Americans are witnessing one of the most historical Presidential races our country has ever experienced. The candidates have represented different races, sexes, religions and political platfoms.
The race to the finish is nearing and it's still just as exciting as it was when most of us spent hours teathered to our television sets hoping we would find out how Super Tuesday turned out before we headed to bed.
The Democratic presumptive nominee, Barack Obama spent the past week in the Middle East and Europe. He stated in late June that the trip would be an important opportunity to assess the situation in countries that are critical to American national security and to consult with some of our closest friends and allies about the common challenges we face.
Most Democrats and Republicans can both agree that the trip as gone well with regard to squashing some of the discontent expressed by many world leaders and citizens during the Bush Administration.
On yesterday Senator Obama visited Germany where he was greeted enthusiastically by a crowd of over 200,000.
Obama delivered what some are calling an impassioned speech to the expansive crowd - I wonder what the Fuhrer would think about that!
The Illinois senator drew loud applause at several points during his speech, which used the Berlin Wall, a Cold War icon which was demolished in 1989, as a metaphor for divisions that continue to separate humanity.
Still, many Americans and some Europeans are suspect as to what his motives are for "courting a European audience". I can understand the European concern for a young, charismatic diplomat insighting such adoration from thousands at each of his speaking engagements. They haven't had this type problem in the last eight years. President Bush single-handedly ostricized this country from just about every ally we've ever had. The world is a stage and if you don't think that our neighbors abroad haven't observed the way America, the leader of the free world, has been governed during the Bush administration, you are sadly mistaken. The alienation caused by Bush gave Europe and the rest of the world a legitimate reason not to participate and/or support the irrational decisions he made over the course of the last eight years.
Obama's platform is established in part on the premise that politics can change the world especially when done in cooperation with others. As one German reporter stated "It certainly was the signal of a new era for a new generation on both sides of the Atlantic".
So, here's the catch 22. If he wins a significant level of popularity abroad and goes on the win the election in November, the concern from a foreign perspective is how they will handle aiding a leader they strongly support in cleaning up Bush's missteps.
Will they feel pressured into lending assistance with the "war effort" (I use that term loosely) in Iraq or the "peace keeping" mission in Afghanistan?
A certain degree of apprehension by Europeans about these type issues is reasonable and warranted. However, establishing our country's credibility and realizing that once again the world has faith in our leadership is hardly something I think Americans should be shaking in their boots over.
Although Obama doesn't have the political experience (years) that McCain has, the direction he speaks about taking this country in can only be viewed in the positive.
One critic said Obama is a dream child born from the genetic union of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
Even if most of America actually felt Barack Obama was the reincarnation of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. what would be wrong with that?
Were these not two of the greatest most beloved leaders in the history of our country?
I don't think there'd be a problem at all if both candidates were the same race. As much as we've achieved in America since the Civil Rights' Movement began over 40 years ago, we still haven't arrived at the place we, as a nation, need to be - E pluribus unum.
We as the voice of our nation can make all the difference in the world in November. We can make this country a better place, a more united place, a place where race has no place.
Neither candidate wants to ever be outdone. So, Sen. John McCain also worked on his European foreign policy this week.
McCain had lunch at Schmidt's Restaurant und Sausage Haus located in the German Village section of Columbus Ohio. The restaurant's menu consists of five "Signature Sausage Platters," all of which are served over hot kraut with German Potato Salad, Chunky Applesauce and Split Top bun.  At his age, if he keeps that up....... |
