FROM DUSAN VUKSANOVIC
One of the most inspirational nights of my life was the presidential election one. After CNN announced their projection that Senator Barack Obama was the new president-elect, the Green Mountain College campus erupted in joy and celebration. People hugged, kissed, played music, and danced to commemorate what they were hoping to be the beginning of a new America. At one point, I was so carried away that I sang the last two lines of The Star Spangled Banner. It was truly something I’ll never forget. However, after the initial enthusiasm, I stepped back to rethink what brought all of us together.
America has changed dramatically since September 11, 2001, and it changed fast. Policies were made to pressure countries into submission. Wars were fought under the premise they would make the world a safer place. Numerous lives were lost. We now see that all those things have little chance of being labeled as successful.
The celebration on November 4 in Poultney seemed to have served both as a venting device for all the frustrations that had accumulated over the years and as an uplifting ceremony that removed a rock off of people’s shoulders. However, note that although the rock might have been lifted, it’s still hanging above all of us. And, it’s a pretty heavy one – the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the potential nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran, a possible conflict with Pakistan, and the global economy are just a part of its “weight.”
Past practices have shown that rushing into issues usually ends up in a disaster. War in Iraq is a great example of a failed cause, because no one ever found Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction. Meticulous examinations and cautious approaches that include all sides in the process are necessary if any good is to be done. Perhaps the motto of the new administration shouldn’t be “early bird gets the worm,” but rather “the second mouse gets the cheese.”
In a way, I got the impression that the joyous scenes in front of Cree and Lyman represented a sort of a renaissance. For a night, feelings of pessimism and cynicism towards your government that were prevalent in the past several years were replaced with optimism and hope. And, the people around the world were looking at you the same. That is why, not just me, but other international students on campus as well, joined in the celebration.
Your country has huge responsibilities, but I believe that you have the will and capacity to make significant positive impacts. I believe you could change the world to be a better place, and I truly wish you the best at doing so. But keep in mind that no matter how strong your will is, or how good your intentions may be, change is never a one-sided process.
