11.03.08
Election Eve
The Daylight Savings time change always messes up my schedule. I know it’s only one hour difference, but somehow I always feel it. And this morning I got up extra early and had a chance to read and watch the news while everyone is still sleeping, ha! What has amazed me is how our current election is being watched by so many people outside of the U.S. even to the point that some claim that they wish they could vote, but alas must only sit on the sidelines and watch. As I read about history (I’m currently reading a book called Waltzing with a Dictator), it becomes apparent that the U.S. has been involved with so many foreign countries, so that now all eyes are on the U.S. as to who will be our next President “because” who becomes the next President affects not only us here, but so many abroad.
So far I’ve read or heard of comments from people from Australia, the UK, the Philippines, Cambodia, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, Mexico, and Kenya all eying our election with seemingly much anticipation. The common “feeling” I get is the reason they are so concerned about this election is that they hope among other things that we will have a kinder president. And that’s a really sad thought, in my opinion, because while the U.S. is (as far as I know) the largest contributor to foreign countries as far as humanitarian relief, we have also been the largest “meddler” in the government of foreign countries. Often times, I think for the most part the U.S. has good intentions, but because of it’s meddling, many people have suffered. The result has been anti-American sentiments.
One example I’m seeing is from the book, Waltzing With a Dictator, the Macoses and the Making of American Policy by Raymond Bonner. The Philippines had been occupied by the Spanish for many years, then later occupied by the Americans. Throughout both occupations, many Filipinos wanted their independence, with many fighting and dying for it. However, the Americans later graciously gave the Philippines independence, or so it seemed. According to Bonner, the U.S. was very instrumental in the drafting of the Filipino Constitution and the subsequent elections. However, the desire to avert Communism lead to allowing the Philippines to be ruled by a dictator for about 20 years. The bottom line was that the Filipino people were very oppressed, the rich got richer, and the poor got poorer. But that didn’t matter to the U.S. so long as it had their man, Ferdinand Marcos, in Asia as their ally. The Philippines was the U.S. foothold in east Asia. Meanwhile, due to the people’s discontent of the dictator, Communist forces grew stronger in the Philippines. The Marcoses thrived during three Republican U.S. Presidents, and two Democratic U.S. Presidents. It made no difference whether our leaders were Republican or Democrat.
This reminds me of how the U.S. was involved with getting the Shah in Iran, the early financial support given to Nazi Germany before WWII, the U.S. involvement in Nicaragua, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Korea to name a few. It’s no wonder that the world is watching.
One more day until the final election. . . Will it make a difference in the world?
Marlakins
