530 messages for Obama

By GottaLaff

This is so cool:

A performance artist who collected hundreds of postcards from Americans expressing their hopes for the future president has a wish of her own: to meet President-elect Barack Obama and hand over the stack of messages. [...]

To collect the postcards, Oring dressed in the style of a 1960s secretary and used an antique typewriter with carbon paper. She set up a table on street corners, took dictation from passersby and typed their words. [...]

Some of the cards are emotional. Many express ideas for solving the nation's problems or expound on national priorities in next four years. Often they focus on substantial issues and include pleas to end the war in Iraq, create more jobs, improve education and safeguard human rights, women's rights and gay rights.

Here are a few of those messages:

• "Dear Mr. President, I sure hope you're a black dude cuz if you're not, I'm already in Canada," [...]"P.S. Either way, please eliminate the cap on Social Security taxes and find a way to help homeless Americans -- especially those with mental illnesses."
• "Americans are much stronger and more capable of sacrifice than you might think" [...] "Please help us get away from our addiction to oil and preserve our environment."
• "Be wise Mr. President. Our nation is in your hands. Please do not make decisions in haste. Surround yourself with people who will challenge you. Our nation is in need of leadership and wisdom."
• In Chicago after Obama won, the tone of the postcards shifted, with many offering the president-elect their enthusiastic congratulations. One said he was "ecstatic" that a person of color had won the presidency.
• Another said he was "still floating on air" 10 days after the election.
• "I just turned 21, so 2008 was the first opportunity for me to vote..."[...] "I'm proud to be one of the many young Americans to hand you the task of leading America. Change takes time and we understand that it will be a long process. But I understand that you will do a good job."
• "Please help my daughters to feel proud of being an American and please give them a better future"
  
• "Dear President. Be worthy of our trust, please."