By, JR
I have to say that the United States is the greatest country in the world.
All though, I am not one for corniness and I prefer my usual sarcastic and obnoxious self, I have to say that today I have been full of corny sayings, feeelings and actions.
Being that I was born in the former USSR, where neither I, nor any member of my family ever had the chance to go to the polls and cast a vote for president or for anything else for that matter, today I had the special opportunity to have my son, who was born here, vote next to me in his first election, and I, of course to his utter horror, brought a camera to mark the special day.
For me, it is always an exceptional site to see the droves of people heading to the polls, and seeing them wait in long lines to cast their votes is such a contrast to the long lines I remember standing in back in the USSR waiting to buy a chicken for dinner.
No matter what happens, this country never ceases to amaze, inspire hope and provide endless opportunities, rights and freedoms and Americans have proven once again that despite huge adversity and prejudices anything is possible.
and…
despite those that said no way can Obama win because everyone in this country is racist, one of those being my cousin who predicted a McCain win with a 10% spread 
tonight owes me $1,000 bucks since he lost that bet
Whether your candidate won tonight or not, no one can say that this is not the greatest country in the world.
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November 5th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I told myself I wasn’t going to respond to any political type posts today, but this was quite moving…thank you.
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JR reply on November 5th, 2008 6:43 pm:
Hi Dennis, I know, I debated whether to even write this since this blog has nothing to do with politics, but I had to and especially because of this being my son, Zach’s first vote
Dennis Edell reply on November 5th, 2008 8:41 pm:
I won’t fault ya this time.
JR reply on November 5th, 2008 10:48 pm:
Thanks Dennis, you are so good to me!
Ben Pei reply on November 8th, 2008 5:17 am:
Although I am not an american myself.. I agree with Dennis about the “moving” part.. its great!
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November 5th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Good on you for winning that thousand bucks. I had a feeling he would win and I reckon that McCain’s speech urging all Americans to support him was just as moving as Obama’s election winning speech.
As for the best country, heck that has to be Australia
JR reply on November 5th, 2008 10:48 pm:
Hi Sire, Yes I agree McCain really manned up, and I won’t hate ya for choosing Aussie as the best
November 5th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I must say, it truly is the best nation on Earth. I voted for Obama and last nights speech was truly a referendum on change.
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JR reply on November 6th, 2008 11:47 am:
Hi James, I did too, and I agree with you, and the record numbers of voters that went to the polls certainly is all ready the beginning of change.
November 6th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I hope the new president-elect Obama is going to bring about change not only to US but the whole world. I’d have voted for him too if I had the chance…
God bless America and the world…
Yan
Blog for Beginnerss last blog post..It’s Time for Readers’ Appreciation #2
JR reply on November 6th, 2008 1:45 pm:
Hi Yan,
Me too, I do not believe that he will turn out to be just another politician that is full of crap, and I really hope he will not.
November 6th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I would definitely agree with JR. In the midst of a lot of cynicism that goes on during this season, it’s great to hear from someone who has lived elsewhere without a lot of the privileges that we enjoy. It’s up to us to balance those privileges with our own responsibility of being informed and active.
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JR reply on November 6th, 2008 1:45 pm:
Hello Steve,
It amazes how many things we take for granted in this country, even I catch myself doing it since I lived here so long, there are so many horrible places around the world, that we really need to be grateful everyday.
November 6th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
You are fortunate to live in the worlds greatest country…
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November 7th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Would be even nicer if we had more than two candidates to choose from. Our voting system is so 18th Century. Check out Score Voting to see how we could as a nation rationally choose from among more than two candidates — without worrying about the lesser of two evils.
–Carl
P.S. Love your site. Hope to use the ideas herein to promote a new political paradigm.
JR reply on November 8th, 2008 12:26 am:
@ Carl
Thanks Carl, I appreciate your kinds words. How bout changing the electoral college to popular vote, seems a lot more democratic.
Mitch reply on November 8th, 2008 12:30 am:
Actually, if they did that it would be a lot more unfair to the country in general. Think about it this way. Right now, the candidates have to campaign everywhere. However, if it was only based on the popular vote, most of them would only campaign in the top 10 states as far as population goes, and if they could carry all those states, or even the majority of them, then the other 40 states wouldn’t matter. That’s why it was set up to begin with.
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JR reply on November 8th, 2008 1:34 am:
That makes total sense that every state needs to be represented.
Paid to be RIch reply on November 9th, 2008 4:00 pm:
National popular vote would not be much more democratic. Consider the Gore/Bush race. Regardless of whether Bush stole the election, a few thousand, or even a few million votes different should not change the result that much.
Or consider North Carolina, which has elected both John Edward and Jesse Helms to the Senate. Talk about roundoff error!
Score voting would result in the least unfavorable candidate winning — among a broader set of choice. A bit of roundoff error would result in a similar candidate winning instead; vs. the opposite candidate winning like we have today.
Score voting would favor candidates closer to the center, but center would the center of a multidimensional space, vs. a one-dimensional left-right spectrum. You would have moderate rightists, moderate leftists, moderate libertarians, moderate fascists, moderate neocons, and others in the mix. Extremists of any direction would not be able to get into office on round-off error. Only extremists of extreme popularity/competence/money would have a chance.
Extremists would have to settle for trying to move the center via persuasion and working for candidates between their position and the center.
JR reply on November 11th, 2008 11:16 pm:
Thanks Carl!
November 7th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Thanks JR, and as a proud American I absolutely love this post, and your perspective on it. Something like voting or not is taken for granted by so many, and yet so many were willing to give up their lives so that everyone could have the opportunity to vote. And you see that; it’s something I’m proud of you for.
JR reply on November 8th, 2008 12:24 am:
Thank you Mitch, it was really an extra special election day for me, but every election really is as I could not forget where I came from and my family too always votes no matter what. It was disturbing to hear for how many this was a first time vote, regardless of the uniquiness of this election, voting should be a part of all American’s lives.
JR reply on November 8th, 2008 12:27 am:
By the way Mitch, I have to say that this election must have been a super special one for you? What a feeling that must be, I am white, but I have many African American friends for whom this means so much on so many different levels.
November 8th, 2008 at 12:32 am
I think the history of it was more special than the actual event happening, if that makes sense. I cheered when it was first announced, then immediately thought of my father, who’s no longer with us, and knew that he would have been really proud on this day, possibly cried, which I did not do. So many people cried; that’s really what this election was about.
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JR reply on November 8th, 2008 1:35 am:
Really amazing and I am sure that many thought of passed relatives that did not get to see that great day.
November 8th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Your certainly right. America is a great country and with Obama as president it is set to do some great things.
Ben
November 8th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Once you go Barack, there’s no going back! (Just kidding, of course)
I think Americans made the right choice — he’s just the ticket for improving US relations with Africa, Asia, and the Muslim world — If he fixes the domestic economy, that would be incredible — AND if he finds Osama & kills him, his high school Varsity Basketball nickname (”Barry O’ Bomber”) will be soooooo kewl!!! (hehehe)
JR reply on November 8th, 2008 1:48 pm:
Hi Matt,
Knock on Wood… I agree with you let’s hope. I think there may be limits to what he can do but I believe that he is not another full of shit politician.
JR reply on November 8th, 2008 1:49 pm:
LOL…Very kewl if he kills Osama and I love the nickname!
November 8th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I gotta say. I’m neither African American, nor democrat (or even slightly interested in politics for that matter) , but I was extremely impressed with the sheer MAGNITUDE of people that turned up inside and out of grant park that night.
Never before in my relatively short history of presidents…
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JR reply on November 8th, 2008 7:33 pm:
@ Dennis,
That is Obama’s gift, he has the Mass Movement Leadership Talent, he has inspired lots of people, black and white.
November 14th, 2008 at 11:47 am
McCain’s speech was full of grace, and Obama’s speech was full of promises. Let’s see if the promises come true.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
America is the greatest country I am glad to live in the best place in the world San Jose Califorinia
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