Yes, this blog is aimed at providing an objective insight into one American twenty-something’s experience as an English teacher for almost one year in Germany. I’ve tried to keep my posts as objective as possible, but due to the subject matter of some of my recent lessons, I feel driven to make this post a bit subjective.
Number 1: GO FIGHTIN’ PHILS! The Philadelphia Phillies recently defeated a team of ringers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, to clinch the National League pennant. This is the first time for 15 years that the Phillies have made it to the World Series. I watched ESPN online’s coverage of the final game, and I was moved. Seeing images of the Phillies pouring out of the dugout, piling onto each other on the field, spraying each other with champagne in the locker room, and embracing one another, all brought me back to 1993. I was only 7 years old when the Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves to go onto the World Series, but it was a highlight of my childhood. Even as I sat in the 700 level of Veterans Stadium in cold, drizzly weather, I knew I was living in a special moment. Special commendation has to be given to Shane Victorino, the Phillies’ center fielder. Despite this momentous achievement, he keeps a cool head, stating in an interview that “there’s still one more step to go.” Shane has consistently been a strong batter and a classic center fielder. Watching the Phillies’ victory celebration brought tears to my eyes. I haven’t been this moved by baseball since 1993.
Number 2: GO NITTANY LIONS! The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Michigan Wolverines, ending a 9-season losing streak against Michigan. On to the Big Ten championships! I deeply regret not being in State College, PA right now to experience the celebrations.
Number 3: The 2008 United States Presidential Election will be held on November 4. As an American abroad, I’ve been doing my best to keep myself informed, via newspaper online editions, video clips, debate transcripts, issues websites, etc. I am glad that I do not have to experience the mind-numbingly simple television ads that plague presidential elections.
Maverick McCain
I have a deep respect for Senator John McCain. A man who endured torture only to refuse to be released without his fellow American prisoners, he has consistently fought against all that is wrong. Even against his own political party has McCain fought when he saw it necessary. For example, issues such as renewable energy and ethics reform, often ignored by ignorant, greedy politicians, have been some of the lines drawn between McCain and the Republican Party. I respect his independent way of thinking, as well as his patriotic service to our country.
That said, I disagree with his campaign, issue stances, and especially so on his choice for vice president.
McCain’s campaign
John McCain began his campaign for president with statements calling for fairness. He once stated in an interview: “Negative campaigning? Sure, it pulls numbers, but do we really have to sink to the lowest common denominator?” It’s statements like these that gave me respect for Sen. McCain. I also liked his idea of town hall meetings. Presidential debates, as they have been in recent elections, accomplish very little. Rather than debate issues and policy preferences, they frequently devolve into a vortex of soundbytes and character assaults, sucking any competent debate out of the dialogue. Town hall meetings would have allowed unscripted responses and questions from audience members, effectively putting the democratic process back in the hands of the people. I deeply regret Senator Barack Obama’s decision not to participate in these town hall style debates. Thus, we’ve had to deal with sappy, manipulative political drivel, like the third debate’s nearly 20 references to “Joe the Plumber” (whose name is actually Samuel, and who is actually an unlicensed, non-union plumber with a history of tax evasion, according to this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/politics/17joe.html?em). Senator Obama is guilty of such statements, but so is John McCain. Rather than insist on effective debates, McCain has let politics get a hold of him. Without the support of all wings of the Republican Party, McCain will not win this election. This, of course, is jet fuel for the intolerant wings who thrive in these days of cultural insensitivity and borderline xenophobia. McCain stated in the 3rd debate that he is proud of citizens who attend his rallies. At McCain rallies, people have shouted out statements such as “terrorist” and “off with his head!” Recently, a woman stated outright at a rally that she doesn’t support Obama because she has “read about him and…and…he’s…he’s an Arab.” Now, Senator McCain did repudiate these comments, but meagerly; all he said in return was "no ma'am, he's a decent family man." No mention of there being nothing wrong with being an Arab. Not only does this statement show the effects of McCain’s own negative campaign tactics, but it also shows the intolerance and ignorance in our society.
McCain on the issues
Regarding the issues, McCain shows impressive support for renewable energy research. I even like his idea of more nuclear power plants. I even like his pro-free market stance. However, I disagree with his insistence on offshore drilling. Oil will not last forever. Sure, increasing domestic production will reduce gas prices, but only temporarily. The oil will run out some time. It is time to wean the county off of its oil addiction. Further still, McCain has a section on his website for Second Amendment rights. The Second Amendment reads “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” We no longer have a militia, rather a volunteer-based standing army. McCain throws full support behind 2nd Amendment rights, to the point that he supported the 2003 lifting of the assault rifle ban, as well as opposed the ban on “cop killer” armor piercing bullets. Such weapons and not necessary in our society. I do not believe in full repeal of the 2nd Amendment, but is undoubtedly an outdated piece of legislation that should be subject to further review. Sure, some people should be allowed to have guns; as many guns as they want. But when it comes to assault rifles and armor piercing bullets, the line has to be drawn. Additionally, McCain’s economic plan calls for tax breaks for small businesses. This is something I support, but I would also like to see more tax policy that favors the middle and lower classes, a bracket I will soon be entering.
Sarah Palin as VP candidate
Lastly, Senator McCain chose Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate. My parents always taught me that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all. I’ll just say that when I think of Sarah Palin, I think of nothing but contradictions, corruption, and empty logic.
So, for the 2008 presidential election, I am proud to say that I support Senator Barack Obama.
Obama’s character
Senator Obama is as eloquent a speaker as John F. Kennedy (and in fact, the first Democratic Senator to win the nomination since Kennedy) and as brilliant of a politician as Bill Clinton. In assaults on Senator Obama, critics have largely claimed that he lacks experience. While it is true that Obama, a first-term Senator with a background in state legislation and community activism, lacks the legislative and foreign policy experience of Senator McCain. However, something that seems to be missing from political logic is still actually relevant: intelligence. Senator Obama is an extremely intelligent man, having graduated from both Columbia University and Harvard Law School (where he served as the first black president of Harvard Law Review). He has kept a cool head throughout this campaign; he never got worked up or temperamental, despite accusations of him being a terrorist, extremist, and immature insults from members of the opposing camp. What this says to me is that a President Obama would keep a cool head during tense times. Yes, Obama has links to past members of domestic terrorist groups, but these were long ago, and Obama has weathered these accusations. Obama, of course, is not some monolithic figure of good. I find his decision to bypass the campaign finance parameters slightly despicable. But again, that’s politics for you. Obama does have this “rock-star” status, which his critics have used against him. However, this should not be a problem; for the first time in a long time, many Americans, especially young people, are extremely enthusiastic about a presidential candidate. Enthusiasm and activism in politics should not be detraction. At a time when American severly needs to repair its reputation among the international community, Obama was ranked the most popular American politician among North Atlantic Treaty Organization members.
Joe Biden as VP candidate
Joe Biden is a brilliant man with experience to back it up. A 26-year veteran of the Senate, he has sat on the Judicial Affairs Committee as well as chaired the Foreign Relations Committee. Senator Biden also has more humble backgrounds. He grew up in middle class Scranton, PA, and has suffered a great tragedy at the loss of his wife and daughter. He is an excellent complement to the Obama campaign.
Obama on the issues
Issues are ultimately what matter in a campaign (though you would think that a flag pin is more important than a 20-page PDF explaining an energy plan, based on how the campaign has been going). I support most of Barack Obama’s issue standpoints. I do take issue with some of his policies, however. Obama, like McCain, supports offshore drilling. I do not believe more oil is the solution. However, his plan also calls for “green collar jobs,” those in the hopefully-soon-to-be-booming renewable energy market. This solution kills two birds with one stone; it’ll reduce America’s unemployment and further energy independence. Regarding economic policy, I agree with Senator Obama’s plan to cut taxes for the middle class. The Bush tax cuts for the upper classes were absolutely despicable. Interestingly enough, Obama has a section on his issues website describing women’s policy, a section that does not exist on McCain’s website. Obama favors more research on women’s health issues, as well as policies that favor women in the workplace (especially female-owned small businesses) and the impoverished.
Obama the “Muslim” and religion in politics
Senator Obama is not a Muslim. Yes, his father was. Yes, Senator Obama spent time at a Muslim school when he lived in Indonesia. However, Senator Obama is a Christian, who emphasizes the importance of the family. Regardless, even if Obama were a Muslim, that should not be an issue. Malachai 2:10 reads “Have we all not one father? Has not one God created us?” Further still, Psalm 147:1 reads “To an earthly king, if a poor man greets him, or one who has a burn on his hand, it is a disgrace, and the king does not reply, but God is not so, everybody is acceptable to Him.” The key excerpt here is “everybody is acceptable to Him.” Humans are free to decide how exactly we accept Him, whether as God in the Christian sense, Yahweh, Allah, and so on. We are all human, regardless of race, religion, skin color, and even sexual preference. Intolerance is the agent of destruction; I wish that people who fear Islam and hold it in negative regard would take the time to read the Qu’aran, which preaches peace. For example, verse 49.13 from the Qu’aran reads “O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you might know each other, not that you might despise each other. Verily the most honored among you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous.” Further still, the Hadith of Ibn Majah reads “For the white to lord it over the black, the Arab over the non-Arab, the rich over the poor, the strong over the weak or men over women is out of place and wrong.” In these days of wars in the Middle East and Islamic extremism, one cannot take a small section to represent the whole group. Just as Islamic extremists take excerpts from the Qu’aran out of context and interpret them to fuel hatred, Christian extremists such as Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church do the same.
Conclusion
So, perhaps this turned into a bit of a rant, but I think where I stand is pretty clear. I’m delighted to discuss any issue with anyone. The political scientist in me also says to look at the polls. Polls such as Gallup and Reuters have Obama ahead by anywhere between 2 and 7 points.
