We need more Colin Powells

Colin Powell is a great man.

Most people already have a great deal of respect for him. The reasons for this esteem span the spectrum from his years of military service (including a very tightly-planned Gulf War) to his resignation after 4 years as Secretary of State, seen by many as a silent protest of the reckless policies of the Bush administration. I have always appreciated Powell's moderation; his endorsement of Barack Obama this weekend further cements his lofty position in my mind.

It is not so much the fact that he endorsed Obama, though this alone demonstrates a willingness to think in an independent, non-partisan way, but rather his eloquent reasoning behind the decision that impresses me so greatly. Colin Powell is a Republican who understands the peril of making this election about some constructed vision of Americana, of casting Muslims, intellectuals, people who live in blue states, and Barack Obama as dangerous outsiders. All of these people, marginalized by the McCain campaign and subjected to the jeering hatred of the people at his rallies, are Americans. They are just as American as "Joe the Plumber" and it tears at the foundation of our country to insist otherwise.

My favorite part of Powell's endorsement speech is this:

"Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no. That's not America. Is there something wrong with a seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing he or she could be president? Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion that he is a Muslim and might be associated with terrorists. This is not the way we should be doing it in America."

You should watch it- he's an excellent speaker. He goes on to describe a touching photo of a (Muslim) mother draped over the grave of her son, a decorated soldier. We're all Americans. Colin Powell gets it. I know that there are more Republicans like this. Please stand up to your party.