The historians will say, "Our civilization was built from theirs, but we take pleasure for not having to go through that kind of irrationality and infighting that impedes progress. Their history is primitive because they were too slow to learn from the past. They considered things that were insignificant history; the first woman to become president, the first black man to become president, the first black person to go into a house painted white on Pennsylvania Avenue enraged others and so on. Their natural differences had blinded them not to see what was for their universal good. Their blindness made them fight each other and erroneously believed fighting was progress itself. Even though they saw the potential of building their society and making it more prosperous, they were too reluctant to increase their pace because of the prejudices and animosities they harbored".
As time changes, they are the ones who will remain stuck in the past and need a boot to eject them and they are the ones who will slowly progress with the changing times. In a rapidly changing world, our progress should no longer be measured by a movement from point A to B, but by how quickly we realize the benefit from moving from A to B in as short a time as possible.

Primitive communities have remained largely primitive because of their reluctance to challenge their stagnation and their willingness to gloat on the past. They trail because they have endorsed the belief that progress is progress; it does not have to come fast. They have since lagged behind and falsely taken consolation in the thought that no matter how fast they try, change inevitably comes slowly.

Obama's election definitely and psychologically empowers some groups of people who might have been lost in the American dream, or felt it was far-fetched. However, just how long some will remain moaning at their loss and others entranced by their victory for varied reasons will be a true measure of a civilized progress.

For one group of people, history is a stepping stone and a springboard for better things. For another group, history has inevitably become the main impediment to progress. Nothing, but the choices we make now decides which group we will be a part of.

It is our history. Only we can shape it, and should we strive beyond our imaginary boundaries and delusional prejudices our success would be boundless. It is the effort to know what we do not know, the effort to realize our prejudices and the effort to be better that is our only liberation. Then our history will not be told with interjections in social gatherings to evoke laughter, but remembered and emulated for how quickly we were able to learn our hindrances and forged for a better future.

Due to the scarcity of oil and the drastic rise in gas prices over the past few months, the energy crisis became a dominant issue in economics and science. Senator Obama offered several methods and solutions to be implemented to solve the energy crisis in order to help the nation. Presidential Candidate Obama of the Democratic Party plans to further fund federal research to discover innovative and cleaner sources of energy as well as alternative fuels and chemicals. The funds extend to 150 billion dollars spent during a period of 10 years. Technologies and equipment would be developed to reduce and capture greenhouse gases, and nuclear electric energy would be further developed and refined. To help enforce a cleaner environment in the US, Senator Obama plans to tax heavily pollution producing factories such as coal companies. McCain of the Republican Party, however, offers to scrap and reform the entire American energy economy to solve the crisis. Candidate Obama certainly has a clearer view to the energy solution.

Stem cell research and implementation already has a solid but controversial foundation developed by President Bush. The research may successfully lead to treatments for many chronic diseases and injuries, thus saving lives. According to Obama's response to Science Debate 2008, "Stem cell research holds the promise of improving our lives in at least three ways-by substituting normal cells for damaged cells to treat diabetes, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, heart failure and other disorders; by providing scientists with safe and convenient models of disease for drug development; and by helping to understand fundamental aspects of normal development and cell dysfunction." Obama strongly supports stem cell research and plans to lift the federal ban on embryonic research. McCain believes in placing firm restrictions upon the implementation and uses of stem cell research. Stem cell research will be further researched into and developed to improve healthcare once candidate Obama becomes president.

Further scientific developments and inventions are important scientific issues, and Congress has recognized the importance of scientific research, but spending restraints and budgets are issues over the upcoming years. As president, Obama will increase scientific research funding in order to address issues such as energy, healthcare, water, and national security. McCain plans to carefully utilize and restrict the funds available to scientific research.
Over the issues of the energy crisis, stem cell research, and scientific research, Obama has wide spread popular views and clear plans of action; Obama will change science significantly in the US. Senator Obama successfully addresses the scientific issues in the election and provides a guiding view on unresolved scientific challenges.

    There are three good reasons I like Barack Obama;

1. He's a genuine guy, who I would trust my kids (if I had any) with.
2. He gives off this aura of confidence and respect.
3. He didn't really openly attack anyone (with words, of course)
   

    If this little article can't change your mind about Mr. Obama, then maybe the next four years will. Heres to a beautiful four years under the Obama Administration! Hip-hip-hooray! Hip-hip-hooray!

As a white kid going to a majority African American high school, I witnessed the rather sad racial consequences firsthand.  As I walked to class on the morning after Barack Obama became President Elect, just about every two seconds I witnessed people shouting things like "There'll be a black man in the Oval Office!" or "The black man finally won!"  I think that if civil rights leaders who fought so hard for the right to vote were to witness what I did, I don't think they'd be quite as jubilant as everyone says they'd be.

If you disagree with me, I invite you to share your reasoning in the comment area, but I believe that the fact that black people voting for Obama for the simple reason that he is part black (yes, part black--that's another issue I have, people calling him "black" instead of bi-racial, but that's another rant for another time) is a crime.  I'm not saying that every single black person voted for Obama for this reason only, but with Obama garnering 90-100% of black votes in most states, it's obvious that it's a problem.  If McCain got 90-100% of the white vote in most areas, people would be shouting that it was racism left and right.  Isn't it just as much of a crime as a white person voting for McCain simply to keep a non-white man out of the Oval Office?  Isn't that racism as well?

It's almost spitting in the face of those advocates who sacrificed so much to give African Americans, as the equal human beings they are, the opportunity to carefully consider their options and then make an informed, rational decision at the polls.  Isn't this what America itself was founded on?  The principles of intelligent thought and using the democratic power of choice for the good of all the people?

Remember, I write this as neither a Republican nor a Democrat, for I am neither, but as a white girl watching from the sidelines, I have something to say to all of the skin-deep Obama fanatics:

I have a dream, a dream where all Americans, regardless of race, can look past skin color and realize that the races aren't competing in some vast competition that Obama just "won."  American will fail and continue to be divided if we keep up this modern form of racism.  The only "change" in our us and them mentality will come from putting race aside.

Let's start with some of his major mistakes. Firstly, Sarah Palin's nomination was meant to bolster the Republican Party's support for Mr. McCain. While Ms. Palin is a tremendously talented Governor and a worthy adversary against many a Democratic foe, she just never really was that magic bullet the Republicans were looking for. Don't get me wrong, she is very accomplished and she's an every woman, but unfortunately she wasn't prepped enough to be second in command. Then let's not forget the god-awful interviews she gave to CBS, ABC and the like. Plus she should have been vetted more. Not just more, but vetted in general. The only reason, THE ONLY REASON, Mr. McCain picked Ms. Palin was so that he could take the Hillary supporters away from Mr. Obama. Unfortunately, it backfired, and backfired tremendously. If Mr. McCain wanted his Vice Presidential pick to be taken seriously, he should have gone with someone who was intelligent, well-spoken, and had more experience than being Mayor of 6300 people and Governor of a couple hundred-thousand folks. What he should have done was pick someone such as Mitt Romney, who has experience, and maybe then the Republicans wouldn't have left him in droves.

Mr. McCain also made some terrible choices when it came to voters. While, under normal circumstances, the majority of the voters would be either be elderly voters or the religious right, this election was dramatically different. Instead of pandering to one demographic, the conservative right, Mr. McCain should have gone after a plethora of demographics, such as young voters, black voters, women voters, Latino voters, and middle-income voters. Unfortunately, he was too busy touting how “conservative” he was, when everyone knew he wasn't the least bit conservative. Since most Republicans would be voting for Mr. McCain solely based on the fact that he's a Republican, there was no need to convert the already converted. And in doing so, he kept narrowing down the Republican Party, until it became just the Ultra-Conservatives and the Religious Right.

Speaking of pandering to conservatives, Mr. McCain also made the mistake of trying to convince conservatives he was just like George W. Bush. Under normal circumstances, convincing a group of Republicans you are just like their last Republican President would ideally work. Unfortunately, these aren't normal circumstances and the person Mr. McCain is comparing himself to have the lowest approval ratings of any President in history and happens to be presiding over an economy which is the worst since the Great Depression. Not really the smartest move you can make. Instead of collaborating with George Bush, Mr. McCain should have been distancing himself from the worst President in the eyes of the American public.

And let's not forget the Economy, as Mr. McCain happened to do so well. Every day the economy was worsening and every day Mr. McCain was ignoring the fact and continued to try to bolster votes by saying that we had a great economy. Mr. Obama, on the other hand, realized that voters wanted a solution to the economic mess, instead of being told we were “doing just fine.” McCain even went so far as to say the fundamentals of the economy were “strong” then two hours later recanted his statements and said the economy was in shambles. If you're going to stick to your guns about how well the economy is doing and how we're not losing jobs at an alarming rate, then maybe do it when the economy is actually doing well. If he had just owned up to the fact that the economy wasn't doing so well, and came up with a solution, then the poll numbers may have been closer. Also, maybe don't pull a stunt where you say you're suspending your campaign until a deal is reached in the Bailout Plan and then continue the campaign without a deal being reached. That tends to not send all that great of a signal to the American people, who may now feel that they were duped and the stunt was nothing more than a political ploy, which it was.

Now, not everything Mr. McCain did was terribly wrong, he just was so hell-bent on winning an election that he couldn't see the forest for the trees, so to speak. Too bad for him, he was coming into a campaign where the Republican Party was loathed and the sitting President was just as equally disliked. I'm sure he knew that he didn't have a snowball's chance in hell to win this election, but he stayed in it and went down swinging. Too bad the swings he took were too little and too late.

               During the campaign the issues of age and race were widely lower key than expected, and once the nominees named their running mates, sexism was added to the mix. The regular routine of running negative ads against the other party ran free, and America has been at odds more than ever before. With so much to talk about, it is no wonder this years election has brought out more voters than any previous presidential race. But the final question will be answered this tuesday; Who will be running the country for the next four years? 

               With so much tension about the projected winner, election news is everywhere. Polls most of us have never heard of give us updated projections on the hour and the final hours of the race have not yet begun. The press coverage is expected to be through the roof, and even those not planning on giving Tuesday's race much attention will have a difficult time ignoring the media frenzy.  With two days of media madness in the countries future, Wednesday's forecast might be prettiest thing to see since the end of summer.

Okay here is the deal I am a sixty year old woman still have much life in me and between the acid reflux and minimal aches and pains I am clear headed in my thinking of who I am going to vote for. I have been watching all the debates and interviews. John McCain said lets keep the campaign clean so what did he do? He started slamming Barack Obama from day one! Now my stomach is twisting in the wind. Barack has been even tempered and is sticking to the issues. I don't know about you but the pocket is wearing thin. The economy stinks and the spending is out of touch. I think that anyone m aking $250,000 in my book is rich. John McCain says having 5 million dollars is rich. This is from someone that probably has 5 millions dollars and yes 7 houses. I have one house and I struggle from month to month to pay all the bills so I won't be living in a refrigerator box. In McCains plan as I see it the Health Care System will be a disaster. He wants to give each one of us a one time amount of $7500 to buy Health Insurance. We all know health insurance cost about $12,000 a year.

Barack Obama wants to make sure everyone can afford Health Insurance it is not giving a free ride to anyone but he wants to make sure everyone has Health Insurance. McCain also wants to make Health Insurance private so that the big companies don't have to offer Health Insurance if they don't want to. See the big picture? McCain does not have to worry about Health Insurance or the all mighty dollar. What ever happened to humanity? Helping one another. McCain wants to give all the tax breaks to big companies and the little guy has to pay for all the countries expenses. Spending 10 billion dollars a month on Iraq is crazy. Seven months before the economy went South we could have had that money for the so called big companies bailout if we weren't in Iraq.

McBush (McCain) is a sorry old man who is trying every dirty trick in the book to be our next President. Then there's Sara Plain the Vulcan eared cutsy pit bull used to rile up the pea brained people that will not vote to have a Black President but would rather assassinate him. Real smart on her part. I think she is a pawn in all this and I also think she is being groomed to run for President in the future as well. Lord help us all! Where did she come from? Who is she? Here's what I know about her. She loves to shoot guns from a helicopter to kill wolves so the pack can be thinned out in order for Moose to thrive. Then she goes and shoots her gun again to kill the Moose. Does she know about foreign policy? I think not! She is a loose cannon! What ever happened to diplomacy? John McBush wants to go in all the countries that are threats to the US and blast them without using diplomacy first. Sound familiar? Okay now I come to Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Yes Joe Biden can put his foot in his mouth but who doesn't. No one listens to the whole speech but only the parts they want to and then the opposite side harps on it. Joe Biden knows the workings of the political arena. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will make the country prosper again.

They will bring calm to the land! They will help the little guy like me be able to afford my home. Barach Obama has the smarts to get us out of the financial mess we are in. No one on this planet will be able in his first few years as President get us out of the mess we are in. We have to realize this. So I say why not give someone else a chance and just maybe we may be surprised what will happen. Stop negative talk we don't need to hear that just stick to the issues! Oh by the way no one on the Republican side or Democratic side has experience to run the country. It will be a learn as you go process in my mind. In the end I can only say use the rights as free Americans and get out and VOTE on November 4 and I hope everyone makes the right choice.

Photo credit: XinHuanet/ AFP

In this election, two horses have been chosen to run the track to compete to win for a stay in the White House. The white horse is represented by the Republican Party, John McCain, who is the senior United States Senator from Arizona, while the black horse is represented by the Democratic Party, Barack Obama, who is also the junior United States Senator from Illinois as the election nominees respectively.

More media coverage, both locally and globally, plus the Americans themselves, and the world have utmost enthusiasts to know who'll be the hero in this presidential election. Does Barack Obama have more horse power than John McCain or vice versa? Who'll end up moving into the White House to become the United States' 56th president, Obama or McCain?

Photo credit: XinHuanet/ AFP

First, of course, there's Obama, a son for a white mother and a Kenyan father. His favorite food is chilli and he's good at basketball. His strong supporter, Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, has a talent to solve crossword puzzles. These two American idols have now captured global attentions. Their popularities and fames, particularly Obama, has been extremely rated high by the media and publics as compared to his opponent, McCain. The desire rate to vote for John McCain, according to the latest statistic, is very low. That means before the real 2008 Presidential Election on November 4, Obama has won himself the first ticket in people's heart.

Photo credit: XinHuanet/ AFP

Being BLACK is one thing for Obama, but his young, active, optimistic and enthusiastic will definitely breathe the life back into the dilemma of the “land of the free, home of the brave”. His winning in the nominee of presidential election shows that Americans can now accept the BLACK, and can now live harmony with the BLACK community. This is a good sign as compared to the worst conditions that the BLACK people had to face before the era of the President Lincoln, in which the discrimination between BLACK and WHITE was so obvious. Nowadays, as our world has stepped into the stage of globalization, the color shouldn't become the obstacle for the progress, growth and well-being of the mankind.

Photo credit: XinHuanet/ AFP

I'm sure that Obama is not making history for his race alone, but he's showing his voice for all Americans for the problems they're facing now. I do believe that he's making history for America in terms of his ways of thinking, how he carries himself, but the foremost thing is how his prominent role in a global stage.

Photos credit: Xinhuanet/Reuters

McCain in contrary to Obama, he is a bit old fashioned in his thinking. His old fashioned way of thinking, of course I'm sure is not the key element that all Americans need for a fast paced economic growth and technology based living. Though he is a smart person who has a great political head on his shoulders, his charisma and energy to rule America will not that much of Obama. If McCain is selected for President, then he's making his history as the oldest American nominated for a presidential post. Governor Sarah Parin will run her Vice-President duty on the Republican side, who has bended herself into the melting pot of gender equality, maverick politics and working-class. And they must have showed the world the different faces standing proudly in front of the White House.

Photos credit: XinHuanet/ AFP; Xinhuanet/Reuters

McCain is a war veteran with all his philosophies dealing much with the war. Of course, he has a brilliant mind in his dominating field of foreign affairs which seem to rival his competitor, Barack Obama. McCain stands still for his strong platform of unconventional politics, experience and military allegiance. Nevertheless, due to his age of 71, his presence in this election is regarded to be an unusual. Despite of his old age, he has an unprecedented energy and stamina. But, even so, his age has made him to be unfavorable for the winning ticket in the White House.

Photo credit: Xinhuanet/Reuters

I think Obama would be influential particularly in his thoughts of energy independence, technological improvements for deprived and rural communities, racial equality, universal healthcare, culminating the war in Iraq, and reformation for the political system. In contrast, McCain is a type of person who does not have the strongest strengths of commitment to change America, as his speech is focus more on wars rather than emphasizing for the society's needs to look for a change. I truly believe that Obama could play his role and commitment to change the tendency in Washington as in his speech he said he wishes to turn America in a position that it has never been before. This change of position is with regards of the position of the self-discovery as well as the position to gain the respect around the globe. I' m amazed and inspired by Obama's speech when he comments on statements made by his reverend Wright, which is another aspect showing his excellent leadership. Indeed, the capability to transform the tone of Washington lies more obviously on Obama than McCain. Obama has 101 reasons to strive to bring people's good living condition, high-quality of the America ahead of his good quality of the good tongue.

Photo credit: cnsphoto

Americans have been very upset of the incompleteness, arrogance and deception of the Bush administration. They place on little hope to the present situation as most of their personal incomes have almost dried up. They've more than thousand words to express their frustrations with regards to corporate corruption, the downfall of the share market, the rise of the petrol's price, bipartisan bickering and declining dependability. Americans in general, hope for a president who can voice for their present problems, besides having fresh ideas and fresh thinking to bring the better tomorrow for the United States. Peace and growth in America means the growth and peace for the world.

Photo credit: Xinhuanet/Reuters

For most Americans, it doesn't matter if Obama is inexperience as they wish for a change. The financial crisis has benefited Obama as people were annoyed with the failure of the Free Market. Americans have to pay for a very high retirement plans, education fee and even for their home mortgages on the account of the failure of deregulation and poorest function of the Free Market. People have long desired for a better leadership or perhaps better future, something different from the current situations. The change for America is in demand. The politicians are too corrupt which requires for an immediate change. And thus Americans are now looking for someone who can turn their country into a new direction. Harry S. Truman once said, "Men make history, and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better." This is why I perceive this election is a tremendous change as it offers people for the change of better tomorrow.

Photo credit: cnsphoto

If Obama is elected for President, he has succeeded to change the America's history. Mr. Obama you make your history, brilliant! Have my claps!!! Besides this new history, there'll be another new history for the United States - the Vice-President is a woman. Should I call her “White” woman or perhaps what? I just say this election stand-off is between the BLACKS and the WHITES as neither an African American nor a female has achieved the offices for President and Vice President in the American history. This eventual winning ticket is indeed to be historical for all Americans and for the world in general.

Photos credit: Xinhuanet/Reuters

While Obama and McCain are racing for presidential post, most of the Americans are struggling and suffering for seeking employments, facing with the pressure of high fuel price, and wondering around the streets. Both Obama and McCain should address their concerns very promptly and accurately. They, Americans, hope for more responses from their future Mr. President. This is Mr. President's role not to escape to answer all the questions, but he has to address his sincere concerns towards the Americans in a more positive and appropriate context.

Photo credit: Xinhuanet/AFP

Again, this is a historical event for all Americans and also for the world. Whoever gets elected will have to face the first toughest task as he has to clear up 8 years of George W. Bush's terms. Either Obama or McCain will have to show the Americans their capability to bring the America's economy back to the track to where people can afford to survive.

Photo credit: Xinhua

The way of Bush's handling the problem with military means will not solve the global problem, but it'll make the situation becomes worst and worst. The cases of Al-Qaeda and terrorism seem not to be reduced with the military pressure, but the situation is getting worst. The Iraq war has left large casualties both for American soldiers and other parties. The financial difficulties for the United States are due to much money have been spend for supporting the Iraq wars and thus expenditure is more than the print dollar to compensate for the losses; secondly, the rising prices are due to the greediness of certain speculators and despotic oil rich countries causing the fall in dollar's value; thirdly, more money are engrossed to solve other people's problem rather than rebuilding its own economic structures in America; and fourthly, the greedy speculators have been allowed to take advantage of American families who simply want to earn some pieces of lands there. The new President should be capable enough to take over his job by intending to fix all these problems. This task is important to win back every American's heart towards his role as the Mr. President of the United States while securing the confidence and trust of the investors and the world towards this giant country.

Photo credit: cnnetnew

As for my opinion, whether it be white, black, yellow or any colors, it doesn't matter much, as long as the selected president is capable to bring the progress to the country, in which the economy is stable, people have jobs and live peacefully, living conditions are good, share market is reliable and stable, people's health conditions are good and etc. As my slogan goes, who's capable, she or he will be Mrs. or Mr. President in the United States or any countries.

Photos credit: XinHuanet/ AFP

This election has made a change for America. No woman has ever served in the White House. Both Sarah Parin and Mrs. Clinton have turned up as the female candidates. Though Mrs. Clinton fell short of her victory with Obama, she is just like Sarah Parin have opened the door for the future female candidates to step through, in which I believe it is the promising factor for female to become the President of the United States in the coming future.

The peace and economic growth are both important elements for America and the world as well. The Americans shouldn't discriminate among each other just because of the color. How can all the Americans live peacefully if they still divide each other among themselves? Similarly, the world should follow the example not to discriminate each other so that all the nations can be united for the betterment of the world.

Photo credit: koreanewnet

Any predictions in this momentous election are pointless as the situation sometimes will change on the real polling day. It's still too early to say who the winner is in this fight. No matter who comes out as a winner, it'll be one of the most surprising results ever made for the American history of all time.

Wake up, Americans! Make your votes count and do select for the candidate that you think is capable to bring your country to the optimum economic growth. Don't repeat the same mistakes or else all the Americans and the world will be suffered! Vote for a better future on behalf of your country and also for the rest of the world, and do bring trust back of investors into America and your lives concerning your government as a whole. This is the time for you to change and to clear of all the disappointment towards the Bush's policies. The choices stand before you, America - it's time to pick an appropriate candidate. Make your decision based on the integrity, responsibility, reliability, morals and voice of your candidate.

To all Americans, my American friends and honorable American staffs at Triond, I wish you good luck for the 56th consecutive quadrennial United States presidential election on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Let me complete this article with a poem.

Together we stand shoulders to shoulders,

Together we sit round the table,

Together we move our brains and motions,

We're here with a mutual dream,

One World, One Dream.

The Berlin Wall has collapsed,

Between you and me,

No more gaps,

No more color barrier,

No more fencing barrier,

No more trademarks.

And we're now sharing one same sky,

With mutual hearts and beliefs,

Towards the betterment of tomorrow,

Heading to the excellent milestone,

Not far away from a place we're now standing.

We want the peace back to the world,

We want better life for our families and generations,

We want better jobs and payments,

But we don't want the nightmare of wars.

C'mon, friends,

Vote for your voices,

Vote for your rights,

Vote for your dignity,

And most importantly vote for your pride,

And too,

For your concerning government.