The Victory Dance [311/365]

O Won!
While I wasn't surprised one bit. Given the competition, he could have slept through the campaigning and still won.

There are many reasons why American voters routed Romney out. Mitt's background was anything but convincing. Having a former businessmen at the helm of affairs would have meant repeating many of the sins that they are now trying to fix.

Which is also why Obama's win in a country that has lost its economic advantage is impressive. He won an astounding 332 of 538 electoral votes which means he won comfortably over the 270 that he needed for the second term. And there are thousands of votes that remain uncounted. O also made history by becoming the first American president to win a second term when the nation has been ravaged by high unemployment, natural disasters and a war-sapped economy.

So as the president puts his well-oiled campaigning machine back in the attic and gets back to running the country, the minorities, the blue-collared and the women voters that put him back in power are looking up at him to deliver on his promises.

We could analyze an election that gave stand-up comedians and late-night shows much fodder until we turn blue around our gills. But I don't think any of that will feed the millions who are still unemployed. But O's victory is a testament that America is still made up people who strive and struggle for that American Dream.

It's now time to deliver on those promises, Mr O. Not just because you are the American president elected for the Americans, but also because you are the commander-in-chief of a fragile world on the brink of collapse.
In case you haven't noticed, this is your last chance.

The Forever War [310/365]

This picture spoke a thousand words..

When the Arab world erupted in civil activism aimed at toppling corrupt dictators, optimists (including me) across the world thought they were experiencing an Arab version of the French Revolution.
Eighteen months down, Egypt has another radical dictator in place, Libya is best left unsaid, Tunisia is in doldrums, Bahrain is .. well not spoken of anymore at dinner tables and world conferences and Syria is still nowhere.

As if all this fighting wasn't enough, we now have Israel and Palestine fighting with each-other. It looks like our optimists spoke too soon.

After many months of civil unrest, peace has eluded Syria. Thousands have died. Tourism too.
Millions of dollars worth of weapons have changed hands and billions have been destroyed.
What are the rebels fighting for? If it is peace and justice that they are looking for, it would be safe to say that neither is coming.
Global super-cop- Uncle Sam, is cautious about stepping into another cesspool of Arab discontent after the fiasco of the recent years. With tensions spilling over to neighboring countries, this conflict appears to be growing like a pustule out of control.

The Arabs have always been touchy about freedom. Yet, they have been unable to respect their neighbor's boundaries and sovereignty.
As the conflict between Israel and Palestine grows, we know that this is not the Palestine that Israel fought a few decades ago. With an Iran that has been cornered by the West, this could be the one chance that the Iranians could use against a common enemy.

Only time will tell when and how the region would find peace. And the next recipient of the Nobel Peace prize.

In the meanwhile, I think I've understood why the Arabs and Jews are always at each others throat- Circumcision.