Η ελληνική περιπέτειά μου

So here it comes. A political post. But I have my reasons. Last night, we had a former US diplomat visit and talk to us about certain things within our very recent history and why this election is so incredibly crucial. Apart from that he also talked about his duties, how he became a diplomat and other interesting stories. Makes me think if I would want to enter the State Department.

Anyway, the diplomat, I forget his name now, was an incredibly intelligent man who was slightly quirky and nerdy. But he said some very important things, and gave me a plethora of information and a new perspective I didn't have. Foreign relations sometimes mean nothing until you leave the country. Then you get to understand how the world, or at least the region you are at, reacts to the US.

In his view, both the first Bush and Clinton were excellent presidents. Regan blew the budget out of control and racked up a national debt like none other. Slightly odd by Republican standards, since their party creed deals with fiscal responsibility. This trend that was also emulated by the younger Bush to a worse effect. However, the first Bush managed to balance the budget incredibly well, and managed to control the debt. However, this meant higher taxes, a policy that will kill any Republican. Clinton oversaw an incredible growth in the economy and also managed to reduce the debt. Clinton also was an incredible people person, something that improved foreign relations tenfold. In one story, an Armenian diplomat was allowed a visit to the US to meet with President Clinton, the first time ever perhaps. It was such a glorious day for the Armenians, and when the Presidents sat down to talk, the history of the Armenian people began to flow. Clinton kindly listened and engaged him in a conversation. This simple act of a nation expressing itself to a "super power," a privilege that was never before given to Armenia, was exalting. The nation felt as if it were being heard, understood and protected, and the US gained an ally, however useless. If the younger Bush were president at the time, they would never have been given the time of day. Today, Aremenia still loves us, one of the few nations that does.

Our current President has little use of diplomacy. In fact, he seemingly turned over control of foreign relations to the Pentagon. The army only knows how to conduct war. Its not their fault, but they should not be in control of relations. One good thing President Bush did is the invasion of Afghanistan - and I say that in terms of immediately after the World Trade attacks. Now the situation is different. Following 9/11 we did shut down numerous terrorist cells operating in that nation. You can't have a war on terrorism. Wars on ideas are doomed to fail. But war on terrorists and their strongholds is an effective strategy. But why go to Iraq? If Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, he would never give them to Wahabi terrorists such as Bin Laden. The two hate each other! Anyway, I am getting off topic.

The point is, foreign relations now are the lowest they have been in a long time. Bush cared very little about other nations, did not have the tact required of a world leader, and did not go through the proper channels such as the UN, like his father and Clinton did. With the first Gulf War and the military action in Yugoslavia, the UN was involved and because of that, the world was behind us. It was not the case in the current war.

Who really knows how McCain or Obama will be with foreign relations. McCain is a good man, so he may improve our relations. But I do know Sarah Palin is not nearly qualified to be Vice President and reminds me a lot of Bush Jr. And I also know that Biden is a perfect candidate on foreign relations since he is the chairman of the committee and has personal friendships with leaders around the world.

I am not qualified to talk about politics very much. I don't know everything. But I know what I see, and I see that Greece, which is an incredibly conservative nation for Europe, hates Bush and the current administration. All over Athens and in the conservative rural areas Bush is synonymous with the devil. You see it in graffiti, posters or even talking to people. Simply put, Bush drove our foreign relations to the ground. Now Obama? Everyone wants Obama to win, even the old ladies! I have been asked by Greeks, British, Irish, Danish and others about the elections, and everyone loves that I support Obama. They think we are a backwards country since we elected Bush for a second term. Maria, one of our student services workers, found it amazing to have intelligent students from America who were free thinking. It was her first year at Arcadia, so she had little exposure to Americans prior. She was amazed that I had even read "Persepolis." Their misconceptions about us as a nation stem from the lack of foreign relations the last eight years.

The world is behind Obama, except parts of America. The world will also be closely watching on election night. Who knows what will happen or how the world will respond. I personally will be volunteering for the Embassy on election night for the party they will be throwing at the Hilton. I will rub elbows with the American ambassador for Greece and other important and intelligent people. Its a chance of a lifetime! I hope everyone votes and we will see what happens! But if McCain loses, I have a feeling an American may not be a welcome sight in Athens for awhile.

P.S. - I saw the "Obama is an arab video." Some people in the US are beyond ignorant - they are crazy!