by Sherry Rindt

Created on: April 21, 2009

It is early yet, but so far it appears that President Obama is at least attempting positive change.

Some how, at some point that I can't quite define, it seems American leaders stopped ruling with dipolmacy and started ruling with arrogance. It was as if election to the highest office inspired runaway arrogance and the Bush administration took arrogance to the extreme. The most infamous attacks on America, or American interests, have all been connected to apparent arrogance.

What gives America the right to dictate to the rest of the world the standards and civil rights to be allowed? It is perfectly correct for the United States of America to defend and promote human rights, but does promoting a different opinion means we can not converse or communicate with other countries?

The Bush Administration refused to engage in a dialogue with many leaders, such as Hugo Chavez. By American standards, Mr. Chavez has suppressed democracy in his country and forced his people to endure insufferable hardships and brutality. But, Mr. Chavez feels pretty much the same way about American presidents and leaders. Okay, so here in America we might not round citizens up at gunpoint and throw them in jail simply because they oppose the current leadership. But, does that make the United States morally superior?

What gives the United States the right to dictate to other counties whether or not they can develop nuclear energy? I'm pretty sure Iran and Syria and North Korea and probably many other countries don't like the fact the the United States has nuclear energy and nuclear weapons capability. What makes the United States the "Decider" when it comes to these things?

I don't want anyone to bomb our country or invade our territory. But, if the United States continues to present itself as an aggressive country that demands all other countries to embrace our standards, we are doomed to be attacked. It has been a long time since America has actually engaged in a dialogue with our opposites. We need to keep in mind that the citizens of these countries are NOT our enemies. For the most part, they are struggling to survive just like our citizens.

So, to get back to the question at hand: Is President Obama changing America for better or worse? Well, I thinik he is changing America for the better, so far. He's presenting a strong, but open administration. He has not shown weakness. But, he has shown a willingness to communicate and find the common demoninators that could result in a better dialogue with our so-called enemies.

And on a domestic basis Mr. Obama is, again, opening dialogue. He's presenting ideas, opinions and goals, but he has also made it clear that he is willing to hear other ideas, opinions and options.

Mr. Obama is very rigid about what he wants for the country, but he is not overly rigid about what we need to do to get there. And given the fact that status quo has pretty much failed most Americans, I'm willing to give this new approach a chance.

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