Integrity NOW!

I realize it's now been four days since my last post, but a lot has happened since then. Just when I thought I was going to try to be a Pennsylvania delegate for Dennis Kucinich, I received word on Thursday that he planned to announce his official withdrawal from the Presidential race on Friday. This news crushed me. I felt as though it crushed me more than anyone else. I really had no reason to take it so personally. I've never actually met Dennis. I did have the privilege of visiting his office in the Rayburn House Building this past December. He was not present, but I did get to meet some of the people who work for him. I've been supporting Dennis all the way. I have believed in him since I knew he was running again for President of the United States. That conviction had convinced me to tell everyone that I know about Dennis and why he would be the best choice for the next President. In his concession speech on Friday, Dennis explained that he was dropping out of the race, not because of funds or disinterest in running for President, but because his re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives is in jeopardy because he is being attacked by corporate interests in Cleveland.

I have been called the Conscience of the Democratic Party. Our
efforts will involve a call to conscience. A call to integrity.

To those who supported this campaign with their energies and with their hearts, I want you to know that we are transitioning the Presidential campaign into a national movement based on integrity and based on practical ways in which we can affect policies at local and national levels. I am no longer running for President, but I am intent on saving our nation from the destruction of our economic hopes and from the destruction of our Constitution.

And all of the energies of all of the people who have been involved in this campaign will be transitioned into a new, national effort to regain control of our government, which seems more and more inaccessible. We are calling that effort “Integrity Now”, and there is a website – http://www.integritynow.org/ -- where we can begin to channel all of that enthusiasm and that commitment from people just like you, and just like me, so we can take positive steps to do what we know is right and in the best interests of this nation.

So let us begin again, here, today, in Cleveland, Ohio, with a renewed effort to be of service to our community and to our nation. Let us re-focus on what we can do and what we must do, here at home, in Washington, and all across this country to end the war, rebuild this nation, restore truth and justice and integrity to our government. Let’s make the American dream more than a dream. Let’s make it a reality.

~ Dennis J. Kucinich 1/25/08

I was extremely moved by these excerpts from his speech. I especially love the way he talks about the American Dream which consists of ending the war, rebuilding the nation, and restoring truth and justice and integrity to our government. I honestly can't understand why more people don't want this. For some time now, I have thought a great deal about redefining the American Dream to one that does not include self-prosperity and wealth, but individual liberties and the true pursuit of happiness. I guess there are a lot of things that I don't understand about my fellow Americans. But I think that's a fact of life. We aren't always going to understand things. So I think the important thing is to make efforts to understand--by working together, listening to differing opinions, and striving to coexist.