Admittedly this has nothing to do with music and this is supposedly a blog about music, when I'm actually finding it possible to write anything that I think is worth 5 minutes of your time. But, it is no secret of mine that I want to travel America, possibly live there if the time and situation is right and as such I pay a fair amount of attention to their activities. America fascinates me, for it's grandiose nature, for their optimism and national pride, for their ability to do everything in the most outrageous, celebratory way possible. The country has a thirst for life, the constant motivation to be the best, outperform everyone else and being quite a competitive person, it's something I admire and find myself drawn towards.

However, I want to travel America to discover the real America, the real people in the little towns in addition to the ridiculous coolness of the big cities. But there are parts of America that scare me. There are people so entrenched in views of past generations and are hanging around, affecting the future of an America that is trying to move forwards, make itself a better place. People like these. As you may have noticed, America is electing a new president shortly and it is widely perceived that Barack Obama will win the election, the election is now his to lose. I've seen some Obama campaign commercials during hockey broadcasts and I must admit, they are incredibly persuasive. The incessant idea that change is the way to make America a grander place, coupled with his calm but authoritative approach, make Obama seem like a natural leader with a thought-out clear plan. The Republicans being the first to throw insults has also not hurt Obama and with Palin the constant wildcard throughout the election, alienating and uniting voters in equal measures, it is going to be an interesting result to see a Vietnam hero shunned by the country he fought to protect.

However, this is America we're talking about and not everything is as simple as that. This article by the BBC interviews a Democrat supporter, one that will not vote for Obama because he is Black. "Black's just cause trouble, that's the taste I've got in my mouth." says Charles, a registered democrat voter in Uniontown Pennsylvania.
Scary eh? I know the idea of democracy is that you vote for the party that best represents your ideals, that everybody has a say in how their country is run, it is widely accepted that Democracy rules. And ultimately this guy has as much right to make his comments as I do mine, that's what free speech is. But for a country that is supposedly built on equality and that everyone can get their own American dream, a country whose liberties such as these that McCain fought for, would he be so proud to know that votes that are cast his way will be done so by those who do not believe in his party ideals, but believe simply in the colour of his skin?

Racism is an inherent problem that will never go away. It will become increasingly marginalised and as we develop a more multi-cultural society, the kids of today will grow up, hopefully, being more tolerant of others. But you wonder if, in America, that their land mass is just too big for this to ever happen, that there will always be pockets of racism that have as valued a say as everyone else in America.

I recommend you read the article just to open your eyes a little bit to the problems Obama still faces despite his apparent certainty at becoming president. And don't worry, it's nowhere near as long as this blog post!