in and screaming at each other while they let the country wither away.

I'm so glad that you have such a wise son! I hope that your remaining days with him are filled with peace, love, and laughter.

I believe that our children, those just entering adulthood now, are incredibly wise. I have two of my own, and they are really down-to-earth, caring, no-BS people. I really admire them. I think every once in a while there's a generation like that. If they can be the group that puts Obama over the top, then they really will have changed our culture and our world. McCain is the sorry past--he is almost laughable to them. My daughter shakes her head in disbelief whenever sees him on TV.
Please take good care and thanks for sharing. You have a wise son.

My son, a man of a mere 18 years, once asked me to choose what matters to me more, kicking Republican ass or solving problems?
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This is a false dichotomy, like so much of your post. There are many more possibilities. One might be that to solve problems we have to first kick the republicans ass.

Sure if problems could be solved by forgiving every republican sin I'd do it. But its more likely that forgiving their sins will empower them and make it more likely that they will be able to obstruct those solutions.

You know, it's interesting to hear you speak about people my age (I'm 20) in such a way, because the first thing I thought when I read what you wrote was, "She gets it. She understands why I am not some angry hysterical liberal whose only goal in this world is to see Bush and Cheney destroyed. She gets that, perhaps there are more important things, and more important goals to set our eyes on."

Even though I am 20, I have been angry in the same way you have, for years. In 2000, at the age of 12, I burst into tears when it finally came down that Bush had won instead of Gore. I had, at such a young age, invested so much of myself into the election. I had invested so much hope that Gore would win. I didn't truly know how frightening Bush was, but I think my tears were partly a harbinger to the next four years, when again, I would cry at Bush's second "victory".

I would love nothing more than to see Bush, Cheney, Rove and all their buddies behind bars for the crimes they've committed. But that is not what this election is about. This election is about the betterment of our country. It is about the betterment of myself, and of all the others I love and care about. And to achieve those ends, I do not see how continuous negativity, and continuous onslaughts of hatred will progress us anywhere.

We've gone through the past eight years in a continuous cycle of hatred, depression, hurt, fear and general negativity. I do not want to go into the next four with the same mentality. Obama does not want to give me, or you, or anyone else, that kind of mandate, as was given in 2000 and 2004. And for that, I respect and admire him.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. This is so much the truth. I have a son - he's turning 23 next month. He is like your son. This touches me and makes me want to call him now and tell him how much I appreciate him and his desire to have a world that doesn't perpetuate the foolishness of his parents' and his grandparents' and their parents' generations.

If there is hope, it is in them. And thank you for reminding us. Thank you.

Thank you all for your kindness and for your understanding. I need to respond to one person's comments. You know who you are.

And if what you say is true, that there can be no meaningful change without defeating Republicans, then Barak Obama really is selling snake oil and we are all doomed.

This election is so important because it is the election in which we have to choose between two ways of life. We can either see it as a contest in which we must defeat our opponents or one in which we must win for everyone's sake. What I am trying to say is that when Obama wins this election and becomes President that has to become good news for everybody, including those who struggled most fiercely against him. He isn't offering an election of conquest. He is ofering an election of reconciliation.

Do we dare to take such a step? Do we dare to reconcile? To let bygones be bygones? I don't know. But I want desperately to try. Because my needs and wants are crystal clear to me now. I want peace. I want justice. And I won't get either one without extending mercy. None of us will.

So, I say again, focus. What does the world we want to live in look like? Giving our time, our attention, our passion to making the world we want rather than rejecting the world we've got is the only thing that makes sense to me now.

And one more very personal reason I am supporting Obama in this quest. An hour ago, I was sitting wrapped up in blanketfeeling sick and miserable when Laura called me from our neighborhood Obama organization. Yes, he's organizing neighborhoods here in Ohio. And when I told her a little about my situation her response was that if I felt up to doing anything at all to help, she will personally come to my home to bring materials and give me training. We are getting together on Saturday.

Barak Obama is such a very small part of this campaign. It is really about neighbors meeting each other and joining together to work in common cause. It is about reaching out to each other to live a political life that is more decent and more about community than it has been before.

Just before she ended the call with me Laura said, 'You aren't alone. We don't want you to feel alone. There is a place for everyone in this campaign and whatever you feel up to do will be meaningful.'

Folks, if that is what it means to be an Obamabot, sign me up.

you got it! welcome to the movement.

have raised an amazingly wise son -

what I wouldn't give for a preview function.

First, let me say that I am so sorry that you are in hospice. But I am grateful that you can use your experience to help others see that we must break out of this destructive cycle. We face too many dangerous problems to spend another 8 years playing Rovian power games.

Hang on to cast that vote and to see your son do the same. Keep posting. Take care.

Thank you for a wonderful post.

Peace, WofaCA. I definitely wish you peace and harmony.

I am struck by all those who have mentioned their sons and what they feel about our political situation. I too have a just-turned-16 son who is volunteering 15 to 20 hours a week on a local race - canvassing door to door and identifying supporters of a progressive candidate. The world has got to be a better place because of these young men (and I am sure there are young women too who are just the same).

My son reads a lot of blogs and do I. However, I have found that whenever I repeat something salacious I read somewhere about a candidate, usually McCain, he always says "Yeah, but that shouldn't be what this election is about. Let's not get into that". Certainly takes no pleasure in bringing the guy down. I admit I enjoy the idea of having more talking points against McCain. Another way these young people are showing those of us of a certain age what is important, what we ought to be about.

Anyway, hugs to you WofaCA. I hope you have many days full of family and positive things ahead of you. You will be in our thoughts. You are not alone.

Womanofacertainage, I took the liberty of sending your post on to some friends. My very best friend called to thank me. He and I spend A LOT of time bitching about the president and his gang and like he said - you spoke directly to us. Thank you for your gift we will both remember it.