Thoughts on the election: Reid Bellon on the symbolism of Obama

While the subject is debated hotly in the pages of magazines and on television screens, it is undeniable that this election holds a great deal of significance to people who are often left nearly voiceless in the political process - whether it be the often-ignored rural voter angered at a politician's off-handed stereotyping or the urban voter upset at being exploited for years by politicians making promises and never coming through.

These individuals usually are in the groups political analysts tend to talk about, but never talk to - as if their instincts are so easily understandable that they can be accounted for in sweeping generalizations or with the most basic political calculations. For these analysts, the historically low voter turnout among these groups is often interpreted as apathy, rather than frustration with a system that overlooks and ignores.

And these groups are far larger in size than we can imagine.

Here, in our newest submission, Reid Bellon talks about the moment something about this election clicked with him - when he stumbled upon the sentiments of those typically not mobilized by politics in an atypical election year.

Reid is a 27 year old who lives in an area in Georgia that used to be called rural, but now is called "the atlanta suburbs." He works for a local television station where he often covers county and local politics.

Other submissions in this series:
-The Nahsville Minx doesn't buy the hype.
-Mom explains her political philosophy
-Teddy Kahn on Dog Sh-t and Competitive Obama-Mania
-S. Thompson on "The Business Party"
-Grandmom's thoughts on how politics play in her world

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Before the Bush years, I was always very interested and active in politics. All of that changed after the election of 2000. After that election, I became very disheartened by the political process of our country and I lost my faith in the people running for office. To me it just seemed like all politicians were just out to benefit themselves, like they had no respect for me or the American people. I felt they would say whatever sound bite, one liner, or campaign promise they could if they thought I wanted to hear it.

The election of 2004 did little to change my feelings of apathy; I continued to be disheartened and showed a lack of interest.

By the time the 2008 election began to gear up, few of my feelings had changed. Yes it was interesting that we had a female candidate and an African American candidate, but I still took only a light interest in it all. To me it was just a lot of the same, the same old promises, the same old one liner and same old candidates, people looking mostly for personal benefit rather than a stronger country.

But that all changed on a trip to Louisville, Kentucky in June of 2008.

I decided to visit two friends in Louisville. At that point in time, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were still in a heated fight for the democratic nomination. Yet with every passing day, it was becoming increasingly clearer that Barack Obama would take the nomination. During our trip to Kentucky we took many drives through West Louisville, a neighborhood that is prominently African American in population.

While we drove down the streets of that neighborhood we saw abandoned buildings, neighborhoods that would be considered ghettos and people living in poverty. But we also saw something else; we saw Barack Obama posters in every window, Barack Obama bumper stickers on every car, bike and scooter as well Barack Obama T-shirts being sold at small kiosks on street corners. It seemed everyone with a Barack Obama sign, bumper sticker or T shirt was also smiling and had almost a quiet confidence to them. I realized then that Barack Obama wasn’t just another candidate. He represents more than just the Democratic Party, he is a symbol. Barack Obama is a symbol much like Martin Luther King is, a symbol much like Gandhi is, a symbol much like America used to be - he is a symbol for hope.

Just the name and likeness of Obama gave these people hope for change, it gave them hope that better times were ahead in America and that this country was ready for it. His likeness shows that America, after years of struggle, racism and conflict, has finally matured enough to put its petty difference aside and unite behind a man and a symbol. The words “anybody can make it in America” used to be just a cliché to a lot of people, including me. Yet the rise of Barack Obama has shown that America is changing, and he is living proof those words are true.

The residents of West Louisville still had faith in America - maybe I should too.
I will be honest with you, I’m still not the most involved political person that I could be, and I’m still very skeptical of every politician and what they promise. But I do know that America deserves better than what it’s had the last 8 years. I think Barack Obama can get us there and to me he represents what is still great about this country. The rise of Barack Obama is a historic event, and I’m blessed to be witness to it.