Our time is now

The presidential primary season is in full swing. With three states already reporting and nearly half of the nation weighing in within the next two weeks, the country is moving rapidly toward selecting the next president of the U.S. On the Democratic side, the contest has been narrowed down to Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama. The Democrats are noticeably similar from a policy standpoint; all have committed to ending the war in Iraq, reversing the effects of global warming and providing health care to all Americans. Likewise, all three candidates have expressed an affinity for change and represent a departure from the Bush Administration. \nWhoever the next president is, he or she will have many complex issues to deal with; issues made even more complex in an increasingly interconnected global society. Challenges to the American economy and workforce are part of a larger global network of trade. Preventing terrorism and securing loose nuclear weapons are dependent on resolving ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Reversing the damaging effects of global warming will require rapid global reductions on carbon emissions. Ending the genocide in Darfur will require a joint effort from many nations. \nIn an increasingly interconnected world, the real question seems to be: Who is best able to restore America’s standing within the world? If America is going to begin to tackle some of the most pressing issues, it will have to regain the world’s trust and respect. The only candidate who can restore America’s standing within the world, and therefore effectively work toward solving the world’s most vital challenges, is Barack Obama. \nConsider how America’s position in the world will fundamentally change if on Jan. 20, 2009, Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th president of the U.S. An Obama presidency will signal that America is finally ready to end the war in Iraq and that the most responsible way to leave is under the leadership of someone who had the judgment to oppose it from the start. On that day, Obama will become the nation’s first African-American president, and the world will once again look to America as a beacon of progress and an emblem of hope. With a mother from Kansas and father from Kenya, Obama proves the “American Dream” is still alive. Having spent time living and traveling abroad, Obama knows that America remains the most influential country in the world, but that its position cannot be taken for granted.\nIt is Obama’s unique identity and ability to inspire hope that will enable America to reclaim its moral authority and allow it to resume its leadership in the international community. If we are ever going to solve the most urgent and challenging problems facing this country and the world, we must act now. The problems are too great and the implications too immense to wait any longer. Electing Barack Obama as the next president of the U.S. says to the world that, “You matter to us. Your future is our future. And our moment is now.”