Normally, I consider political or world news type issues taboo on my developer blog. There are, in my opinion, more than enough blogs out there to pander to that, and I don’t want Ironwood, or our products, associated with any political ideals. However, something monumental has happened in the world and it is ridiculous to think that with a change like this no one can continue without saying at least a few words about it. So in keeping with the concept of showing no allegiance I offer this statement.
On Tuesday the world changed. To say that it has not is to put your head in the sand and ignore the sheer power and influence that Americans have in the world. We, as a country, have a power that I was utterly shocked to see. It was not a power or influenced imposed on the world. Instead, I saw the world reveal to us that we have a huge impact on the individual people that make up the world. This is not to say that we have a power politically, or a control. Instead this power is the power of influence, and obligation. The world watched with baited breath as we elected our president. The world cheered, and cried, and cheered some more.
I don’t honestly believe that the opinion of the world determined who our president was going to be. What I do believe is that they were as concerned for the direction of our country as we were. They don’t have the right to choose our president, and yet they went through this election with us. They prayed and hoped and watched, hoping that we would make a choice that would help us all.
This is because America is not apart from the world. The citizens of the world seem to believe in something Americans have forgotten. We are the leaders of the free world. Our country stands for something beyond just our own meager boundaries. Our influences, our choices, affect the world like no other country before it. Villagers in Africa feel the weight of our decisions just as strongly as the small towns in Ohio. It has shown me that beyond any doubt America is a guiding light and hope for all countries. Our success is a mark of hope to all people all over the world. When we fail, the world weeps, when we succeed the world cheers.
America showed itself to be the heroes of the world during the Greatest Generation. We changed the fabric of the world. Many would argue that we saved the world. America is the hero of legend to so many people the world over. They watched over the course of the election to see what choice their hero would make.
We have made mistakes in the past. We may have even made a mistake here. However, what matters most is not our mistakes. What matters most is that we learn and grow from them. That is what Tuesday meant to a lot of people. One of America’s greatest mistakes is often referred to as the Great Stain. This week we saw a chapter close on American history. The Great Stain is still there, but we have moved past it. We have grown. We are Americans after all.
That is what makes us the heroes of the world. We move forward and grow from these mistakes. Our choices are not always right, but we always try to correct them. We are striving constantly for hope. And hope exists in the world for us. And so they cheered.
Regardless if President Elect Barrack Obama is a good President in the future, he was a good choice for today. Many wounds were healed in the world. People have hope for us again. Many countries and the people of those countries are proud of us.
In Japan they cheered in the streets. In African villages they feasted and celebrated. In Germany American flags were waved in huge parties. In Spain the front page of the morning papers were plastered with our country, our president. Do we do the same for their leaders? Do our papers headline their elections? Do we gather in groups to watch their elections/coronations? Yet they do this for us.
There are those that say that it should not matter what the world thinks. America has to make the right choice for America. This week showed me that this is not true. The hope of so many people who are not American reside in our choices. Our choices affect the world, and so, now, it does matter to me that the world approves. We are Americans. We are not a world a part. We are part of this world, and in many eyes its leader, and for most we are its hero. While some may call us villain, and many try to destroy us, it is for one simple reason that we remain who we are. WE NEVER STOP TRYING TO BE BETTER THAN WHAT WE ARE.
Right now some of us are divided. Many people opposed Obama and think that we, as a country, made a poor choice. They are afraid of the future because their ideals lost to a vote they do not agree with. For those of you who believe this I have this to say.
I do not agree with much of Obama’s plans. I also fear for some changes that he will try to make. I also do not agree with one-party rule. That being said, we cannot allow this to divide us. All Americans, and the world, fear the future. We are going to be victims of his success or failure. We are all in this together. The world, the country, you and me. We must put aside our fears and offer hope. We must come together behind this man who is our president and offer our hands to help. We may not agree, but I know one thing. If we allow our differences to build walls we will accomplish nothing. We must grit our teeth, and accept that we are not supporting a Democrat, or the ideals of the Democratic Party. We are supporting our country now. Please, do not feel betrayed by McCain’s loss. The country chose, not the Democratic Party. George Bush did not lose the election for McCain. The world is in peril and our country decided that Obama is the man to lead us through these challenges. We do not have to agree on him, but we all agree that we must work together to help our leader lead us through.
As of today, I am no longer an Independent in my mind. I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I am not pro-Obama or against him. I am an American. And I will accept and support our President, even his changes I do not like, until the problems facing our country grow worse through his leadership. If that day should come, I will vote against him. Until that day comes, I am an American, and as an American my President is Barrack Obama. As a citizen of this world, I look to our country, and our leader, for hope. I am only one man, but Barrack Obama, for good or ill, is the voice of a nation, our nation. We must respect that. With the world we cheer for him, or we weep his failure. Above all, we hope that we have learned and that we will continue to. We are the heroes. As heroes, we must band together and fight together. We must take up the sword that lie before us and bear the burden of the honor bestowed upon us by the entire planet.
We must be Americans.
