I want to believe that there are people out there who want to lead for the right reasons.  I want to believe that things can be much better in America and in the world.  I want to believe that there are people in this country who can see beyond the color of a person's skin.  I want to believe that most people who want to live in peace with themselves, with eachother, with their neighbors.

I want to believe that the founding fathers of this country were great men and that their vision for this country was noble, honorable and great.  That despite being set in their time, they had a vision for the future that was both realistic and idealistic.  A vision that asked us to address the reality, but reach for the perfect.

I want to believe that there is good.  I want to believe that there is a god and that my God, the God, has a plan for all of us.  I want to believe that after we die we can continue to live and to meet with the ones we have loved in this life.

I want to believe all of this.  I know it's naiive.  I know it reflects weakness in me and perhaps an inability to cope with reality.  But something in my heart tells me its right to at least want to believe in these things.

A McCain presidency after watching his campaign, after watching these last eight years, will further crush this desire to believe.  An Obama presidency after watching his campaign and listening to his hopeful, reasonable words,  will not give me all, some, or perhaps any of the answers.  But it will keep this desire alive, at least for now.

These are the stakes for me this election.  Really.