The dream, which is a shared dream, has been waking for a long time. Recently, Obama has inspired myself and others to take action in our community. We see an opportunity for change. We see a chance to get rid of the same old people and make room for a new generation of people who will take ownership of their futures, their finances, their education, their government.

It is not okay with us that people like Hillary and McCain are even being considered in light of their horrible records and negative campaign tactics. Same old; same old. We want change, and are willing to sacrifice, even fight for it. In our homes, in our businesses, in our churches, there is a hope that has not been seen since the days of Robert and Martin.

We believe that we can do the things that need doing. With a new leadership we have faith that we can and will fix the problems we are facing today. We understand that this will require a new way of thinking. We know that we will need to learn, work hard and be patient.

I AM a Republican who voted for Obama in our primary and will vote for Obama in the general election. But make no mistake, I will not support any liberal initiatives that give our sons and daughters over to complacency, immoral behavior, run away spending, socialized anything or any other thing that would have dismayed and disappointed Robert K.

I met RFK when I was seven. My folks were Dem party volunteers in the ‘68 election. My dad carried me to the front of the greeting line in Concord, Ca where RFK gave a speech at a rally just weeks before he was assassinated. As my dad brought me to within feet RFK reached out and took my hand and shook it.

In that moment time stood still. He looked at me with hope. Hope of something he saw in me! I will never forget that look. In his eyes was the sadness, I believe, of the knowledge of what was to come. He was a martyr, for sure. Yet mixed in between the lines of his face and that strange sadness which I will never forget, was this look of hope. Intense hope. When he looked at me. He believed in me, a seven year old little boy.

I have never forgotten that day, it will live with me until the day I die. I will also never forget the day he died. With him, died the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans. That day so died my own dreams. You see, I wanted to be President someday. But not after that, I thought, why bother, they’d just kill me too.

Now I see Obama, clearly unafraid in the midst of what he surely understands is a risky endeavor. I am inspired. Inspired to pick up my dream. Inspired to dare to hope again. Inspired to risk even my own life, if only we can. I say with everyone everywhere who has joined in this call “Yes We Can!”

More on my Presidential aspirations later.

Here is some more about what we are doing. I have some Office Suites which we are using to facilitate “Yes We Can” workshops. The workshops are the fruit of my dreams do date, which until recently we dubbed “Community Empowerment Workshops”. They focus on helping people raise their financial IQ and address numerous economic needs.

We also are incubating small businesses which costs a small fortune. Literally every penny we earn gets put right back into the community. As we have grown, many of our apprentices have grown, who in turn apprentice others, until now the whole thing has taken a life on of it’s own. This is the result of years of work and flying just low enough to stretch out and make it happen without getting nailed or derailed.

Turns out, I am just one of what may be thousands of people in the US to whom God gave this same vision and mission to some years back, many of which are just now breaking through into some notable level of success, impact and growth.

I am an ordained reverend and as such I run my business as a ministry and truly what we have made is a faith based operation in it’s purest form, because God himself has provided, protected and guided us to where we are today.

We want change, you better believe it. But we know it can be done by the people. We do not want big, or bigger government. We do not want any more special interests or greedy money people selling us out.

Comments? 

Looking forward to writing more and hearing from many of you out there. 

Your Servant,
 
Reverend Douglas Lloyd Hauptman Jr.