Reply #14: I generally think that way too . . .

[DollyM]

but I am reminded of when Jesus was being critisized by one of the disciples because a woman was annointing his feet with an expensive oil after they had a long journey. I think it was Judas actually that commented on how that could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus commented "the poor you will have with your always, but me you will not have with you always." This woman has sacrificed and done this out of love for me, and since my time is short, let her have her time of showing her love for me. (that is a loose paraphrase but that is how I understand it.) I think it is similar, we cannot erase poverty by not having one ball or 10 but for one night, the people who have worked and sacrificed to get Obama to this place, will have the opportunity to share their hope for the future with the person they hope will make a difference for our country. If there is one thing we need right now in this country, it is a sense of hope. If anything we need a small diversion from all the pain and despair that is around us. For one night we can pretend everything is fine and talk about what Michelle is wearing and the A list of stars and so forth and it will give us something to think about besides high unemployment and an economy going down in flames. My husband and I have both lost jobs recently and doing know where the money is going to come from to live past January but I don't begrudge the Obama's one night of parties. It shows me that the world goes on and he has hope that things will return to normal.