Give credit where credit is due.

Let me start off by saying that I do not like Barack Obama. I don't trust his politics, and I think that if elected president, he would be a very bad commander-in-chief for this country.

That being said I also think that everyone should step back and acknowledge the incredible achievement of the senator from Illinois.

Going into this election season it was pretty clear that one way or the other history would be made. On one side we had Senator Hillary Clinton, the first woman to have a serious shot at the office of the Presidency. On the other side there was Mr. Obama. The only thing that was not clear was what that history would be. Well last night it became official. Senator Obama has become the first black presidential candidate from one of the two major political parties.

This is in a country where just 40 years ago blacks could not eat in the same restaurants, use the same bathrooms, or drink from the same water fountains as whites in a large section of the country. Where a 150 years ago they were still enslaved in that same section of the country.

Many people, both black and white, never thought that they would see this day. Well ladies and gentleman it has arrived. And before we get back to the partisan bickering I think we should all look at what this means for our country, how far we have come, and where we are destined to go in the future.

So to Senator Obama I say congratulations.

But I still won't be voting for you.

Til' we meet again.

Paul

Stop Hatin'

As just about everyone who does not live in a cave with no contact to the outside world knows, the Olympics started this past weekend. And as always it has been full of exciting moments like the American win over France in the 4x100 Freestyle relay, or Micheal Phelps quest to become the most decorated Olympian of the modern era. It is a time for people from all countries to stand united behind their national athletes and cheer them on to victory.

But this time is also riddled with those people who either don't get the Olympics or just don't like them for various reasons, and they are always trying to kill the fever that accompanies these games.

I heard a local radio personality downplaying the significance of the Olympics because of how much money is spent to put them on and how that money could be better utilized helping people in the various countries that participate. And while that is true, it overlooks an essential truth that we are privy to every two years.

The Olympics show us the world as it should be not as it is.

What do I mean by that statement? The answer is quite simple.

World peace is on display at these games. They show us that it is not only attainable but that it is really not that hard to find.

Think about it for a second. Here are a collection of some of the worlds most bitter rivals. America vs. China, England vs. France, Georgia vs. Russia, etc.....

We get to see everyone strut around and beat the hell out of the competition. It's like war. Except nobody has do die. Don't you see. For one shining moment every 2 years we forget about what one country did to another, or why this countries ideology is worse than ours, and solve our problems on the field of competition. And in the end hopefully there is no question about who is better on that date. The scoreboard tells all. China had the better Women's Gymnastics team. The U.S. has the better swimmers in the 4x200 Freestyle relay. There is no room for argument.

And if you can't understand that, then I've got nothing for you. Just do me a favor. Don't try to kill my love for these games.

Til' we meet again

Paul

Rest in Peace...and thank you.

Skip Caray "The Voice of the Braves"

08/12/1939-08/03/2008