Regardless of your political party affiliation and who you voted for on Nov. 4, change in the White House is coming. Whether or not it is the change you wanted, does the future of our country really now depend on just one man?
Now that the presidential race is over, it is up to us as American citizens to make sure our president holds true to his promises and delivers on the issues that we based our votes on. However, we cannot leave the fate of our country in his hands entirely nor can we can expect one person to solely bring America out of what the last eight years have put us in.
In its current state, America is being tested. As a country, we are being challenged to determine our place in the word-where we stand economically, educationally, militarily and diplomatically.
What effect will the 44th president of the United States have on our country and how will he address the issues that most concern Americans?
Our new president must determine the road which America should take toward becoming part of a new world order. In the last 10 years, we have actually been witnessing a transformation of our world. The rise of China and India, the economic effects of globalization, the great importance of Middle Eastern states, the strength of Europe, the challenges to the United States. These are all signs that we are entering a different world from that of our parents.
The American people believe the top three most important issues when deciding whom to vote for, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, are the economy, health care and the war in Iraq.
To ensure that each voter is sufficiently educated on these topics, we propose that education is the first step in changing the mindset of America-we must teach students to become knowledgeable in current events and of cultural differences starting at a very young age.
Cabrini’s social justice curriculum could be the ideal catalyst for society to follow in stepping up and initiating change. Cabrini’s curriculum challenges us to become agents of change in our community and our world. Our education is giving us skills in our major field, as all colleges do, but also gives us the vision and skills to make the world a better place for all. If Cabrini’s curriculum were to be implemented in colleges and universities throughout the country, more young adults would be prepared to work for the common good and not just narrow self-interest.
It sounds idealistic but as college students we have the ability and the resources to make these once idealistic ideas of change into realistic goals. It is possible for us to fix the country and to improve the world, no matter who is sitting in the oval office.
If we, as educated citizens, apply what we are learning and take the initiative to further educate ourselves about what is going on in our country and the world, then our future will be riding not just on the success of one man but on all our efforts.
