Americas Election And Why The World Watches

In 1960 John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States after having served a single term in the House and was part way through his second Senate term representing Massachusetts. Relatively young not only to be president of a nation but a world leader his charisma and youthful exuberance brought hope not just to Americans, but the world. How popular was he? One could find his portrait in the homes of people residing in nations of the first world and the homes of people residing in the third world. He challenged America to put a man on the moon within ten years and they did it. He created the Peace Corp. He asked that most famous of questions: And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Your asking what connection does this have to the elections of 2008?

Once again the people of the world are looking for hope and positive change. A leader who can see them not as citizens of Russia, China or Bolivia but as citizens of the world. Someone who is willing to restore the ideas upon which the United States was founded. Simple ideas like: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, the right to be secure from unwarranted searches and seizures, the right to vote for the candidate of your choice, in other words basic human rights. Rights fought for in such diverse places as the American South by African Americans, in South Korea by thousands of university students against military dictatorships and places like the Ukraine and the Czech Republic where peaceful transitions of power took place through the Velvet and Orange Revolutions. Those people looked to the very ideas that makes America what it is. Not a place where ideas go to die, but where they are born and nurtured and fought for because its the right thing to do.

People don't want a continuation of the last eight years. Years of subjugation of peoples rights, rule through fear and intimidation. Beliefs so contrary to its most recent history that governments and the people of the world view America with such negativity that it will take years of positive deeds and not public relations campaigns to restore Americas place in the world.

That's why the world watches and waits. Knowing that America can once again be a place of hope and positive ideas. A place where dreams are born, nurtured and realized. No, America is not perfect yet, the world prefers the America of pre-George Bush knowing what a positive force America and Americans can be.