Originally published in Synapse on Nov. 13, 2008.
Few things could be more important for America than President Obama’s appointment of a science adviser. Science is the foundation of energy production, economic competitiveness, health care, environment and national security. A science adviser must be appointed early so that other scientists can be placed at high levels in all the federal agencies assigned to deal with these issues. The lack of scientific consideration in the Bush administration has been devastating to our country in countless ways. To avoid more incidents like what happened in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, science must resume its priority in the White House administration.
Darya Pino Graduate student, Synapse Science Editor
Two words: Close Guantanamo. Nothing else would send such a strong signal to the world that the bad old days of torture under Busha and Cheney are over. And, oh yeah, close the so-called “black prisons,” CIA torture pits operating in other country. And stop sending prisoners to other countries that torture. Let’s announce that we will once again abide by the Geneva Convention. No more torture!
Tim Neagle Managing Editor, Synapse
In the past twenty years, I don’t recall an election that has evoked so much emotion. Tears of joy from a presidential election? People taking to the streets to celebrate? Growing up in a generation characterized by cynicism and apathy towards the political process I could have never imagined such a reaction. Seemingly, this past Tuesday was a turning point and to me Obama represents a harbinger of the next generation in American politics. He is inheriting a bloody mess, but the expectations are high and the pulse of the American public, finally, feels optimistic.
Sow Kobayashi Second-year medical student
On November 4th, 2008, the American people voted Barack Obama as 44th President of the United States of America. One Vote rooted in the American Dream and hinged on interminable Hope — 65,977,994 votes for a better tomorrow.
Expectations are undoubtedly high, and perhaps even unattainable in one term. So where does one start? Where should Obama begin?
I will be the first to admit that I was originally a Hillary Clinton supporter. I supported most of her policies, purchased shiny buttons and signage, and even joined her Facebook group (and if that’s not commitment, I don’t know what is).
It’s not that I didn’t like Obama’s vision for America, it’s just that I didn’t believe it would amount to anything more than ... well, a vision. But as I watched him stride confidently to the podium hand in hand with his loving family, and the crowd began to chant “Yes We Can” with such passionate unity — as a man who I could be proud to call my President delivered an inspiring speech with such confidence and conviction I realized, as I blinked through my tears, that Hope sure can go an awful long way.
Obama has a long road ahead of him and broken parts of America to piece back together — the economy, the health care system, Guantanamo, and the War in Iraq are just a few of the tasks on his ever-increasing To Do list.
But personally, I think he should start where he left off. His words reflect what we almost dare not dream, but they have fallen, for too long, on the ears of the choir. He won the electoral vote and the popular vote, but a little less than half of the American people did not want Barack Obama as their President.
So I think that he should pick up where he left off, continue to win votes (by keeping the promise of Hope alive), even long after the election has past. There’s a song by Shakira that asks, “Have we changed our Hopes for Fears and our Dreams for Plans?” And I just hope that wherever our new President begins with his planning, he never parts with our Hopes and our Dreams.
Because a little bit of well-intentioned sappy idealism is what America is all about. To me, at least.
Vida V. Vongvanith Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate
There are so many things I want Obama to do. Last year, burned by his association with Reverend Wright, Obama delivered a powerful sermon on race relations in this country that spoke in many ways to the protection of minority rights, whether that minority be racial, economic or ill.
The things I’d like Obama to do are intimately tied to this speech. I want strong public schools so more children of color can grow up one day to be president. I want health care for all so those least able to care for themselves can be looked after. I want a government that assumes innocence before guilt, that doesn’t spy on its own and that believes in the best — not worst — that its citizens can do.
But before any of this can happen, I want Obama to fix our crumbling economy. The United States used to call itself the most powerful and prosperous of nations. For the past eight years, after abusing our power and undermining our prosperity, we have emerged as a nation without a direction.
Obama can give us this direction and lift us from our economic woes by investing in our country’s economy — not its banks — restructuring trade agreements and developing new technology. He can invest in education, research and healthcare, all goods that will provide solid returns and help build our infrastructure. It’s a tall order, but Obama has spurned the odds so far. If anyone can do it, he can.
Arul Thangavel Editor, Synapse
I want President Obama to begin reducing our troop levels in Iraq and give strong consideration to reducing the military budget by $100 billion annually.
Justin Knebel, MS2
