America the Beautiful

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Executive Orders for Guantanamo Bay

Earlier today on the second day of his Presidency, Barack Obama signed four executive orders related to Guantanamo Bay. The four orders spiraled from an anticipated desire to break from the Bush administration policies, and for the new President's wish to win the war on terror on his own terms.

Gitmo History
After the U.S. led invasion of Afghanistan which began in October 2001, the U.S. government contemplated what to do about potential enemy captives that were held in military custody. These captives were arrested by American soldiers during battle, turned over to troops by Afghan allies, and collected by bounty hunters who seeked big profits for their capture.

Following September 11, 2001, now former President George W. Bush declared that the U.S. was in a "war on terror." Shortly thereafter, a question lingered as to if the captives were deemed as prisoners of war? The U.S. government thought otherwise. They believed that because these captives were not affiliated with any recognizable military force, they didn't qualify for protection as prisoners of war under the international rules of war via the literature and protocols of the Geneva Convention. Therefore, these captives did not fall into a category which kept them in legal bounds for trial and dodging extensive interrogations.

And then there was Guantanamo Bay Prison, or 'Gitmo' for short. The first prisoners arrived at the U.S. detention facility in Cuba in 2002. U.S. officials who supported the detention facility argued that the prisoners in custody were enemy fighters who had few legal rights and could be interrogated about their potential links to Islamist extremist groups. At the time, the U.S. announced that it was to try these prisoners using military commissions, a process that was intended for dispensing battlefield justice to captives or suspected war criminals caught outside the United States (more information involving military commissions can be found on the Department of Defense website). This process had not been used since after WWII, and legal-rights activists around the world and within the U.S. were distraught with this decision.

In 2003 and onward, many court challenges were brought forth demanding full legal rights for prisoners at Guantanamo, plus the right to be tried in a civilian or military court. This would allow for the inmates to challenge evidence against them in the prosecution, and to call on any witnesses necessary, as well as to form an appeal to higher courts. Courts in the U.S. began to make rulings on these challenges, and many courts discovered that the inmates should be entitled to certain rights.

In 2004, the inmates were put before a panel for their review, to determine whether they were captured foreign soldiers or not. Nearly all the inmates were declared "unlawful enemy combatants," which prevented them from receiving the rights outlined in the Geneva Convention. In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court reached a split decision, declaring that military commissions were in fact illegal, which created a violation of the Geneva Convention for the United States government. The ruling followed cases filed by inmates who challenged their detention. A then Republican-controlled U.S. Congress responded to the Supreme Court ruling by passing the Military Commissions Act. It took the court's concerns into account, allowing avenues of appeal and explicitly prohibiting evidence obtained through torture.

In June 2008, a more recent U.S. Supreme Court decision was ruled in favor of the Guantanamo detainees. This new ruling allowed them the right to habeas corpus, a mandate allowing prisoners the right to be brought to court to determine if the individual is imprisoned lawfully.

Overall, in the history of the detention facility, the U.S. government has charged only 21 inmates with crimes, including alleged alleged Sept.11 mastermind Khaled Sheikh Mohammed are among those who've been charged. Many questions remain unanswered after the numerous court proceedings brought forth during the Bush administration, which shed mass confusion as to the process of detaining potential terrorists. This leads us to the new administration which will decide the legal proceedings and the fate of the current detainees at Gitmo.

Executive Orders

The first of the orders will require the eradication of the U.S. detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within a year. The second order formally bans torture by requiring that the Army uses its field manual as a guide when conducting terror interrogations. This will eliminate any additional interrogation methods that the Bush administration was criticized for potentially using, such as waterboarding. The third order actually establishes an interagency task force which will be responsible for the review of all detention policies and all individuals on a case-by-case basis. And the final executive order will delay the trial of a man by the named of Ali al-Marri. He is a legal U.S. resident who has been contesting his detention for more than five years, meanwhile the government has failed to bring any charges against him.

These executive orders were long awaited by some who believed that the Bush administration had used torture methods on terror detainees at the detention facility, although these claims were repeatedly denied by the government. However, Obama's move does not come without criticism either. The dilemma he now faces is where the 245 current detainees will be placed when the facility is closed. This vital question is being tossed around due to the severity of implications that may arise if the prisoners are brought back within U.S. borders. Also, another question remains of what the U.S. government will do with the $500 million facility built at Guantanamo Bay following the release of the prisoners. We will have to listen closely to the debates that pan out between President Obama and Congress in the near future, as heated arguments are sure to arise given the significance of the issue.

Mr. President - Day One

Following a day of celebration for President Obama and his family, reality sank in Wednesday morning when he started his first day on the job. Obama and his wife began their day at a prayer service at the National Cathedral, a long-standing tradition on the first day of a new administration. The Obama’s were joined by Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, as well as former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, who would be sworn-in as Secretary of State later on.

The First-family also hosted a reception at the White House for 200 inauguration volunteers and other guests through an internet lottery. But not all was play, as President Obama displayed his efforts early on to revive the economy, map out a new course in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to showcase his hope for diplomacy between leaders of the Middle East.

Obama’s schedule included a session on the economy, in which he pledged to take pertinent steps in reviving. Following last week’s decision of approval for Obama to use $350 billion in leftover bailout money from the financial industry, he led the meeting on the economy which included discussion of the House Appropriations Committee movement toward approval of billions in new spending. These funds are all part of the economic stimulus package making its way to the executive desk for the President’s signature.

His schedule also included a session on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The new Commander in Chief held his first meeting in the Situation Room, along with Vice President Joe Biden and senior military and foreign policy officials. Obama campaigned on a pledge to withdraw U.S. combat forces from Iraq within 16 months, and to step up the commitment in Afghanistan. He placed several phone calls to Middle East leaders in pursuit of peace between Arab and Israeli forces, especially following the latest Israeli attacks on Hamas in the Gaza strip.

White House aides developed a draft of executive orders for the President on Guantanamo Bay, which was rumored to be signed as early as Thursday. Among other things imposed by Obama on his first day, he implemented a ban on gifts by lobbyists to anyone serving in the administration. He also imposed a pay freeze for about 100 White House aides who earn $100,000 or more.

Meanwhile, the Senate confirmed Hillary Rodham Clinton as the new Secretary of State at the Capitol, while Secretary of Treasury-designate Timothy Geithner underwent his confirmation hearing. He was faced with brutal questions that he answered honestly, apologizing for having failed to pay $34,000 in taxes earlier years prior.

Let's hope that the pace of President Obama on day one remains throughout his Presidency - a pace of determination for the American people.

Congratulations President Barack H. Obama

Congratulations to Barack Obama, the newly sworn-in 44th President of the United States of America. An estimated 2 million people embarked on a journey from other countries, all 50 states, and even down the street to witness the historical event in person. It was a day filled with preponderance of the future, as Obama's Inaugural address reflected upon the current situation of the country and the shift in direction he must lead citizens to meet all challenges.

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

The above is taken from Obama's inaugural speech delivered after being sworn in shortly after noon. His speech lasted approximately 18 minutes and every second was filled with an optimism for change, and a reflection of the dreams of our leaders in the past. It contained reminders of the very foundations and promises that the United States was established upon, and the commitment of the government to maintain those ideals. It also contained a renewal of energy for people of all ages, races, religions, and backgrounds, to feel a sense of responsibility and accountability for their actions, and for the actions of the government that represents them.

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."

We also cannot forget the historical significance of this Presidential Inauguration, as it comes on the brink of a holiday celebrated in the remembrance of a man who stood up against all odds and defied those against him. In Obama's speech he denoted the melting pot characteristic of our nation - a place where freedom rings and where opportunity is abundant for all. He reminded us that we have emerged from treacherous battles of segregation and division, and have evolved into a nation more united and able to find commonalities as human beings without racial or religious differences.

As for myself, I wanted to share the moment with my family, although regretfully we did not attend the actual Inauguration ceremony despite living thirty miles outside of the city. But I was lucky to have celebrated with them, all together, sitting in front of our television set with tears of joy flowing as the new President was sworn-in. Today was not only an emotional day, but it was also a defining moment in United States history and politics. January 20, 2009, will forever be remembered as the day that marked a culmination of a historic struggle and the fulfillment of the American dream. Congratulations again to our 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

"Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream." These words were taken from the well-known speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963. Although lacking the artic chilled air from yesterday during the Inauguration concert, the feeling of hope and a need for change was just as familiar. Hundreds of thousands gathered for an African-American - one who spoke for change and for the betterment of citizens and the country they occupy. The United States of America has diverged a great deal from the Civil Rights era when Martin Luther King Jr. took on a voluminous amount of risk for those who were denied the proper rights as citizens of this country. He changed the course exponentially for African-Americans following his death and 46 years later, we resound his actions that enabled a person of the same race to become the 44th President of the United States of America. On this day in 2009, we celebrate this holiday unlike we ever have before. For today, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on the eve of the Presidential Inauguration of an African-American Barack Obama, and we celebrate this as a monumental time for people of all races.

Inauguration Opening Concert

This morning, I woke up at 6:15 am, quickly layered up, and hopped on the metro to Washington, DC, in order to be in line for the opening of the gates at 8:00 am. Once inside, myself and three others placed our blankets over the chilled grass and brought out cards and snacks to keep ourselves occupied for the next 6 and 1/2 hours. We were attending the Inaugural Concert for the future President Barack Obama, which consisted of a lengthy list of performers and actors/actresses. From Bono to Beyonce, songs of unity and pride in country, as well as celebratory speeches, helped kick-off the most anticipated Inauguration in history. Some thought we were insane for being outside in the cold weather for the duration that we did, but we simply knew we were experiencing a piece of history.

I looked around at all the diverse faces of people who were filled with excitement and hope as they anxiously awaited the President-Elect to speak to them with words of encouragement about the future of our country. Always a brilliant orator, the President-Elect delivered a promising speech that filled the ears of the hundreds of thousands of people and left them feeling more empowered than ever before. This was not only a historic moment for African Americans in the United States of America and across the world, but this was a historic moment for every race and background in our country. Whether you voted for Obama or voted otherwise, we as a people must look forward to the future and celebrate the obstacles this country has overcome in regards to racial boundaries. Congratulations to the President-Elect, the Vice President-Elect, and to the United States of America.

Farewell President George W. Bush

Tonight, January 15, 2009, President George W. Bush conveyed his final message to the citizens of the United States of America through his farewell address. He reflected on the challenges that defied him as President, most notably the attacks of September 11, 2001. Below is an excerpt from the transcript of his speech taken from Fox News:

"This evening, my thoughts return to the first night I addressed you from this house, September 11, 2001. That morning, terrorists took nearly 3,000 lives in the worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor.

I remember standing in the rubble of the World Trade Center three days later, surrounded by rescuers who had been working around the clock. I remember talking to brave souls who charged through smoke- filled corridors at the Pentagon and to husbands and wives whose loved ones became heroes aboard Flight 93.

I remember Arlene Howard, who gave me her fallen son's police shield as a reminder of all that was lost. And I still carry his badge.

As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our nation. And I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe.

Over the past seven years, a new Department of Homeland Security has been created. The military, the intelligence community, and the FBI have been transformed. Our nation is equipped with new tools to monitor the terrorists' movements, freeze their finances, and break up their plots.

And with strong allies at our side, we have taken the fight to the terrorists and those who support them. Afghanistan has gone from a nation where the Taliban harbored Al Qaeda and stoned women in the streets to a young democracy that is fighting terror and encouraging girls to go to school."

Before you reflect on the Presidency of George W. Bush from your personal standpoint, I ask you to accept his words above and listen closely. While much ridicule is often seen in the media's assessment of the eight years during his Presidency, there are certain elements that need to be positioned in the forefront of our minds. Although many, admittedly myself, have faulted President Bush for a number of his executive decisions, we must note that our Commander in Chief has kept America safe since the horrendous attacks in 2001. I do not use this as a justification by any means for his decisions in the Middle East, but I ask that we don't be quick to harshly write-off a man who has continued to keep our borders safe. We need to put our ideologies and judgments aside for one moment, and give some sort of thank you (even if we find it against our will to do so) to President Bush for the often overlooked things he has accomplished. As a liberal who has discovered a paramount of dissimilarity between myself and the President, I give George W. Bush my respect and gratitude for embracing the most powerful position within the most powerful country in the world.

2009 - The Time is NOW

Happy New Year!

Welcome back to Make The World Smile after an extended time off from authoring any blog posts. Unfortunately, I have failed to manage my time properly between working at my 9-5 and committing myself to my passion for writing. This reminded me how easy it is to lose sight of our dreams and ultimately brought me to write this post tonight.

Right before the holidays, I stopped by my local Starbucks with my family to enjoy a warm chai latte on a frigid December night. While searching through the variety of coffee beans for sale on the shelves and the holiday gift packages, I found a few light books that aroused my interest. Never quick to judge any book by its cover, I flipped through several pages when the words swiftly grabbed me by the arm and screamed for me to make a transformation in my life. Ten dollars later, I took the book home and began to realize that I wasn't living the life I yearned for. Every page, every sentence, and every word encouraged me. The compilation of motivational quotes delivered an animated necessity to take control of my life. It wasn't until I reached halfway through the book when the message was conveyed through a different channel. Fear dove into my body as I quickly ran the calculations through my mind of how many days (based on averages) I had left in this world. The author had presented a convincing, yet frightening argument - what am I going to do with my time left in this world? The calculation goes as follows:

Multiply your age x 365 days. (This will give you your current age in days).
Subtract that number from 27,375 days (That's an average life-span these days).

Perspective is a fascinating thing. Once I viewed my life through this unnerving lense, I realized that there is no day like the present one to make changes. With that being said, I am going to have to step onto the cliche train and discuss what comes along with the start of a new year. The beginning of every year delivers a sense of freshness, the capacity for change, and the thought of finally being resolute with everything you meant to do last year and never did. We all make resolutions to ourselves - to exercise, to eat healthier, to spend more time with family, and even to manage our finances more efficiently. But we also tend to break those resolutions when the promises of the new year vanish, and routine once again mandates our short-lived hopes for finally making the change we've always wanted. Changes do not and usually cannot happen overnight, but it has to start at some point - why not make that NOW? As previously stated, this is far too easy of a cliche to often say and often fail to do. However, if you are reading this and you know in your heart that you are not currently living the life you want, you have the POWER to make the changes in your life TODAY. You are the sole controller of your path, and you are the one who has to take action to initiate changes in your life. You will not be able to attain your dreams unless you concede to the idea that the only thing stopping you from what you want is yourself. Change is in each of us - we just have to make it come alive. Do not let everyday mundane tasks avert you from reaching your best potential. Manage your time and prioritize what's significant to help you and what's insignificant in the process. Surround yourself with individuals who will believe in helping you achieve and do not let negativity from others hinder your ambitions. Put yourself on a path now so that when you do reflect upon your life you can be proud of what you've achieved in this world. Today is the day. And most importantly, see the world and enjoy the small wonders in life while on your journey. Happy New Year - may you learn to live your dreams this year and be happy every year thereafter.

Barack Obama: The 44th President of the United States of America

Following the election results within the past hour, we have learned that Senator Barack Obama from Illinois will now be the 44th President of the United States of America. I am certainly bias in being ecstatic about Obama's historical win due to my political beliefs and support of his stance on issues. It is late, I am exhausted, but I must leave you with these simple and concise thoughts tonight. Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, or whichever party you may affiliate yourself with - we have an undeniable urgency to unite now more than ever. This is an extremely divisive time within our political landscape and if we wish for this country to move in a positive direction, we HAVE to show our support for President Obama as a whole. We need to find ourselves hand in hand, with benevolence and the audacity for change in our hearts, and be unafraid to coalesce the blacks and whites, the young and old, the rich and poor. On November 5, 2008, I ask you to put your candidate choice behind you and show your devotion to the future of this country by supporting our next President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

John McCain's Own Bailout

While the decision of the $700 billion financial bailout plan by the federal government is pending, President Bush had summoned for the two Presidential candidates to come to Washington to help lawmakers decide on the resolution. Before their arrival however, members of congress had reached an agreement on a bipartisan counter-proposal to Bush's plan, which some argue that the candidates' trips to Washington weren't necessary.

John McCain's unexpected decision Wednesday afternoon to temporarily halt his campaign has thrown into doubt whether Friday's first presidential debate will go on as scheduled. McCain said he would stop campaigning and pull all his campaign ads after Thursday's appearance at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. But the idea was treated with a cold shoulder by his opponent, Barack Obama, as well as the nonpartisan debate organizers and the University of Mississippi, where the debate is scheduled to take place.

"I believe we should continue to have the debate. I think it makes sense to present ourselves before the American people to talk about the nature of the problems we're having," Obama told reporters Wednesday afternoon at a hastily called news conference in Florida.

"We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved," McCain told reporters in New York City on Wednesday afternoon. "I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the Commission on Presidential Debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.

But who pulled the biggest political red card of the last 48 hours? Our Republican nominee John McCain. He attempted to be the superhero candidate by announcing yesterday to the public that he does not plan on participating in the Mississippi debate on Friday night until the bailout plan is finalized. While I understand his intentions, I do not think that this type of action is what the country needs right now.

McCain's "maverick" attempt of being a hero has somewhat backlashed against him and dealt him strong criticism from his opponent, Barack Obama. Obama's campaign stated that they think John McCain's decision simply confirms that under pressure he is unable to handle multiple tasks while in a leadership role. Today while watching the news I heard McCain's decision being compared to the actions taken by President Bush during his excessive vacations while in office. McCain was portrayed as "more of the same."

And to the greatest extent, I absolutely agree with the above statement. As the President of the United States of America, your duty is to not only to lead the country in its current state through any crises, but to also give the country hope and direction for the future well-being. Any powerful statement he is trying to make to the public and to Congress about the urgency of the bailout plan is erroneous with the absence of his promise and direction for the country in a ninety minute debate between candidates.

Tonight's debate is the first of three presidential debates that are scheduled over the next three weeks. The only vice presidential debate occurs on October 2 at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Hurricane Victims Need YOUR Help

The devastation of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in the Gulf region has left thousands homeless and heartbroken. After seeing the horrific aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which still has hundreds displaced and in need of help, our country was at least more prepared for these two grandiose storms. Unfortunately, preparation doesn't completely stop the hurricanes from destroying homes, flooding streets, and crumbling infrastructures. That means people in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana need your help. The Red Cross has been actively involved in serving meals to those in the storm affected areas and other organizations have devoted their time and effort to ensuring individuals that their country is there for them in this time of dire need. Whether it's simply donating money online, organizing supplies to send down to the affected areas, or orchestrating a trip to help rebuild and clean-up - you can lend a hand. Go visit the Red Cross website at http://www.redcross.org/ or visit the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/2008/ike/ to find out ways you can be involved in helping those that were left homeless and speechless because of the storms.

Don't forget, there is going to be a time when you need help in your life and this is your opportunity to help others in their time of need.

Remembering 9/11

Despaired, frightened, outraged, devastated, petrified. Any word in our very own dictionary could not put a finger on the range of emotions felt on September 11, 2001. Seven years later and the images of such anguish and fear still burns a hole into our hearts, giving us a painful reminder that it still feels like yesterday. No matter the age or background, time stopped for every American that day as we watched terror unfold through our television sets, or even physically through our own eyes amidst the chaos in the streets of New York. We will always remember where we were and what we were doing when the greatest country on earth suddenly felt powerless.

We leaned on strangers' shoulders for support and for comfort, we looked to friends for understanding, and we hugged our families a little tighter to remind ourselves to be thankful for being alive. Through stories of despondence and hope, we were able to give compassion to each other and prove to the world that we were strong and would pull through this with honor, dignity, and respect.

We will never forget those who were brave enough, courageous enough, and warm-hearted enough to volunteer to save lives, as well as the innocent victims who literally went to work and never came home. But despite the hurt and anger of lives lost, we cannot help but to turn this painful reminder into a positive light. We must use this day of patriotism and remembrance to remind ourselves that regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, background, or even political affiliation - we must stand united not only today but every day. We may have differing opinions, as it is in human nature to disagree, but support of country should take stronghold over such divisive issues if we wish to remain the great country of the United States of America. Go talk to a stranger today. Call an old friend. Tell your family you love them. Listen to what others have to say and embrace differences. Let these things become your nature and let yourself contribute to keeping this country united. God Bless.

The Wonders of Life

It's one of those deeper thoughts of intellect that we often tap into as human beings but we have great difficulty grasping completely. A number of people would blame it on the notion that "everything happens for a reason." You encounter certain people, deal with certain circumstances, and have certain failures for God-given reasons that may be out of our human control. Others believe more in the idea of free will, in which every move an individual makes is interrelated to how their life situations turn out. In otherwords, we control our destinies. Whatever you believe, the idea of "what-ifs" and "going left instead of right" always has, and probably always will fascinate me. When I take a prime example in my life, my best friend and college roommate Rachael, I always can't help but wonder about the "what-ifs" that involves itself in our relationship, or if the "what-ifs" scenario is inferior to a greater being determining our fate.

For four years while at college, Rachael and I always pondered this idea. It all started with being freshmen roommates. Upon entering JMU as a freshman, one must fill out a survey, although not too detailed, that summarizes their lifestyle. Whether you are clean, messy, or somewhere in between. Whether you are a smoker, a non-smoker, or even a non-smoker who doesn't mind being around smoke. Whether you study in complete quiet, study with noise, or can be content with a medium between the two. We especially liked to juggle the "what-ifs" with this simple survey that took us a painless twenty minutes to complete and submit to JMU to be placed with a roommate, and potential life-long friend. "What if that day when I filled out the survey I was feeling somewhat unorganized and I reflected that onto my answer," I asked Rachael. "That one different answer could have meant we would have never been roommates, and if you think about it there's a possibility we could have never met." Rachael said. "What! Why do you believe we could have never met? That's awful to think about," I quickly and anxiously replied. Then it hit me. We had different majors - I started out in marketing and she started out (and continued) with chemistry. Even when we went to join clubs later on that year we realized that we wanted to pursue different organizations. We shared dorm friends, but besides that, our good friendships developed mostly with those inside of our classes and clubs.

Four years later, and continuous best friends throughout it all, we still ask ourselves the same questions. Just what if? Or instead, was this destined to happen since it was out of our control? We may never know... and that uncertain facet of life intrigues me.

McCain - Palin

“Sarah Barracuda” was the name given to her by her high school classmates. She was born in Idaho but grew up in the hunting, gun-shooting, fishing wilderness of Alaska. She has five kids. She’s the first female Governor of her state. She’s confronted and fought corruption face to face. She is the first Republican female Vice Presidential nominee. She, Sarah Palin, is John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 election.

This morning when the news first broke, I initially held different thoughts about his decision, and was willing to clap my hands for what McCain had done in my mind to merely give the election to Obama by choosing this inexperienced candidate. That thought disappeared minutes into her acceptance speech when I saw the public reaction that seemed to give the GOP a positive roar of excitement. However, I was still skeptical.

Let’s first discuss why McCain picked Palin. To start, he definitely needs to persuade swing voters and shake off the preconceived notion that he will not be more of the same. Secondly, after gender has played a role in this election, with a major following of Senator Hillary Clinton until she dropped out of the race. Palin may have solidified her party and the indecisive voters because it showed the Republicans weren’t scared to elect a woman. But what she doesn’t have is a long resume of national experience, which the GOP has often criticized Obama for lacking. In all fairness, I do think it was a very strategic move to choose Palin for purposes of capturing voters, sparking excitement, and closing gender gaps for winning the campaign. However, is this really fair to the country to put one of the most inexperienced candidates as second in line to our Commander in Chief?

This question has had me going back and forth over whether McCain really had the interest of the county in mind or just the interest of winning the campaign in his favor. Because all too often we become enthralled and inspired by the idea of the individual and forget that their experience, ideals, and leadership ability will have to carry our country through prosperous and devastating times. Many have responded by saying that Palin has made the campaign more exciting for the GOP, but I have to ask why? It’s not because she brings more experience as I have touched on already, nor does she bring a credible background of dealing with national issues, which the McCain campaign harped upon Obama for lacking as the center theme of his campaign in recent months. I am afraid people feel this excitement for all the wrong reasons – because she is a woman, she is an unknown, and the decision itself was completely unexpected. These are not good enough reasons for me to thank McCain for making the Republican ticket ‘stronger.’ He may be able to lever this to win the campaign battle, but the question is whether or not the two of them together can win the war of four years in office.

On the contrary, although I do sit on the left side, I do realize that it seems many have been backing Obama for all the wrong reasons as well. And for this, I reach out to the American people to beg of them to pay attention to the issues at hand and not the historical significance whether it is a woman vice president or a black president. Don’t vote for the individual personality, vote for their ability to turn this country into a positive direction.

I find that Palin does have an appeal about her that makes her very likeable. She is a child of the middle class, an avid ice fishermen and moose hunter who can relate to a population that most people cannot. She has a son about to deploy to Iraq and has a family of five children. She brings more of a “close to home” appeal than most politicians. I certainly can’t say I do not like her, but I am still skeptical that despite her likeability factor, she just isn’t ready to make the leap from Juneau to Washington. Overall, we cannot help but feel somewhat empathetic to the courageous Mother and hard working woman that Palin is. But when it comes to John McCain's famous appeal of "country first," did he really live by his own words and put the country first by making this choice?

Obama - Biden

I received the news unexpectedly on Saturday morning around 3:45 am via text message. The text was sent from Obama’s campaign announcing that Presidential candidate Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be his running mate.

On a personal level, Senator Joe Biden is a 65 year old, giving him nearly 20 years more in age than Obama. Senator Biden is currently serving his sixth term in the senate, making him Delaware’s longest serving senator. He was born and raised in the town of Scranton, Pennsylvania to a working class family where he was raised Roman Catholic, all before moving to Delaware, where he currently resides. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Delaware and went on to receive his Juris Doctor (JD) from Syracuse University College of Law. Tragically, in 1972, his first wife and infant daughter were killed in an automobile accident. At the time he was running for senate, and he almost decided to not take a seat so he could care for his two sons who were also injured in the accident. He was persuaded to still take a seat in the senate and was sworn in at their bedside. He also suffered from a brain aneurysm and nearly lost his life.

Personally, I was ecstatic because I knew that this choice was a positive move for Obama, considering Biden's working class roots and his foreign policy experience. Senator Joe Biden is a congressional veteran whose strengths will counterbalance the lack of experience that critics say Obama does not have. Mr. Biden's strengths include his familiarity with foreign policy and national security issues, which were highlighted a few weeks ago by an invitation he received from embattled President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, to visit Georgia in the midst of its tense face-off with Russia. He is the Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee, which brings even more credibility and strength to the campaign.

The only major drawback noted of Biden is his notorious “off the cuff” speaking that has often led him to making troublesome statements. Originally, he was running his own campaign for Presidency in 2007 when he declared that Obama was "not yet ready" for the presidency. These are among other, harsher remarks he spoke of Obama prior to being chosen as his running mate and has received criticism for.

In selecting Senator Biden, Obama did pass over other highly regarded and credentialed options to be his running mate. The most noted of these was former rival Hillary Clinton. Many have viewed his decision to not choose her as both very strategic and just plain ignorant. Either way you choose to look the handling of Clinton, his decision to choose Biden has given the party the depth it needed in the areas that the GOP had previously argued it was weakest in. And to top it all off, Obama’s top advisers believe that he appears by every measure prepared to take over as President, which is a reassuring element to the American people as second in line to Commander in Chief.

Thoughts For Today

• Happiness is a choice
  
• Luck is where preparation meets opportunity
• You are what you have learned from the past, what you experience today, and what you dream for tomorrow
• The best things in life aren't things
• Take time to laugh, it's the music of the soul
• Everyone smiles in the same language
• An open mind opens the opportunity of dropping a worthwhile thought into it
• A soft answer turneth away wrath
• Refusing to ask for help when you need it is refusing someone the chance to be helpful
• Minds are like parachutes, they only function when open
• If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it
• We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails
• Life is hard by the yard, but by the inch it is a cinch
• He who laughs...lasts
• The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything
• It takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow
• Kindness is like a boomerang, it always returns
• Thoughtfulness is to friendship as to sunshine is to a garden
• He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love
• Some people make the world more special just by being in it
• Pray for a good harvest, but continue to hoe
• When you become reluctant to change, remind yourself of the beauty of autumn
• Politeness is a small price to pay for the good will and affection of others
• A memory is a treasure that survives
  

Beijing Olympics 2008

08.08.08. The opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games. We all watched the grand display of China's prosperity over the past few decades, through its well choreographed dancing, drum playing, light show, and fireworks. All the way to the athlete who ran "in the air" at the top of the Bird's Nest to ignite the Olympic flame, and ultimately, mark the official beginning of the Beijing Olympics.

The opening ceremony in itself was remarkable. The symbolism behind the show was awe-inspiring, as it showed different periods in Chinese history. Although there has been much controversy over the support of these games due to Chinese relations within Darfur and Tibet, which we should undoubtedly NOT forget about, the games still went on with hopes of world harmony and unity. The 2008 Olympic games continued the tradition of the Olympic Motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius. "Faster, Higher, Stronger."

To me the Olympics always seems to be fascinating. An official event that brings together the world in one city, seventeen days (more or less in some years), and countless effort. But with each day during the games, athletes bring their pride and honor to represent their respective countries with great dignity in hopes of bringing home a distinction of the world's best athleticism. While we all know the world is full of fighting and disengagement from one another, these 17 days bring about a sphere of influence on our pessimistic minds. During these 17 days we are able to visualize a world in which we can live and compete as friends and neighbors, and not as enemies. If only we could bring this utopia type of world outside of the Olympic arena and into our everyday lives.

2008 Campaign Ads Turn Negative

Over the past few weeks, the race for the White House has officially turned negative. The McCain campaign has released a negative and controversial ad slamming Barack Obama for his fame and lack of leadership ability. The ad, as many of you have seen, compares Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

Why? The McCain campaign believes that Barack Obama is more interested in building international rapport and gaining fame, instead of running a campaign for President. Some have even gone as far as to say that Obama's approach to this campaign seems more like he is promoting a movie than trying to gain support for his leadership. They try to portray him as someone who is very aloof and still unknown to the American people, despite his great fame. They attempt to attack that sense of "unknown" by defining Obama through the definition of their own terms in order to target those American voters who remain indecisive.

Luckily thus far, Obama's campaign has decided to take the high road and not return the negative favor. Sure, the ad will gain great attention, but some view it as an ad that is beneath McCain and his belief in honor, and that it will only backfire on his campaign and what he stands for. This also shows signs that the McCain campaign has changed their strategy in the three months prior to the upcoming election. Could this be a tactic to show that the McCain campaign is worrisome that Obama has gained such grandiose attention in the political arena to the point of needing to attack his worldwide recognition and display it in a negative light?

Personally, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Barack Obama on the same continuum? In recognition, yes, but it stops there. The ad is correct in the sense that he has ever increasing popularity in a "hollywood" sense to the American people, but he is someone with dignity, strong leadership, and ideals that Paris and Britney couldn't even put a finger on. To compare him with the likes of Spears and Hilton is just a pathetic attempt for McCain's campaign to take the limelight off of his weak economic policies (which is one of the most important issues in the current election) and his lack of an ultra conservative stronghold in politics. And for someone who is such an aficionado about honor and dignity through his military pride, he may have just lost his by striking a new low in the campaign. Stick to the issues and your personal beliefs John McCain - stray away from those and it shows weakness and inconsistency.

One definite and agreed upon aspect about this ad is that it will create a forum for discussion and perhaps even spark more fire into those who remain undecided about their candidate choices. While ads like this may be negative, they are at the heart of the modern Presidential campaign, and ignite great debate via one of our country's greatest freedoms - freedom of speech. You watch the video above and decide for yourself what it means to you and how it makes you feel.

Hate, Hope, and Healing

Hate.
In the Fall of 2006, I researched possible study abroad trips to go on in the upcoming Summer. My eyes flashed at the likes of going to Romance language territories such as Italy, or Spain. Or even our mother country, in hopes of understanding the culture that ours so closely bores its resemblance to and that we were once apart of. However, I finally reached a trip that as soon as I read over the description and the destinations, I immediately knew it was the one I wanted. Seventeen days, four countries, two classes. Hungary, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Why did I choose this one? Because it was out of the ordinary. Not that I am downplaying the typical countries many students embark upon during study abroad atrips, but even the thought of going to a country with a slavic language in itself was intriguing. It included destinations that most students would overlook, and I LOVED the idea that I can go there, because these countries too, do have fascinating stories to tell.

The trip occurred during May 2007 and our first stop was to a terror museum in Budapest, Hungary. Budapest happened to be part of the Nazi occupied territory prior to World War II, where thousands were literally trapped inside the city and persecuted. The museum displayed torture rooms, stories of pain and execution, and images that would make your worst pain feel like a warm breeze. On the first day, and the first stop, I was already completely in shock.

Then there was the shoe memorial that lined the Danube River within the city of Budapest - the river that originally split the city into two separate entities of Buda and Pest. Our tour guide Arthur told us that the Nazis would force their prisoners to line up on the bank of the river, and they would make them take off their shoes before killing them, usually by shooting them into the water. He said that some would hopelessly try to escape by swimming across the frigid waters, but most were shot down and killed. I looked at the Danube that day and I no longer saw the sparkle of the sun on the water in May, I saw blood.

The most touching and alarming of all the visits in my mind was a day excursion we took to Mauthausen Concentration Camp in the rural parts of Austria. Now, I have been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. when I was younger but this was the real deal, cliches aside. It was the setting of thousands of lost lives put through perilous and merciless torture and death, all within the confines of warehouses set by a backdrop of a beautiful Austrian countryside. I was numb. We first traveled inside of the camps and walked through the cell chambers. I saw more blood. This time I could physically see it though, as the sixty years that had passed had not done much to rid the stained walls of the painful reminder. We saw the gas chamber rooms, the small cells where they all packed into rooms to live, if we can even call that living. This was undeniably the most horrifying site I have visited, yet alone saw, smelled, or felt, in my entire life. And it wasn't over yet. The tour guide led us outside to only present us with another terrifying piece of such a hateful puzzle. He took us to the cliff overlooking a small, and wondrous, shallow body of water below. He told us that prisoners were forced to push each other off of the edge to their gruesome fates below, as the Nazis watched in laughter and amusement. How could death ever be so comical? We then quickly noticed to the right an exceedingly steep set of stairs that curved almost around the gates of hell before finally reaching the bottom below. I, myself, am not too afraid of heights, but I felt extremely uncomfortable walking at the slowest pace down these stairs. We finally reached the bottom before our guide spoke any word to us about the significance of these stairs. Hindsight, he probably wanted us to hear nothing but silence, so we could literally feel the presence of prisoners walking down these stairs sixty years before us. I looked up in awe, as the stairs seemed infinite. To our right now was the cliff that bore a drastic and lengthy fall to the water below. Behind us was a watch tower. The serenity of the surroundings mixed with the creepiness of the immediate area sent chills up my spine. These people were prisoners of their own kind. Other humans trapped them. Other humans prevented them from living free in the beautiful countryside that lurked beyond the camp. The story was that the Nazis would drive trucks near the bottom of the stairs where they would unload bricks and stones. These heavy 'burdens' had to be carried by the prisoners up the endless flight of stairs. Unfortunately, they would pack thousands of prisoners against each other while doing so. The purpose was the likelihood that a few would inevitably lose their footing, thus causing a domino effect and sending others to their deaths. The prisoners had to make this ill-fated climb on a diet of one tablespoon of food every three days, making it even more difficult for them to stand their ground while carrying heavy weight. As we headed back up the stairs, I took step by step into thought, trying to imagine the pain and fear that they endured, especially after hearing the full story. For me it was a tour and I had been well fed, but for them it was relentless cruelty placed on their innocent lives. Not only was I more thankful for my life, but this gave me a new appreciation for an even simple and dauntless task of having to walk up a flight of stairs.

Hope.
We experienced so much of the history of hatred on our trip, yet what was most intriguing to me were the survival stories. Hearing our Jewish tour guide at the Synagogue in Budapest tell us stories of what people did to survive, and how they came together, surpassed any heartwarming life saving stories I have ever heard. And not only did they live for the day when they were free from Nazi occupation, but they gave hope to their country and went on to experience a transformation of individual and country. After seeing the excruciating sites at Mauthausen, we walked further into the museum site and found stories of hope. On the walls bore stories of survivors who broke free after the camp was liberated, and went on to be devoted citizens and promote peace and raise families. These stories are the ones we want to remember - the ones we want to picture in our minds when we think of these countries. But we cannot forget the stories of persecution and victimization that burn a hole into our hearts, because they are the background for what made these countries stronger and wiser.



Healing.
Today the countries I visited have luckily flourished after such a horrifying period in history and have evolved into developed nations, for the most part. They are free of mass killings and their citizens are able to live freely and without such grandiose fear. This gives the rest of the world the hope that they too can heal from war, genocide, and hate. If anything, my experience that I am sharing with you should encourage you to read, research, or and/or go visit places such as these. I really used this trip as a personal revelation - a moment where my rose colored glasses were put aside, and I realized I had been blinded from this history of persecution, which ultimately had an impact on every one of us regardless of race and background. This trip did confirm my belief that it is truly difficult to empathize with the unfortunate events that others have gone through, and currently go through, until you physically see it. Coming from a citizen of the most powerful country in the world, a country where I can be anything depending on the level of effort I devote, it is easy to forget others misfortunes. And after seeing the stained blood on the walls of Mauthausen, and the layout of the shoes where young men and women such as myself once stood alive before being shot to their deaths, it gave me a new outlook on the world around me. Not only did this trip teach me to be more understanding of the history behind other cultures, it taught me to be more accepting and open to each and every individual from a different background. The quote that we are familiar with says it best "be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle."

Bird's Eye View of History

Written from the plane on July 6, 2008

I sit here on an airplane on my way back from Connecticut, high above white clouds, and thousands of miles away from civilization. I take a look down below, with the wing of the plane in my peripheral, and ponder the pioneers of innovation in my head. Have you ever seen the movie Aviator about the life of Howard Hughes? Or taken a trip to the Orville and Wilbur Wright Memorial? Yes, those guys gave me the astonishingly beautiful bird's eye view from up here.

But as I think of them I can't help but to advance further back in time to people who produced the materials to help them even build such a structure. Or even further. The ones who constructed governments and gave us an organized way of maintaining trade and commerce to obtain such materials. And then further to the world renowned navigators who explored distant lands and brought civilization together, which enabled us to make such exchanges.

Absolutely fascinating. These men and women have lived in the same world as all of us, only at different times. They have breathed this air, walked this ground, and have dreamed upon the same stars that we dream. To think that I could have been alive at the time of Ferdinand Magellan, William Shakespeare, Marie Curie, George Washington, Amelia Earhart, Albert Einstein, Augustus Caesar, or Benjamin Franklin? They all have impacted this earth with either their oration, their innovation, their thoughts, their intelligence, their dedication, or their dignity. And that leaves me asking myself what am I going to do to give humanity a gift as wonderful as they did? How can I have such an impact? I love the endless possibilities in the future and I respect all those before me.