A Nobel decision?

It truly is amazing the difference one week can make. The president of the United States went from being the face of the failed Chicago bid for the 2016 Olympics to the nobel peace prize recipient (it was like a kid getting a lollipop after being beat for insubordination). I have to admit our president receiving the nobel peace prize came as a major shock to me (of course I'm sure no one was more shocked than the recipient himself). I could not understand how someone who has only been officially on the job for 9 almost 10 months could be worthy of such an honor. Don't get me wrong, President Obama has done quite a bit in terms of restoring America's image in the world. For the first time in a long time, people realized that change really can happen (they also found out that American's aren't as dumb as they thought. I mean who would've taken us seriously if Sarah Palin was our vice-president. Brrr, Gives me chills just thinking about it.) I also believe that President Obama has the ability and the support to make major changes in America as well as the world. However, I can't seem to put him in the same category as Woodrow Wilson, Martin Luther King Jr., Al Gore, and countless others just yet. Most importantly, it amazes me that the nobel PEACE prize has been given to someone who is contemplating sending additional troops to Afghanistan to fight the WAR on terror.

I have purposefully avoided discussing Afghanistan and the president's impending decision because I have such mixed feelings about the situation. On the one hand, we know that at one time Afghanistan was home to Al-Qaeda aka Osama's banditos. We also know that the Taliban was in control and absolutely terrorizing Afghani citizens particularly women. Finally, we know that the 9/11 attacks was the "are these "bleep" crazy?, don't they know we are the U.S of freaking A?" moment for this country. Yes, we had more than enough reason and motive in 2001 to invade Iraq. Wait a minute, what happened to Afghanistan? Well, we did send some troops to Afghanistan to "search" for Osama and company, but the all out war was launched in Iraq because they had "weapons of mass destruction". You know, those same wmd's that were used to bring down the twin towers and destroy our Pentagon. I guess the bottom line is that we had plenty of reason to attack Afghanistan in 2001, and yet here we are in 2009, and our new nobel peace prize winning president has to fix the mess that our (i think we all know the appropriate adjectives) ex-president made. Ultimately, I do believe that it is a mess that has to be cleaned up.

On the other hand, I question whether this mess needs to be cleaned up now and if it should be done militarily. The unfortunate truth of the matter is we waited too late to catch the bad guys. I don't know any criminal that would allow himself to be caught after 8 years (ok, there is always an exception to the rule, Roman Polanski). Our objective in Afghanistan has now changed from finding Osama and the crew to stabilizing a country that is whirling out of control. When it comes to this issue of us getting deeply entrenched in Afghanistan, I have so many questions such as: When are our troops stationed in Iraq coming home? If they do come home, will they only be here long enough to give a quick kiss and hug to their mother, wife, husband, father, daughter, son, etc. before they are shipped to Afghanistan? Where will the money come from to support not only this new war effort but maintain troops in Iraq? Why are we maintaining troops in Iraq, Korea, Germany, etc. again? Do people know how much money it takes to maintain this empire that we know of as America? Is our maintenance of all of these bases around the world really keeping us safer? How would we feel if a foreign country invaded us and decided to set up shop in the American heartland? Are we as bad as those European countries who colonized Africa, India, South America, and yes this great land that we call home? Didn't they too rob people of their natural resources and culture? Can I blame another country for hating mine so much when we claim to build a country up but only end up destroying it in the end? Could we employ one more man, educate one more child, or provide healthcare for one more woman if we cut back on our defense spending? I always heard that you should take care of home first and then you are better able to help others, isn't our home broken?

I don't know the answers to any of these questions, but I am hoping that our commander in chief is pondering at least some of these questions as he contemplates sending more troops to Afghanistan. I have to admit that it does give me some peace of mind to know that he is taking the time to make a decision versus just rushing in and invading Iraq, I mean Afghanistan. Ultimately, there are human lives that are depending on President Obama to make the right decision, and I'm not only speaking of the soldiers but their families, our families, and thousands of Afghani citizens. We can not afford to make another mistake when it comes to fighting the war on terror. The price is simply just too high, and I am not talking economics.

A for Effort

And the 2020 Olympics goes to the city of....... Rio de Janeiro? As I was on the shuttle headed to my office last week, I engaged in an interesting debate about the fate of the 2020 Olympics. There were riders who absolutely knew that Chicago was going to win it's bid for the 2020 Olympics. After all, it's ideal location along Lake Michigan, star power (I mean Oprah is known just about everywhere and let us not forget our esteemed president Barack Obama), and it's well known reputation for being a town run by gangsters (I'm sure there are some greasy palms somewhere connected to this Chicago bid. I mean after all Chicago can't be shown up by Utah when it comes to the bribery game.) There was the other group on the bus who were staunchly in the Madrid corner. It seemed absolutely ludicrous to them that the Olympics would ever go to Rio or Chicago (there is nothing but thugs in these places for pete's sake which is code word for....). At the end of the day I and one other woman were the only people who believed that Rio was definitely going to be the city. I suppose the fact that the Olympics have NEVER been held in South America before doesn't resonate with people. The fact that Brazil is a part of a handful of countries that could actually put on a half way decent opening ceremony (No one will ever show up China, but can we get a country that at least has great costumes?) doesn't make a difference to some people. Most importantly, the opportunity for jobs that the Olympics brings to a country teeming with poor people just doesn't pull at the old heart strings.

Now, don't get me wrong, putting on the Olympics isn't a cheap task. It will require huge sums of money, and it has been known to back fire on cities before (I adore Montreal, but they were broker than a joke after hosting the Olympics). However, it seems to me this is a gamble that a city has to take. It is the same gamble that President Obama decided he had to take in order to help Chicago. There is no telling how many jobs may have been created by the Olympics coming to Chicago. I am tired of hearing people say it was a mistake for President Obama to go to Copenhagen to make the case for the United States. Although he had other pressing matters, he had to try for every person who is jobless, furloughed, or facing a potential job loss in this country. Now, Brazil gets it's chance to help it's citizens, and we should be glad to see that for once the underdog finished first. It seems to me that we talk a good game about wanting to see change in this country and the world, but it is just that.... talk. On the shuttle last week, I said to everyone sitting there that Brazil getting the Olympics could be their "change" moment (who would ever believe that a nation with so many impoverished people would be allowed to host such a prestigious global event). Moments like winning the Olympics for the first time in your continent's history or electing the first black president in a country's history are inspirational for many. These "moments" remind us that there is always something better waiting around the corner if we just exercise a little patience and a whole lot of prayer, devotion, and meditation. Therefore, although Chicago lost it's bid for the Olympics, I still give President Obama and his lovely wife Michelle (who we all know is the real brains behind this operation, lol) an A for effort.