Ukraine

This situation is so fascinating. I was watching This Week yesterday and it was noted that the old Eastern bloc countries had split down religious lines when it came to an affinity for European Union or Russia. Those countries with strong Roman Catholic roots have gone to the West and those with strong Eastern Orthodox roots have gone to the East. The Ukraine happens to be split down the middle, and it is interesting that there was a call for secession from the Eastern half of the country if the opposition candidate wins another run-off. The only other country with that kind of religious split was the former Yugoslavia - and we know what happened there. It is in many ways very heartening to see so many people out in the streets exercising a truly populist brand of democracy. The real test will be whether the region plunges into civil war or can work out its' differences peacefully.

Darfur

It's been awhile since my last post, but this is a topic that needs greater discussion. It is disgraceful that we, as a global community, are not doing more about the situation in Darfur. Have we not learned any lessons from the previous 30 or so years since the end of the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia, Idi Amin in Uganda, Milosevic in Kosovo, and the tragedy of Rwanda 10 years ago. A governments legitimacy is severely strained, to say the least, with the systematic murder of its own populace by proxy or otherwise. While we are praising the peace treaty that is ending a 20 year civil war between the North and the South, we should be putting pressure to bear on the African Union via a United Nations Security Council vote to send peace keepers to stabilize the area as well as to initiate sanctions against a regime that is currently less than responsive to the situation. Of course, negotiations should continue, because the conditions that have led to this crisis need to be addressed and corrected, but there should also be a stabilizing presence in the form of African military units who can safeguard the refugee camps. Time is of the essence.

Post Election Let Down

I must say that I am extremely disappointed in the outcome of the election. It was gratifying that so many people waited in long lines to cast their vote and that there were relatively few problems. Not that there weren't any, but they seemed manageable this time. President Bush can rightly claim a mandate for his political agenda, and from today's news conference and news reports, he is on his way to re-shaping American society in a 'neo-conservative' light. Just a few brief observations:

1. While there were no great election day voting issues, there could have been. We need to set a system in place that allows for maximal accountability. I think that a national voting scheme which requires electronic voting machines that have a paper trail for recount possibilities and evidence of tampering is necessary. A move in this direction may begin soon.

2. The liberal establishment and/or the Democrats can no longer allow the Conservative segment of society lament their minority status. They are no longer in the minority. A clear majority voted on conservative lines, and the Democratic Party is really now the minority party. We have to do a better job of putting forth our agenda and countering the 'morality' issue.

3. Since 1968, the Republicans have had 5 presidents whereas the Democrats have had 2.

Gay Marriage

This is the biggest non issue in this entire campaign. It threatens absolutely no one. If two committed individuals want to get married then so be it. I don't see that we have too much to say about it considering the dismal marriage performance of most heterosexuals with our 50% divorce rate. Spouses should be entitled to all of the benefits and visitation rights that are bestowed upon everyone else. End of story.