Happy Lunar New Year

Until recently, I thought Barrack was losing the race with Asians, particular those who celebrate Lunar New Year. Big ups to him.

February 1, 2008

Dear Friends,

In a few days, many of you will start celebrating the Lunar New Year. On behalf of Michelle and my two daughters, I want to offer my best wishes to you for a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year.

The Lunar New Year has always been a special holiday to me. As you may know, I have had the privilege of being part of the Asian American community throughout my life. I grew up in the unique Asian American and Pacific Islander culture of Hawaii, and I also spent several of my formative years in Asia, which gave me great insight into – and a great appreciation of – Asian cultures and peoples. These experiences also allowed me to develop lifelong bonds with relatives, classmates, and friends of Asian descent/ancestry. So I am proud to say that I am one of you, and it is my great honor to celebrate; the Lunar New Year with you.

This year will be an exciting and historic year for all of us. As I campaign across the country, I am frequently reminded of the tremendous contributions and aspirations of our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. From early Asian immigrants who built the Transcontinental Railroad to Silicon Valley Internet-age entrepreneurs, from neighborhood restaurateurs to Nobel Prize-winning scientists, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played a significant role in building our great nation. I am inspired by how traditional Asian values of education, family, and hard work continually strengthen the social, economic, and cultural fabric of America. Together, we will help write the next chapter of the great American story.

In 2008, we have a unique opportunity to transform our nation and change this world, by rekindling the American spirit and ideals. Regardless of our backgrounds, our parties, or our race, we must come together as Americans to restore and revive our nation’s global leadership and moral standing in the world; we must come together with other countries and peoples to build a solid foundation for peace and security in the 21st century. In this same spirit, we must come together to provide the basic rights of health care, quality education, and good jobs to all Americans, secure our borders and fundamentally reform our broken immigration system, and end the cynical and divisive politics in Washington.

So on the eve of this New Year and this new era, with you as my inspiration, I pledge to work closely with you and with all Americans. Together, we shall overcome. Together, as one nation, we will restore and realize our shared American dream and our common destiny.

Yours sincerely,

Barack Obama

The particular sentence popped out at me:

"Together, we shall overcome. Together, as one nation, we will restore and realize our shared American dream and our common destiny."

I don't know a lot about politics but this is the first time I've taken a man of politics so seriously. I also don't think I've ever felt this patriotic--just imagine how I'll feel when he becomes president.

I'll admit, I wasn't an Obama supporter from the start and just reading about him, I find myself relating to him even more.

--Aaron