Today marked an event that strikes me as kind of sad.  At least two presidential contenders for the Democrats nomination, Obama and Rodham, spoke in Selma, AL on an historic day.  It seems that this marked a significant day and place in the history of civil rights in this country.  Brave and courageous men and women stepped up and stepped out into a brave new world -- they took the privileges of every free American, and decided to be treated not as second-class citizens.  This certainly is to be admired and appreciated and applauded.
  What saddens me is that the entire thing is now used as a political stepping stone.  Today's apperarance gave the impression that both of the aforementioned candidates were going there to solicit votes; to garner black support for their political aspirations.  The press played it up as which contender would land the KO punch and come out with the victory in Selma.  The whole episode with the politicians sickens me.  It cheapens the sacrifices made.
   In fact the entire crop of politicians going after support -- Republicans and Democrats -- right now all kind of make me sick.  It seems that everyone is caught up in a power game; craving power and influence for THEMSELVES.  Where is the statesman who puts America first, their fellow citizens first, the needs of this great nation first, whose greatest concern is the type of future our children will have?  Where are they?  I see a bunch of blow-dried, consultant-guided, slicksters all in it for themselves, going whichever the wind blows --all to get the POWER.
  It scares me to think that Americans have become so apathetic or desensatized or cynical that we do not expect better from people running for public office.  We don't care, and the nation and our furture is like a snowball headed for hell.
   May God shed His mercy on our land.