"Dear Greg"
July 7, 2008
For the past two weeks, we asked you to declare your independence from a broken system. You did just that. And when we asked you to tell us why, you responded. Dan shared his story in a letter to his friend Greg who died two years ago.
Dear Greg,
You have been and always will be my closest friend…. I am finally writing to you now, two years after you left us on April 11, 2006 (what I refer to as 4-11), because I miss our times….
…A few months after 4-11, towards the end of 2006, I heard your voice. My soul was lifted for a brief moment… then reality brought me back. Then I heard your voice again, coming from the television. I turned and saw your welcoming smile, your truthful and sincere eyes met mine, and I had another brief moment before coming back.
It wasn’t you; it was a man named Barack Obama.
Greg, this guy could be your twin, a little on the skinny side. I’m not just talking about his looks…I am referring to the comforting tone of his voice and the selfless look in his eyes, and a whole entourage of qualities he exuberates that remind me of the best parts of your character. It was truly amazing.
Now the bad news…I found out he’s a democrat! I hope I didn’t offend you, Greg. But the resemblance was so remarkable. I remember you and I would watch O’Reilly and listen to Rush all the time…such good memories. As long-standing, conservative republicans, we would take no ills from the likes of the left. So, I turned off the television. Sorry, Greg. Bye-bye Barack.
A whole year went by, and then I heard the voice again, right before the 2008 New Year. Your twin was on television again, this time running for president. I guess he had been running for a while; but you know how I am, Greg. I never liked politics too much. Whoever the republican candidate is gets our vote.
Well, this time I listened. And I listened to the whole thing. You’re going to tell me I wasted my time, but I googled him and checked out his website…I even listened to this convention speech he made during the last election.
So, this Obama guy had my interest a little.
But Greg, I have to be honest. Not because of the voice, or the smile, and not because he reminds me of you…but I began to really listen and like this new guy.
What is true are the goals we share, the prosperity we desire, the dreams we strive to achieve, the success we wish for our children, the health we bestow on our planet, the peace we crave with our world neighborhood, the health and well being every human deserves, the freedom to express and be heard, and the hope that ignites our souls.
These truths are paramount. I hope, in your now improved vision, that you can see what now I see and feel that this man can do. Just like you made me appreciate America and its values, he enriches these feelings and unites a hard-core republican like me with a greater universal need. United we stand and united we heal.
This is a world now where the United States doesn’t exist outside of our borders…to the world we are just America. We need to become the United States again, and Obama is the one to do it. He has your wisdom, Greg, and your integrity. He has your character and your sincerity. He is devoted to his family, and devoted to this country.
I know you can see me, Greg. And I know you can hear me. You are probably shaking your head at the “Republicans for Obama” sticker on my truck, or the flag flying from the window. But what I truly hope you are doing is smiling and saying to me, “Yes we can.”
Love you and miss you bro,
Dan
Tell us your story at blog@barackobama.com.
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