CNicole's blog

It is hard to face the fact that all over the world there are hundreds of thousands of people who hate the United States of America.  On September 11th 2001 that hatred was expressed in a way that America will never be able to forget.  September 11th, however, was an extreme example.  The vast majority of people who hold to an anti-American view would never consider killing anyone.  That does not change the fact that they hate America and the things that our country stands for.  Anti-Americanism is not limited to only the middle east; it is extremely prominent in Latin America and South America as well.  Even in Great Britain over 40% of the population has an unfavorable view of the United Staets.
In Venezuela, the president Hugo Chavez won the most recent election on a platform that consisted largely of anti-American principles.  Similiar situations have occured in countries all over the world.  Prime Minites Tony Blair has recieved a lot of political backlash at home and abroad for his support of the U.S. led war on terror.  To protect American interests at home and around the world the United States has to recognize and work to stem the swelling tide of anti-Americanism.  If we will work with international organizations, be considerate of the opinions of others when we shape our foreign policy, and become educated about other cultures and countries, then we will be able to take the first steps toward eradicating anti-Americanism 

This is my first ever experiance "blogging" and I will admit that I am a little unsure of myself, so I thought it best to start out writing about something that I knew.  When I was six years old my father had been drinking extensively and he was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down.  He passed out while he was driving and crashed his car into a tree; in the blink of an eye my entire life was transformed.  In a matter of seconds my father went from my hero, to a poor pitiful man lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life.  At least once a week since I was six years old I have made the long trek down the hall of the Long Term Care united at the local hospital to visit my dad.  Sometimes I feed him dinner or read the paper to him, and everytime I leave with a newfound sense of direction and purpose in my life.  It is not like my father gave me some great wonderful advice; he probably doesn't have any to give and even if he did I probably wouldn't listen.  However, my father has taught me that every decision I make matters.  It seems obvious that i would have learned never to drive drunk; however any idiot can figure that out without a quadriplegic father.  My father has taught me that it only takes one stupid decision to ruin your life.  On the flip side of that one amazing decision could change your life for the better.  I only know that your decisions are yours and yours alone.  You can do with your life what you choose, and you can not blame the outcome on anyone other than yourself.