On Oct 15th, I came into work and got a little bad news. "We need you to go to Singapore to help manage the new operations people while we try to find a manager out there", said the boss. Since I’ve never been to Singapore, I thought this would be a good learning experience and said yes. "We need you to be there for a month." Hmm.. my brain goes through all the different reasons for and against, especially leaving my wife for that long, but I still decide to go. "We need you to be there by November 3rd."
"Fuck, I’m going to miss the election." Was the first thing that popped into my head. Halloween and Thanksgiving I can skip, but the election was going to hurt.
So Oct 28th I fly out to Singapore and now I’m in a corporate apartment counting down the hours until election. The 16 hour time difference can cause a bit confusion when you are trying to stay in touch with what’s going on in the states. So much for that bottle of 96 Dom Perignon the wife and I have been saving for a special occasion. We have been saving that for over six years so we will open it when I get back the first week of December.
Out here, I get CNN international, Fox and CNBC, and Bloomberg, but no MSNBC, go figure. I’m limited to downloading Keith O. and Rachel’s podcasts when they finally get posted and of course the Daily show. Thank god they have the full episode online otherwise I would be going crazy. Bless the person that posted Bill Maur’s show over the weekend. I'll love you forever if you keep doing it.
In the last four days, I’ve taken about six or seven taxi rides to different stores and locations. Every single driver noticed the way I speak English and asked if I’m from America. When I say yes, the first question is, do you think Obama is going to win? "Of course", I say, "he has to and otherwise I don’t know what’s going to happen to America". Most nod their head or agree and talk about how important the election seems because it’s on all the news stations.
Most think he will be able to help the Global economy and help American be "less mean" as one driver put it. But that's all, just general feelings of things will be better.
I am actually pretty surprised that cab drivers in the middle of Singapore are concerned with our presidential election. I can understand some big shot CEO of an Asian company but a cab driver? Has the world gone that far down the patch to hell under Bush and the Republicans? Note to self: I should watch more international news when I get back home.
There does seem to be a weird feeling in the air even out here. Like we really are at a crossroads in history, and the world is holding its breath waiting to see which path we take. The difference this time being we know we are at a crossroads.
I know Obama is going to win. I know he will not be able to do everything he has promised. I know he isn’t the second coming. But I also know that besides us, the world seems to want him.
I’ve always lived by that old quote, "Loyalty to the nation all the time, loyalty to the government when it deserves it."
Don’t get me wrong, I would die for what this nation stands for, but until Obama came along, I can’t remember the last time I felt like supporting my government.