On the US election trail - Blog Four
ACCORDING to our man in the US, if you believe the opinion polls the forthcoming US Presidential race is Barack Obama's to lose.
Politics student Christopher Andrews is reaching the half-way point of his summer internship with the BBC in Washington.
Here, he gives his latest weekly update.
Christopher's Blog
As I reach the halfway point of this extraordinary insight into the life of America's capital, I feel I am beginning to know this city inside out.
It has been the busiest week with regards to the Program that I can recall.
On Monday we had a meeting with the Irish Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Collins, who was encouraging of the need for greater cross-border cooperation.
In response to a question I posed, he fully agreed that there was now a great competition developing between North and South on economical grounds, one that conflicts with the Republic's desire to see a more stable Northern economy. I feel this will be a very interesting thing to consider, and I believe we can all appreciate the relationship between a prosperous economy and a more stable society.
Will it eventually reach the less well off communities is another argument altogether.
In midweek we were fortunate to be granted a tour of the White House. Since 9/11 you now have to get a Congressman to sign for your admission a month in advance. While the tour was slightly underwhelming, it's still quite a special experience, and one I won't forget for a long time.
That evening we held a media event at the D.C. Bar Association, where a panel consisting of Nell Henderson (Washington Post), Mark Leibovich (NY Times), Craig Gordon (Newsday), and James Coomarasamy, from BBC Washington, kindly accepted my invitation to take part. In what proved a very constructive discussion, the responsibilities of journalism to its audience, and the evolving importance of technology to the industry were key issues raised.
Ahead of the incredible celebrations of July 4th, our Program rather spontaneously agreed to meet on Thursday night to discuss what we saw as the road ahead for the island of Ireland. With each member stating their views and hopes/worries, it was refreshing to appreciate the diversity of our group, where previously we had perhaps been a little reserved about fully embracing such topics.
It became clear that many from the Republic felt the North was of little relevance to their politics, and while many agreed in principle to ending partition as a theory, there wasn't actually that much of a consensus that it was of great concern. Interestingly to those from Northern Ireland, when stating their nationality, many felt inclined to refer to their identity as 'Northern Irish'.
Of course there was a clear balance between those who wished to retain connections to the U.K. and those who desired otherwise, however, we were united in making sure things work for N.I. in its current form. Many other related issues were discussed which I won't go into; but, if anything, expressing polarised views has helped bring us even more together as a group.
I have feared the relevance of our Program before, but this convinced me what we are doing is completely justified. I only hope that many from more working class areas and those directly affected by the troubles could sample things like this. As University students we are relatively fortunate, and mostly sheltered from the 'real' troubles.
I have a reasonable idea from my family and community and what I hear in history classes through the years, but in truth, it is young people in really contentious zones of the Province who are far more deserving of a place than what I am. The likes of Project Children evolved into the Washington-Ireland Program. I just hope they can be expanded, especially at this time when we are trying to engage with a 'shared tomorrow' ideal.
To return to a far brighter note, the following day was the Fourth of July, a day of national celebration. Commemorating the Declaration of Independence signed in 1776, it truly is a sight to behold. Our group were able to go early and get places on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, by far one of the best sites to view proceedings.
At Capitol Hill there was an open-air free concert featuring Jerry Lee Lewis, Huey Lewis and the News, Taylor Hicks and others, however, to us, they were just a dot in the distance. The fireworks were spectacular, and the view along the mall, lined with over half a million people is easily one of the best things I have ever witnessed. Not quite David Healy's goal against England, but up there…
In the same line of thought I visited George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate in South Virginia; where he lived, worked, and is buried. Everything on his farm and house is immaculately kept as it was in his time, and is certainly something I would recommend.
On the political front it has been an interesting week. As Obama tours Europe, and McCain returns from Colombia, both candidates have been showing off their foreign policy credentials. Many Americans will be hoping them to turn attention to a failing health service, a sub-prime mortgage crisis and a worrying rising costs economy; but at a time with serious concerns over Israel and Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan, and trying to improve America's image abroad, it could be a fairly significant way of reaching the millions of swing voters in key states.
Some may need to think more than others though, with the McCain campaign last week claiming that a major terrorist attack on the U.S. would actually benefit them more than it would the Democrats. I can't even begin to describe how many problems I have with this.
There is no doubt that Iraq will play a big role, and whether noticeable or not to the public, there are clear signs of things at least beginning to stabilise. Obama has began to rethink his policy on Iraq, and after reversing his stance on accepting public donations, he is treading a fine line of the words 'flip-flopping' being used to stereotype his slightly narrowing advantage. At this point it appears to be Obama's to lose if you go by opinion polls, but again there is a long way to go.
A story widely covered by our BBC office this last week has been the threat of Israel attacking Iran. From other sources there have been ridiculous claims in the U.S. that President Bush may use his last actions in office after the election to intervene with force in the Middle East. To anyone with sense back in the U.K., don't believe a word of it.
One thing I have noticed is a distinct gulf in the credibility of many British forms of media compared to their American rivals. The roles of ownership, sponsorship and target audience in the U.S. media is frightening to say the least if it is true people buy into some of the nonsense that gets reported.
On Wednesday of this week we are participating in a Congressional Forum, with members of the House speaking with us, before we travel to New York next weekend for a discussion and speaking event at the United Nations. All very exciting and overwhelming, but such is the nature of this Program that we are beginning to think of it as 'normal', if such a thing was further from the truth.
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
