Obama to Become First African American President

History was just made. For the first time in the history of the United States, an African American man has become the president of this country. Never before had I seen such absolute happiness and celebration over the winner of a presidential election. It was incredible. I saw tears of joy on TV and people shouting "Obama!" outside.

Obama's victory not only made history for this country. In cities around the world, people celebrated over Obama's presidential win. In his acceptance speech, Obama discussed the work that is cut out for him as president. He is going to have to deal with a failed economy, two wars and in essence, a divided country. These are some huge issues that Obama must deal with beginning January 20, 2009.

Maybe it was his charismatic speech. Or perhaps it was his promise for change. Whatever it was, watching him speak last night made me believe we could turn this country around, even just simply for the fact that blacks, whites and people of all races around the world were celebrating the victory of this one man.

I will admit, whether McCain or Obama won, it did not really matter to me. There were things I liked and disliked about both candidates. I will say though that being part of last night and witnessing Obama's speech really hit me. This is a huge part of history and such an accomplishment not only for Obama, but for all African Americans. Our country really has come far. With Obama's win last night, I feel like the race barrier was lifted, even if just temporarily.

With all politicians, one can never know if they will live up to what they promise. I'll be interested to see what Obama does in his presidency and the mark he makes. I'm excited for the change he is promising and hope that he will actually change aspects in America for the better. Whatever happens, history is being made right now and I am really glad I am part of it. Click here to read Obama's acceptance speech from last night: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl135

Historical Political Competition Draws to a Close

It’s almost over. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. For over a year the U.S. has been constantly bombarded with political rallies, articles, advertisements, anything a candidate can do to try to boost them ahead of their opponent. I haven’t been alive for too many elections, but for the ones I have witnessed, this one has been the most heated. To start with, the battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton was epic. The fact that the presidential candidates in the Democratic Party consisted of an African American and a woman were astounding. It’s kind of shocking to me despite how far our country has come in a variety of other aspects, that all of our previous presidents had been white males. It was interesting to see who the victor would be between Obama and Clinton after a brutal competition to become the democratic candidate for president.

It’s the day before the 2008 presidential election and we are down to Obama and McCain. Another heated debate between the two has existed for several months. Obama constantly criticizes McCain for his policies and how they are too close to those of the current president, George W. Bush. McCain, however, attacks Obama on the fact that he believes he is inexperienced to be president.

It really seems like a juvenile squabble between the two. A squabble that I am frankly sick of. I’d rather the candidates focus on the important issues like rebuilding the economy and ensuring that every American has affordable and reliable health care. Rather, these two men are really just exchanging a war of words where they are trying to manipulate voters in either direction. These are the two men that are, in essence, applying for the job to be our next president. Whoever wins tomorrow, I hope, can move past the squabbling and really take our country in a positive direction. I think everyone can agree that the U.S. needs a change. We don’t need an ineffective, slow change that really won’t make a difference in our lives. We need to move past the debates and the politics of politics and take action. There needs to be something done about global warming. If we don’t take charge and make a change for our future, we may not have a future. I really hope our next president will embrace change and really move our country forward to the place it should be, the land of the free.

A Time to be Thankful

As Thanksgiving draws near, I think it is really important to look at the things in your life that you are really thankful for. I am the first to admit I get easily stressed with all the school work and long to-do list that I have every day. I may take things for granted and might forget to thank those around me for what they have done for me. I have a lot to be thankful for. Even just the small things like a place to live, food to eat and warmth. I take these things for granted but I know that some people would do anything to have what I have. I am fortunate to be getting a quality education at a very expensive college. Even though I complain about my job at times, at least I have one. I have a family that supports me and helps me in whatever way they can. I have an amazing boyfriend who respects me and loves me so much. Let's face it; it's difficult to find a "good guy" these days but I'm thankful that I found the best one. While my car may be "very old" by some standards, I am thankful that I have transportation and a way to get wherever I need to go. Every Thanksgiving, I never really take the time to think about what I am thankful for. I think it would be really important to start doing that and to realize how many positive things I have in my life. If you have trouble thinking of anything to be thankful for, here's one: there are only five more days of classes left, 3 days of finals and then we all have two weeks off for Thanksgiving break. Now there's something to be thankful for!

Life Before Facebook?

We were discussing the use of Facebook yesterday in my Multimedia Storytelling class. It's hard to remember what life was like before Facebook. How did you know if that couple from high school was still dating? Where did that quiet guy from English class go to college? Facebook has definitely changed the social aspect of both colleges and high schools alike. While the social networking site may seem a little "stalkerish" at times, (specifically the news feed that details every update that a friend makes) Facebook has many positive aspects as well. People I haven't talked to since grade school have added me as a friend on Facebook. It's interesting to see who these people have become and what they are doing with their life. After graduating from high school, Facebook really helps for friends to stay in touch as they all go their separate ways. You can also post pictures on Facebook for everyone to see. This may be a good or bad thing. Many times I have seen some people's photos that I think should stay in their own private collection. However, I have also seen pictures on Facebook of people that have studied abroad and put all their pictures on their profile. While I think some people spend a little too much time on Facebook, I think overall it is a great resource. It allows you to connect with so many different people from different points in your life in one place. I definitely think Facebook should not replace the actual social interactions between people. After all, how many of you would like it if you go to tell your friend about something that has happened and they tell you, "Yeah, I know. I already saw it on Facebook"? We have to use Facebook in the right way, not allowing it to replace social interactions with people in real life. If you are spending all your time caught up in Facebook, how are you going to have real friends to write on your wall or pictures from Friday night to add to your profile? We should use Facebook as an online social networking site and that is all. Click here to read an article on how Barack Obama has used Facebook for his presidential campaign. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article5041725.ece

Social Amnesia or Snobbery at its Finest?

Have you ever been walking to class and passed by someone you used to talk to? Perhaps they worked on a project with you last year or maybe you used to live in their building sophomore year. Whatever the reason you were friends, (or acquaintances) you, in fact, at some point talked with these people. Therefore, the only polite thing to do when you see this individual is to say a quick hello or flash them a smile. It never ceases to amaze me how little people follow this rule. It's like after a certain period of time you drop out of their social agenda to be greeted on the sidewalk. Then there are those people you say hello to but don't respond back. This aggravates me to no end. I think it is one of the rudest things people do. So many people talk about how friendly a campus Mercyhurst is, but how friendly is it really? Is this campus really only friendly when you see these people from day to day? People will find any excuse in the book not to look at you. They will quickly grab for their cell phone and pretend that they need to send an extremely important text. Others look straight ahead as if nobody else in the world matters to them. Are people just forgetting that they used to talk to you at some point? Or, are some individuals so concerned with their own lives that they can't dignify your presence with a response? Either way, people really need to take a lesson in respect and politeness and really exemplify how "friendly" Mercyhurst is.

Job Market Worries Soon-To-Be College Graduates

Are you worried about finding a job after graduation? If so, you are not alone. As the weeks pass by faster and faster, thoughts of after graduation looms to mind. I've been thinking about this a lot lately; where am I going to work and what am I going to do? It can cause a lot of anxiety when you are worried about your future. What really worries me is the current job market. I know people who are highly qualified in their career field but are unable to find a job. Perhaps they are too picky and unwilling to delve into a similar field. Whatever the case, the job market looks pretty grim these days. Any prior experience or qualities you possess to put you at the top of the list will work in your favor. Internships are very important and can show an employer you have real world experience and what you can offer to benefit their company. I think it is also important to search for a job realistically. You are most likely not going to land your dream job right out of college. It takes time, work and commitment to establish yourself in the career world. Therefore, keep your options open and see what develops after graduation. To read more on the decline in the job market, click here. http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.com/media/storage/paper1233/news/2008/10/21/News/As.Job.Market.Dries.Up.Business.School.Tries.To.Ease.Concerns-3495221.shtml

The Year of Living Biblically

I just finished reading The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. The story, written by Jacobs, follows his one-year journey obeying as many of the Bible's rules as possible. This journey proved to be very difficult for Jacobs, who was baptized Jewish but grew up Agnostic. It is also challenging for Jacobs who must continue following the Bible's commands while living with his pregnant wife and raising his two-year-old son.

One of the funniest moments throughout the book was when Jacobs was following the command in the Bible that he must stone adulterers. As Jacobs is sitting in Central Park one day, an elderly man notices Jacobs strange attire (which consists of long, white garments and an enormous beard). The man asks Jacobs why he is dressed like that and Jacobs proceeds to explain his biblical journey. Jacobs informs the man that he is following the rule in the Bible today that he must stone adulterers. The man tells Jacobs that he, in fact, is an adulterer. Jacobs, following every command closely, proceeds to stone the elderly man with pebbles.

There are a lot of examples Jacobs lives out from the Bible in his book. It is really interesting to see how other people react to such commands that Jacobs must follow.

After reading the book, it really made me realize just how ancient some traditions are in the Bible. It doesn't make sense to take the entire Bible literally because are world is a completely different place than it was in ancient times. As our world grows, we develop new customs and alter existing ones so they fit our modern world. While The Year of Living Biblically explored both the positive and negative aspects of following the Bible literally, it really helps to develop your own view on such an interpretation.