I have been on the road for 82 days now, walking across the country (from Maine to California) to raise awareness to the possibility of peace through presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich.

For the last 82 days, I have shared in the experiences of the homeless and the impoverished, drug dealers and users, gang members and convicted felons, blue-collar workers, teachers, students, mothers and fathers, etc., and have discovered the problems that run deep through the tightly knit fabric of this country.

Yet, in all of this — walking amidst all the pain and suffering — I have never in my life felt more hopeful.

Why do I feel such an empowering sense of hope?

Because I came back to Iowa, back to walk through my home state.

For two years, I spent time in Ames finishing my undergraduate work at Iowa State. In that short time, a feeling developed deep in my heart, and I began to sense that Iowa would be where peace was going to start.

In those two years, I saw how strongly connected Iowans really were, and, at all times, I felt as if Iowa were just one big community.

I also started feeling that this giant community understood something deeper — something that most of the country has been unable to grasp: Iowans, it seemed, did not get caught up in a push-pull, left-battling-right style of politicking. Instead, their only concern was moving forward and working for the greatest good of everyone.

In Ames, I began looking for ways in which I could make a difference — ways in which I could be a well-oiled “cog” in the wheel that is Iowa, thereby strengthening that sense of community and taking just one more step toward creating peace.

In my search for an answer, I discovered that a beautiful opportunity was presenting itself: “What if we Iowans,” I thought, “because of our important position in choosing presidential candidates, would choose to make a statement to the whole world, letting everyone know that it is time that we embrace the grandest version of our highest vision for ourselves, that we embrace hope and inspire all of humanity to join us in creating a world of lasting peace?”

I told myself that I would walk across the country if it meant that one person in Iowa was inspired.

And, in fact, this is exactly what I chose to do.

I loaded my backpack, laced my shoes and traveled to Portland, Maine to begin this peace walk, and I did all of this in the name of Dennis J. Kucinich — the presidential candidate whose platform embodies peace, sustainability, love and possibility.

In short, Dennis represents our highest vision and our highest potential.

We have the chance to show people we are ready for a new path and a new future, and that we will no longer settle for “mediocre” or “better than,” but will only take “the best possible.”

Please join me in this walk — join me in this call for peace — and let us, together, caucus our convictions. Let us caucus for Kucinich Jan. 19.

Please visit www.kucinich.us for more information about Dennis Kucinich’s presidential platform.

Jon Meier

Alumnus