This might not be what McCain would have had you believe, but I will sleep much more soundly in my bed tonight now Obama has finally made it to the White House. The hostility to America that Bush has managed to engender has saddened me. Unlike many of my peers, I have always had a soft spot for America and most especially Americans. I worked for an American company for over ten years and made many very enjoyable visits as a result. In my career in learning technology, it has been American innovators who have led the way. And in my few years as a blogger, I have made many good friends from across the pond.
Having a laughing stock of a President and an aggressive and arrogant foreign policy have made America many enemies. Those days are finally coming to an end and, as a result, the world will be a safer, and happier place in 2009.
Hmmm...interesting perspective. As an American, I feel just the opposite today. America is no longer the country she was upon her founding. Our values continue to erode and our disdain for those founding principles grows each year. We've embraced a socialist-leaning President who is recognized as one of the most liberal in our political system. Those things scare me on a personal level. Will the world be a safer place as a result of last night's election? I hope you are correct, but I suspect it will be a matter of perspective. Afterall, one could make the argument that even life in a totalitarian regime would be "safe" so long as you follow the rules. I suppose we'll both have to wait a few years to see which of us is more accurate in our prognosis.
ReplyDeleteOn a much cheerier note, love your blog. Thanks for your insights in the eLearning field.
I agree with Eric. America has exported freedom and prosperity to countries around the world, and we've protected ourselves and others from terrorists in the process. I would call that safe and beneficent.
ReplyDeleteI, too, enjoy your blog and appreciate your eLearning expertise.
Unfortunately there was no viable candidate in yesterday's election. I proudly didn't vote. Well, I felt bad about it. But I couldn't possibly vote for an 82-year old with a running mate who was very suspect, and I certainly wouldn't vote for a fellow who America knows nothing about other than that he's a great speaker and quick on his feet. We're in the training business. I know quite a few guys and gals that are better public speakers and can also think fast on their feet. But I don't want them to be President! Not a single one of his 'backers' (I call em groupies) knows a damn thing about the guy other than he's a great speaker and he claims he won't raise taxes on anyone making over 250k (which is untrue, because he conveniently left out of his stump speeches that he'll be rescinding the Bush tax cuts).
ReplyDeleteThe choices were terrible. Far left/socialism, or a guy that is just too old.
Hopefully the Republican party can get their act together and get back to a real conservative, less-government ideology. In 4 years, unless the media continues to worship Obama blindly, and he's raised everyone's taxes, and nothing has 'changed', then the Republicans will get back in.
Wow, not the comments I expected to your thoughtful post. I thank you, Clive, for your words, and agree. America has taken a step back towards what made this country great, not further away. Not a perfect solution, but a definite improvement.
ReplyDeleteClive, as an online learning professional, I appreciate blogs that contribute to the field. However, by using your educational blog as a platform to push your political agenda (something you've done a lot of lately), you're sadly representing the worst of the academy and only confirming the harsh criticism given in recent years that colleges have become propaganda machines rather than educational institutions. I'm close to dropping you from my feed list, as I've had about enough of the irrelevant political commentary. Please get back to online learning, instead of pretending to be a political pundit. We have plenty of places to go for that. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteClive-I'm glad you spoke up. I'm sick of people tip-toeing around trying not to offend people with their political stance. Everyone needs to toughen up. I'm also sleeping better, i look forward to the one tenth of one percent who have 99 percent of the wealth in this nation to start paying their fair percentage to the gov't that creates the environment to make such wealth. If only we can get a 75% tax rate for any earnings above and beyond say 20 million dollars a year we will b able to fix many of our problems in this country.
ReplyDeleteThe success of Obama is directly connected to 28 years of trickle down reagan-omics and the majority of this country finally realized that we have been screwed-over. We need a lot more european style gov't. We need to protect our industries, national healthcare, living wages, and a focus on the success of the middle class, not the one tenth of one percent. Thoser people are fine and don't need anymore help.
Hi Clive,
ReplyDeleteTwo things that I find really interesting on these comments:
1) That so many people think Barak Obama is socialist/far left
2) That one person at least appears to think that you write on behalf of a college rather than from a totally personal perspective.
In some ways, though, I agree with the last commenter, that you've built up a repututation within this blog for clear thinking around online learning. Personal posts (eg. political, travel) don't fit quite so well with this.
Perhaps it's an argument for popular bloggers having separate blogs for personal and professional perspectives?
Cheers,
Mark
This is a very sensible way of thinking. I think after the Mumbai attacks where the terrorists were searching for American and British nationals it's evident that they are full of hatred and rage against the US. Probably the illiterate fanatics will respond to the change of the face. Education could have solved the problem but I guess they are too staunch even to accept the change at grass root level. For them to convert or kill kafirs(non-Muslims) is the sole agenda. Good post.
ReplyDelete