John McCain
Joe Biden and Barack ObamaSaturday, November 8, 2008
Op-Ed by Jayakhmer
On the web at http://www.modernprogressivekhmer.blogspot.com
Remember the feeling of love and proud of America you had after the 9/11 attack. That was the kind of feeling I had after America elected its new president. As I was anxiously waiting for the president elect to give his speech, I was very proud of Sen. McCain who did his very best in what was an up hill battle for his concession remark earlier.
I thought Sen. McCain was very gracious in his remark and was true to himself in recognizing this amazing moment in American history. Although I was disappointed in his campaign in the way in which it was conducted, Sen. McCain ended his campaign with a high note for which I will always respect the senator for his straight talks, independent spirit, and for being a true American hero.
The president elect was remarkable in his own way when he delivered a sobering remark as he recognized the challenges America is facing. Thus far, American lost 1.2 million jobs, and the unemployment rate is the highest in 14 years at 6.5%. The housing crisis impacts every community. Cambodian Americans are not immune to this problem. I know of friends and relatives who had to walk away from their homes for which they worked hard to buy for their families.
Politically speaking, the country is ready for change. After eight years of the republican administration and six years of the republican Congress, the country was overwhelmingly voted for change. With President George W. Bush's approval rate is at 28% only better than that of Richard Nixon at 24% in the 70s, the electoral votes were lopsided with 364 votes for Sen. Barrack Obama and 163 votes for Sen. John McCain. Sen. Obama only needed 270 votes to win.
My eyes were sweltering with tear as I witnessed this special moment of history. The notion that any one regardless of his/her background, race, and religious belief can aspire and obtain to the highest office in the nation moved me in a profound way that words cannot describe.
My young son asked me what the meaning of Sen. Obama being elected as president was. I told him that this election gives all minorities hope and inspiration. I often told my son that although we are minorities in this country, the sky is the limit. My words are much truer today than they are before the election.
As I worked the precincts and knocked on doors encouraging people to go out to vote, I could not help but admiring the genius of American political system. The notion that Americans have an opportunity to change their leaders every four years and that the transition of power is done in a peaceful manner gives me hope and inspiration that perhaps some day Cambodia will adopt term limit and will have a chance to participate in the truly free and fair election.
America has come a long way. For this reason, I love America even much more.
I thought Sen. McCain was very gracious in his remark and was true to himself in recognizing this amazing moment in American history. Although I was disappointed in his campaign in the way in which it was conducted, Sen. McCain ended his campaign with a high note for which I will always respect the senator for his straight talks, independent spirit, and for being a true American hero.
The president elect was remarkable in his own way when he delivered a sobering remark as he recognized the challenges America is facing. Thus far, American lost 1.2 million jobs, and the unemployment rate is the highest in 14 years at 6.5%. The housing crisis impacts every community. Cambodian Americans are not immune to this problem. I know of friends and relatives who had to walk away from their homes for which they worked hard to buy for their families.
Politically speaking, the country is ready for change. After eight years of the republican administration and six years of the republican Congress, the country was overwhelmingly voted for change. With President George W. Bush's approval rate is at 28% only better than that of Richard Nixon at 24% in the 70s, the electoral votes were lopsided with 364 votes for Sen. Barrack Obama and 163 votes for Sen. John McCain. Sen. Obama only needed 270 votes to win.
My eyes were sweltering with tear as I witnessed this special moment of history. The notion that any one regardless of his/her background, race, and religious belief can aspire and obtain to the highest office in the nation moved me in a profound way that words cannot describe.
My young son asked me what the meaning of Sen. Obama being elected as president was. I told him that this election gives all minorities hope and inspiration. I often told my son that although we are minorities in this country, the sky is the limit. My words are much truer today than they are before the election.
As I worked the precincts and knocked on doors encouraging people to go out to vote, I could not help but admiring the genius of American political system. The notion that Americans have an opportunity to change their leaders every four years and that the transition of power is done in a peaceful manner gives me hope and inspiration that perhaps some day Cambodia will adopt term limit and will have a chance to participate in the truly free and fair election.
America has come a long way. For this reason, I love America even much more.
8 comments:
i wish cambodian political parties were more like the USA. John McCain and his predecessors conceded the election the the victor party without so much of political bickering like the ones we often see in cambodia. now, why can't cambodian politicians do the same like the americans. what a shame for cambodia and those who were blinded only by their own ambition to take the powerful political office. the rule should be if you lose to the majority party, you should concede peacefully without this and that which goes to show that those fighting party leaders are actually weak and not fit to be the leader of cambodia because a good leader would not fight their own people. i think they should learn from america, and even history has shown that our ancestor, the Great King Jayavarman VII did not want to fight His only people and waited until He was into his late 50s or 60s to reign as one of the greatest Kings of the Khmer empire of the Great Khmer Civilization of whose mighty capital was centered at the present-day Angkor vicinity in present-day Siem Reap city. May God Bless Cambodia.
my friend 2:55 AM,
The different btwn Cambodia and America is American are free from foreign dictatorship And Cambodian are alway not free to rule itself.
Current, if you pay attention, many powerfull official in cambodian government are not even khmer. More then a handfull are vietnam or aka " youn ". So how can cambodian or cambodia be like american politician?
i don't think anyone is expecting cambodia to be like america as we are so different in culture, etc..., however, it is the american model that cambodia ought to adopt. that is the point, here! thank you!
To all Khmers, inside and overseas,
For my opinion, it won't happen at all as Illegal Viet Immigrants were, are, and will flocking more and more to resettle very easily in Cambodia, and facilitated those Viets to get khmer citizenship by the CPP of Puppet Hun Sen's regime.
The real Khmers, owners of Cambodia, will oppress of all RIGHTS, including the rights of vote, but the Viet invaders had those privileged rights in casting ballots.
Author of Norna Chea Kheatakors reas khmers ?
The problem that Cambodia could not successfully adapt the principle of democracy and the ability to make it work according to its virtuos form rooted in our culture and tradition. We have a culture of ruling for life and an uneasy attitude of coexisting with those who are different from us in both, ideas and ambitions. it is easy to blame ourselves or point fingure to our leaders as lacking political will to change the habits. But in reality, this habbit has been with us for thousand of years. It will take a long time of persistent struggle to change it, provided that we are able and have enough will power to shape our society to conform with our idealism.
My Khmer compatriots dearest,
There can be no dreams, no theories, no suppositions, no comparisons or nothing whatsoever until we can rid of the Viet domination in Cambodia.
As long as there is Viet, there will be no Cambodia. The Viet will never ever let Cambodia be free from the Federation of Indochina which Khmer will be ultimately Vietnamized from head to toe( to the backbone).
[Le Vietnam ne nous laisse jamais tranquille et independemment de la Federation de l'Indochine. Khmer sera alors vietnamise de la tete au pieds ]
ល្គឹកណា វៀតណាម រស់រានមានជិវិត នៅលើ
ផែនដីនេះ ខ្មែរមិនអាចរស់រានមានជិវិតជាជន
ជាតិខ្មែរតទៅទៀតបានទេ។ ខ្មែរនឹងក្លាយទៅជា
ជនជាតិ យួន ពីក្បាលដល់ចុងជើង៕
អក
aux pieds*
Barack Obama and Joe Biden Good luck...May God guide you to the right direction,Now let's combined all the knowledge and show the world what's America made of.
Mr.John McCain,You Make your Country and nation overwhelm with wonder.May God Bless you.
Post a Comment