President Obama - Cambina Le Mondo!

As a student of history and politics I could not be more shocked and ecstatic. Although I would have liked to be in DC and watch personally, the man whose life and actions I have avidly studied this past 2 years take the oath of office and become our 44th President. It was an entirely different perspective to be overseas and in a foreign countries. Many Italians, like us, are also in dismay. While they are infatuated with American music, film, and other cultural aspects they have despised our government for 8 years and can truly not believe that we have elected an African American to be our next leader. Italy, for the most part, still has embedded racism and immigration remains a main problem in the country. It will be interesting to see how the Italian electorate will change in response to America’s own evolution.

I awoke on January 20, threw on my Obama t-shirt and strolled the streets of Florence. For the first time in 8 years, I was proud to wear red, white, and blue and say that I am American. Several young Italians congratulated me and thanked me on behalf of our country.

Following President Obama’s speech (it feels so good to be able to replace President-elect with President), some friends and I went to a grocery store and bought some champagne. A police officer gestured to let us know it was okay to celebrate in the streets. Then, while we were celebrating, I woman came up to me and asked what Obama is going to do. Unable to discuss healthcare, energy independence, and other policy issues in my minimal Italian, all I managed to say was “cambina le mondo.” He will change to world. Although the woman responded with the world cannot be changed in 8 years, I could not disagree more.

In addition to the Inaugural celebrations classes started this week. I absolutely love my art history course, as it has been awesome to view such masterpieces in person instead of a textbook. The field trips included in the course will also be amazing, including a four day trip to Paris, and a two day one to Rome, including a private viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Gardens, which will be a real treat considering that they hurry thousands of tourists through those landmarks.

This weekend we are going to Assissi and Siena. Should have more pictures after that. Until then arriverderci.

Duomo and Chianti

The past couple days I have been adjusting to jet lag and walking around the city. The pubs and discotecs are awesome and I have been meeting more Italians. The other day we went to the top of the Duomo. Then today I went to the Chiani region with my mama and roommate and some other people from our school. It was amazing the prosciutto, cheese, and wine was so good. We then went to a castle and finally a church where my mama was married. It also had great views from the city. Here are some of the pictures I have taken so far. Tomorrow is the first day of classes I am pretty excited, I start my internship soon and am also looking forward to that. Blogger doesn't make it easy to upload photos so I made an account on photobucket. Here is the link, let me know if it doesn't work

http://s604.photobucket.com/albums/tt127/aaronschwindt/

Enjoy le fotograficas.

Ciao

Benvenuti in Italia

With this blog I have spent the majority of this past semester documenting the historic final four months of the 2008 Presidential election. However, I am now studying abroad in Firenze (Florence) Italy and am altering the purpose of this forum to document my travels and experiences. These posts will certainly be less formal then my previous ones on politics and race relations. Moreover, I would like to also thank American Airlines who gave me a scholarship for my round trip ticket to Florence.

After roughly 25 hours of traveling I arrived in the Hotel Mediterreano in Firezne for Syracuse University’s orientation. Instead of going to bed, however, my new friend Jesse and I explored the incredible city in search of wine and cigarettes. Unlike the States, few stores stay open past 8 o’clock and cigarettes are mostly purchased via a machine. Already though I love the fact there are no open container laws in Italy, and of course the drinking age is 16. Finally, no more fake IDs. Although I don’t speak perfect Italian, wine greatly improves my language skills. We met some Italian musicians on the street and they took us to a local pub known as Rex. Through their broken English and our broken Italian we were able to communicate pretty effectively and it was a great primo notte in Firenze.

The city is truly incredible. The Duomo is easily the most beautiful building I have ever scene. All of the structures are so old and have such history. The streets are mostly cobblestone and every corner has a café or bar. It has been a great place to get lost in these first few days.

The rest of these first few days were filled with tedious orientation tasks (setting up wireless on our laptops and scheduling classes). Fortunately, I do not need many credits here so I am taking the minimum amount possible. My schedule will be Italian language (2 hours a day Monday through Thursday), an Art History course on the Renaissance in which we are in class one day a week and the other we go to a museum, church, or various other on site visits, and then I will be interning with the ARCI, http://www.arci.it/, which is an Italian political organization.

Just yesterday I met my roommate named Devin and so far we have gotten along great. After our introduction we then sat in a room as one by one we were introduced to our host families. It was similar to what I imagine orphans or puppies feel before being chosen by their new owners. Lilly Cantanese greeted us wearing a lavish mink coat and from the moment I met my new mama (the affectionate and more informal word for mother in Italian) I knew we would get along great. On our way to her house, roughly a 20 minute walk from our school and the city center, she swore several times in Italian at other reckless drivers, unaware that her American sons already knew the word for bitch (stronzo) and dick/fuck (cazzo). She does speak some English, however requires us to only speak Italian in her home. The house we are living in is awesome. Devin and I have our own floor and the décor is very cool. Even better though is my new nonna (grandmother) who will be turning 90 this July and is easily the cutest old woman I have every met. Our first dinner was again wonderful. Endless amounts of chianti and Lily is an amazing cook. I also knew I would like her as she smokes constantly around the house and made fun of me for buying an Italian pack of cigarettes more commonly smoked by woman. I am very excited to spend these next four months with my new mama and nonna. They are avid calico (soccer) fans and have passes to the Stadio in Firenze, which we live two blocks from. Although I am not a huge soccer fan, it is completely different in Italy and is a huge part of their culture. I can’t wait to go to some games which I here are crazy and fantastico.

Classes begin on Monday and this weekend we are required to spend with our new family. Lilly is taking us to the Chianti region with some of her friends. I am really excited to drink wine and see more of this great Tuscan region. I hope to have great stories and possibly some pictures for my next post. Until then, ciao.

Obama Vs. Oil

We’re all saying it. “I never thought I’d see the day when gas would go below 2 dollars.” “I just filled up my tank for 18 bucks.” Yes, it appears as though the 5-dollar a gallon prices have surpassed, at least for now. And we should all breath a sign of relief that the economic crisis has also forced oil prices to lower, which subsequently means less money for terrorist organizations. Hopefully though, the mentality created by expensive gas prices over the summer will not diminish. That people will not leave public transportation or the carpool lane and hop back into their Hummers. And yet, this is exactly what the most powerful businesses in the world would like to happen, but not if Obama has any say. Come January 20th we will begin to witness the clash of titans, as the powerful oil companies will, for arguably the first time, find a foe and not a friend in the Oval Office.

When you look at the past 100 years, oil has always been a factor in important decision-making. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after WWI the Middle East was broken up and given to Western nations based off the location of oil fields. Soon, revolutions for independence would end complete Western control of these countries, but not Western dependency.

After the gas shortages of the 1970s, Americans foolishly ignored the wake-up call and would continue their complete energy reliance on an unstable Middle East. Since then, in complete disregard for the interests of people living in the region, we have invested billions into oil, through war and the creation of large military bases.

In the past eight years, President Dick Cheney… I mean President George W. Bush has been arguably the most pro-oil President the United States has ever witnessed. In addition to the Iraq war, policies such as tax breaks for both consumers and producers of cars that weigh over 6000 pounds have helped to encourage oil consumption. And we wonder why America’s three largest automobile companies have yet to spend money in research and construction on more energy efficient transportation. Thankfully though, Bush is on his way out and hopefully taking some oil lobbyists with him.

However, oil companies continue to be the richest organizations in the US and surely will not go down without a fight. As the recent third-quarter profits saw red-figures for almost all major corporations, Exxon Mobile posted record profits of 14.83 billion dollars. In an attempt to stay on top, gas prices have lowered, but it is surely not the final tactic to encourage American consumption.

Have we finally learned our lesson? Will we be able to give up the Ford F350, which has become a symbol of Americana? Lets hope so. And lets hope that a President Obama will be the first to win the battle against the almighty oil.

Choose Your Lameness

With news of more economic disaster it seems as though January 20th cannot come soon enough. President-elect Obama will already have his hands full come inauguration day, but things could, and probably will, get much worse over the holiday season. In such times of crisis it seems imperative to replace public officials as soon as possible after Election Day. Lincoln, for example, had to wait until March to enter the White House, as President Buchanan sat back and watched the country break apart before entering a Civil War. The problem was solved in 1933 after FDR was forced to wait until March as the nation suffered through the Great Depression. The passage of the 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution served as the solution, which among other items, made the start of the newly elected President’s term on January 20th instead of March. However, in such crucial times, is this date still too far away from the first tuesday in November?

In many cases, Presidents choose to spend the lame-duck session building foreign relations and solidifying their legacy. President Reagan, for example, met with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and helped to bring a final end to the Cold War. President Bush is currently meeting with Asian leaders this weekend in Peru, however this is surely a different time and a different President. Foreign leaders of the world have lost most, if not all, respect for the President Bush and are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to communicate with an Obama Administration.

President Bush could also take the route of many other Presidents and issue pardons. His father, President George Herbert Walker Bush, pardoned former staffers involved in the Iran-Contra affair. The current President surely has some felon friends that would appreciate this get out of jail free card. Maybe Senator Stevens will be one of the few to be granted an early Christmas present. It’s not as though Bush has to worry about his reputation as his approval ratings are already below that of President Nixon before he left office.

In this case, the ideal role for Bush is a difficult one. Almost everything he has done these past eight years, from the Hurricane Katrina response to the Iraq War, has lead our country down a horrific path. Yet times are increasingly scary in the US and it would be reassuring to have a President that said or did something. Thankfully, I don’t see President Bush attempting to make Obama’s transition more difficult by issuing thousands of pages of new regulations. Ideally, I would like Bush to leave the White House with the same personable and jokester attitude that helped get him elected. Chances are he’ll take some prankster inspiration from President Clinton, who removed all of the “W”s from White House computers. Here’s a suggestion, leave Obama piles of spare “change” around the oval office.

A Spot on Mount Rushmore

About a month ago I drew comparisons between the 2008 Presidential election and the 1932 contest between Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Thankfully, I was accurate in my prediction that history would repeat itself as the United States witnessed a new political party shift and a significant change in direction. Additionally, the economic crisis has already made the 32nd and 44th Presidencies comparable and I believe Obama will carry out his term in office similarly, and along with FDR, become one of the Greats.

Polls indicate that the Reagan days of limited government are gone, at least for now, and Americans are ready for larger federal involvement. Similar to “change,” FDR ran on a message of a “new deal,” for the American people. During his first 100 days in office, FDR was easily able to pass numerous bills through Congress. Obama will have a supportive Democratic majority in Congress and will also have this opportunity to be immediately effective.

The current economic crisis on Wall Street is familiar for those Americans who witnessed the fall in 1929. However, there was no 700 billion dollar bailout in 1932 like our government has approved, but rather the creation of numerous social programs. With 700 billion of taxpayers’ dollars being handed over to the nation’s wealthiest banks, how can one make the argument that all Americans shouldn’t have access to affordable health care or quality education?

FDR’s creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps is also similar to Obama’s policy to double the Peace Corps and reward those that take part in other forms of civic duty.

FDR made initial cuts to defense, although this would change drastically at the start of WWII. In comparison, an Obama Presidency will bring a close to the War in Iraq and the waste of billions of dollars.

Through the Yalta conference, FDR helped establish a new post war world and lasting foreign relations. Obama has already seen immense support from foreign officials who are eager to work with new leadership in the United States.

In the 1930s government began to play a larger role in the lives of Americans. Therefore, FDR created fireside chats to present his proposals directly to the American people through the radio. Obama has already taken advantage of the technological advances in communication, text messaging supporters important decisions such as his choice of Senator Biden for the Vice-President position. In addition, Obama has promised to make available on the Internet all of the bills that pass through his office. The transparent government of the 1930s is surely something the American people have indicated they would like to return to.

Unlike FDR, Obama faces an energy crisis. Fortunately though, Dick Cheney and other oil lobbyist no longer have the power to gage wars and policies that benefit them directly, such as tax breaks for the purchase of Hummers and vehicles that weigh over 6000 pounds. Obama will further use the energy crisis to revitalize the economy and make the United States serve as an environmental example to the world.

I now wish there were not Presidential term limits. I realize that my complete faith in our future President could be perceived as naïve, but these is a crucial time for our country. “All we have to fear is fear itself,” is just as relevant today as it was 75 years ago, and I expect an equally inspiring message from President Obama on January 20th. My prediction is we will rise to greatness again though, partly because we have no where else to go but up and because we have a great leader to take us there. Sorry FDR, but I think he might even surpass you, and in 50 years they will be carving out a new spot next to your cousin on Mount Rushmore.

The Passing of the Civil Rights Torch

The Civil Rights chapter in American History books was forever altered this past Tuesday night as we elected the first black man to serve as President of the United States. Yet, although African Americans saw a symbolic end to their own struggles, the chapter did not conclude as millions of Americans witnessed the removal of their basic civil right of marriage.

While the struggles of gays and African Americans share comparisons it is wrong to view them under one movement. Today there are no fire hoses or police dogs attacking gay activists, and while hate crimes do take place, we are assured that our judicial system will bring the appropriate punishment to the perpetrators. But it is also wrong to think the Civil Rights struggle should only encompass African Americans. The term “faggot” and phrase “that’s so gay” have replaced the “n-word” as the most socially acceptable derogatory slur that stems from the degradation of a minority group. Additionally, both movements depict a minority fighting for equality and while we are told that such minority interests are protected against the majority under the Constitution, this is clearly not the case in California.

By a simple majority vote, California passed Proposition 8, easily adding another amendment to the longest State Constitution in the US. Although there have already been three laws suits stating Proposition 8 was an illegal Constitution revision rather than an amendment because it fundamentally alters the guarantee of equal protection, these are projected to fail.

Many prop 8 opponents, especially first time younger voters who mostly opposed the initiative, awoke to this news Wednesday morning in disbelief. How could the most liberally progressive state uphold discrimination and inequality? The answer is fairly simple though: religion. Religion has been used to oppress minorities and restrict civil liberties since the early days of our Nation. Of the seven in ten voters who described themselves as Christian, two-thirds of them voted in favor of the ban. A Los Angeles Times article highlights another factor of the ban.

“Jeffrey Jackson of Lynwood said he struggled with how he would vote on Proposition 8. On the one hand, as a black man casting his ballot for Obama, he said he had a deep and personal reverence for civil rights. On the other, he is a Pentecostal Christian. In the end, it was that religious faith that guided his decision. "It's straight biblical," said Jackson, 46. "It's just not right."

To my surprise and disappointment it was ultimately the California black vote that decided the Prop 8 outcome. Exit polls showed that will Asian Americans opposed the measure and Whites and Latinos split evenly, Blacks heavily favored a ban on same-sex marriage by roughly 70 to 75 percent. Even though Obama himself opposed Prop 8, this was not widely advertised most likely for fear of affecting key swing states.

Blacks are not only passing the Civil Rights torch to the LGBT community, but also helping to throw it even farther back.

Since his 2004 keynote speech I have actively followed the career of Senator Barack Obama and am truly elated about his election. Yet, November 4th will also mark the day in which a right was taken away and equality was pushed back in the closet.