Athens, Europe's ashtray?

Ok, that's a little harsh but I have to say, the graffiti on every surface coupled with the prevalent cigarette smoke was enough to make me wonder. On top of that, numerous buildings in a state of 'its either being torn down or built but is other wise abandon' was another reminder that things in Athens aren't going to well.

On the other hand - there was an overabundance of bathroom stores (sinks, toilets and tile) and used car lots on my way into Athens - on both sides of the street. It was either one of the abandoned buildings, a car lot or a bathroom store. Honestly - I have the film to prove it.

But besides that it did have the Akropolis (Gr. we use a 'c') and some other ruins to gawk at for a while and the coast line is gorgeous - Athens needs a spa-retreat, face lift. Not saying don't go - but certainly wouldn't spend more than two days in Athens site seeing and then moving on to the Santorini Islands or some other nice part of Greece. Just don't ask me where that part might be...

The ruins were ruined, the food was fully cooked (i.e. - over cooked, with one majorly enjoyable exception) and the people were as happy as folks in Humbug, er Hamburg, Germany. Its not that I didn't have a nice time, its just that it wasn't a nice time :-P Either way, there are some photos to enjoy over at the right hand side link - go to Picasa for that and consider that I just saved you a trip!

Sorry not blogged in a few days...

but as you likely know I am on a trip around the globe. Funny little story:

The day after elections back in the States, I went into work there in our Dublin, Ireland office - and I got a standing ovation. Simply for what our country did and me being a citizen. Truly an inspiring thing - especially when you consider this was mostly European engineers (few are actually Irish in the office but those that are stood and applauded too).

This applause wasn't because we chose the candidate Obama, but because we chose the 'new choice' for our voting record. Again, this wasn't because he is Democratic party member but because he wasn't a Bush clone or an 'old white guy'. Again, not against John McCain but we showed the world something different for the first time in over 200 years of Presidential elections and people are saying 'whoa, those American's aren't quite what we thought' (in the bad way of thinking of Americans).

They simply didn't think we had it in us. It wasn't so much the black thing* but it was. It wasn't Obama specifically, but it was. Not sure I can explain it but people stopped me on the streets in Dublin, asked if I was an American (why, is it *showing*???!) and then asked me what I thought - usually after saying some positive things or sometimes before saying extremely positive things.

Then I get to China - and its more of the same. Except here in China they assume because 'we love Mr. Bush' as an American public, we agree with all his policies. No use trying to tell them that his approval rating is the lowest in recorded history and that 'not too many Americans are that much in favor of his actions'. The point is, they too are reassessing their opinion on the American peoples.


And that is a cool thing!

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*re:"black thing" - it was surprising just how little the folks in Ireland knew about the racial divide in the US - they were shocked that race was the 'main problem' of people potentially not voting for him when I talked to them. Not his age, not his background nor even his policies but that his race was even possibly an issue was shocking to them. Then I asked how likely they might be to vote for a Protestant for Prime Minister. They got it then. So racial problems = religious differences in Ireland. The rest of the EU folks here, like the Polish - simply didn't see any of that being a potential problem.

To them, it was 'either you like his point of view of policies or you don't' as to how/why you voted. Not even liking someone but agreeing more with their platform you should still vote for candidate A. Funny. Of course, few of them understood why so few Americans vote too.


Ah Democracy, win some ya lose some!

Its nice to win one for once.

PPS - Most people over here simply didn't see it much as a choice but a 'you got to be kidding me with the old guy who is farting around saying 'stuff' but not saying anything but the old 'those dems suck' and the woman he chose didn't even know that Africa wasn't a country but a continent full of countries'. And don't give me that bit about how that was a 'made up' story. It broke in Ireland over two weeks ago.

Let's see, the inspiring, well tempered, even keel, non-fundamentalist, well spoken guy - or the same ol' same ol'? Going with something new - gave the world something new to think about.

At the time it happened...

Thinking back to 2000 and watching the election unfold at the time and have it become a STOLEN moment in US history, I was really torn apart by my founding fathers and this obscene electoral system that could not deliver an elected president but instead a 'one time only' 'special circumstances' Supreme Court ruled decision of a 'winner'.

I thought I would get over it. Then four years later I was more aghast and appalled at the President but then he DID get elected. Now I see why all that 'had to happen'.

Without the horrid performance of George Bush and his failed policies for 8 years driving our country to the brink of total collapse helping lead people to making a more informed, 'different' choice this election cycle. This would not be Barack standing as the President Elect if any of the previous 8 years had a different outcome, I can guarantee this. Sometimes change has to be forced - and I mean a change in attitude on race in this case, not forcing presidents out of office here (although that would have been nice to see as well).

May God/The Universal Energy/Light/All that IS - protect our President Elect. May he live up to my hopes and dreams of what he will do for this great country. And in the least, the rest of the world has an improved sense of what America is - finally a real example of democracy when just 40 years ago we tore down someone who dreamed that one day there might be an African American President - promise land indeed. Thank you Dr. King for showing us that we could rise up and over come this last stanchion of abhorrent behavior left in this country.

I know it isn't a CURE ALL for our racial divide, but it certainly will help the healing process. I know President Obama won't be able to control the economy well, but he can affect it - for better or worse. May we land on the former side and not the later.

Many of my 'republican' friends and family are 'angry' and indeed there are already calls for impeachment. Fine - but know that the country just elected this man by a LANDSLIDE victory - the most for a Democrat since 1964. If you aren't up on your facts, you might not know that it takes at least 6% of the popular vote to be considered a 'landslide'. That means more people think you are wrong than think you are right. You can think this was a vote against George Bush but it was McCain who could not win the people over to his side.

Let's table this whole thing for 2 years - we can meet again and see how things are then. If Barack has not done his best at unifying the country - and stabilizing our economy and providing real growth for education and health care in America, I will join you in voting him out come 2012. Unless of course your answer is an Alaskan Governor, then you are on your own, and good luck with *that one*. (I say while jabbing my thumb over at Sarah P. sitting on a stool)

Voted!

Relief from the election news you are bombarded with..

As I am in Europe right now, I am suffering from a lack of coverage on the election. For you however, I bring this blog entry from someone else:

http://humorland.wordmess.net/20081025/what-the-real-crisis-is-like/

Just scroll slowly down - and THIS is what inflation looks like in a hard hit place like Zimbabwe.