Being a blogger and a regular poster in the Al Jazeera's website had paid off. They finally sent me an email asking me to answer some question for their show. Below are the exchange of email between me and Sara Brown, the Interactivity Producer of Al Jazeera.net.
--oo0oo--
From: Sarah Brown
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 2:32 PM
To: braggart_21@yahoo.com
Subject: Hello from Al Jazeera
Hello,
Many thanks for your thoughts on the US election on our Your Views message board. My name is Sarah Brown and I am a senior journalist for the Al Jazeera website. I read your comment on the US elections with interest and was wondering if you would like to write me a small piece giving me your thoughts on the US elections. It would only have to be around 400 words and you would just need to answer these questions:
1) What do you think of the US election candidates in the primaries? Who do you think would be best for your country?
2) How will the US elections affect your life, or will it affect it at all? 3) What do people think in Saudi Arabia? Do they even care about the election?
4) Do you think it will make a difference if a Democrat or Republican will be elected?
If you would like to take part and could answer these questions and send them to me as soon as possible that would be great - I would also need a few details about you - your full name, age and occupation and where you live in Saudi Arabia.
Many thanks and look forward to hearing from you,
Sarah Brown,
Interactivity Producer
--oo0oo--
REPLY TO SARAH BROWN:
Dear Sarah,
I’m very sorry for a very late reply. I don’t usually open my yahoo email. I really appreciate your email. It only goes to show how much Al Jazeera, my favorite news channel, really cares and love its viewers.
--oo0oo---
1) What do you think of the US election candidates in the primaries? Who do you think would be best for your country? We see a mixture of independent, liberals and conservatives amongst this year’s presidential hopefuls. The primaries started in Iowa, Wyoming (for Republicans) and New Hampshire. Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee lead the Iowa caucus while Hillary Clinton and John McCain emerged victorious in the New Hampshire primary. There are more primaries and caucuses to follow but for me it’s a close call between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for Democrats and John McCain and Mit Romney for the Republicans. I personally wanted a candidate from the Democratic Party to win this year’s presidential election. I prefer Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama since she’s more experienced and is ready to take on the job. Republicans are too conservative and I doubt if a new republican president would dare to change their foreign policy. I’m a migrant worker from the Philippines and currently reside and work in Saudi Arabia. The Philippines is a traditional ally of the US. Our country, a Third World Country, for decades have been dependent on US Aids particularly military equipment. Our government is a hostage to the US since we could not change our foreign policy, such as establishing closer relations with other nations that America considers as enemy, or we risk losing US Aids. Aside from the Aid, we could also face economic sanctions and it would mean economic collapse as US is our No. 1 trade partner. I see no difference in whoever wins the US presidential race. US have changed leadership for decades yet there’s no change in their policy towards their TWCs allies.
2) How will the US elections affect your life, or will it affect it at all? I don’t think that the US elections will affect my life directly. The results may affect my country and Saudi Arabia but not me. However, the devaluation of the US Dollar has affected the economies of so many countries. The Philippine Peso is at the all time high. The downside of the rising peso is that migrant workers’ earnings are reduced. The Saudi Arabian Riyals is a fix currency so the declining rate of dollars does not affect Saudi Arabian economy. With the rising oil prices at 100 USD per barrel, it will only make Saudi Arabia richer.
3) What do people think in Saudi Arabia? Do they even care about the election? People in Saudi Arabia wanted a change in American Leadership. In fact, when the Democratic Party won the Congressional election, everyone in the in Kingdom celebrated the Democratic victory. It simply means that they care about the result of the US elections. Saudi Arabian society wanted a 360 degree turn in the US policy in the Middle East. The US have been critical of the Arabs after the 9/11 attack in the US. Saudis and Arabs are treated as criminals and disrespect when they reach the American soil. Most of them also wanted a long lasting peace in the Middle East (Palestine, Israel, Lebanon and Iraq). Obviously, the present US administration’s roadmap to peace in the Middle East is not working.
4) Do you think it will make a difference if a Democrat or Republican will be elected? Everyone in the US wants change and it was demonstrated in the congressional elections, democrats winning over republicans. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have been leading the US Polls because of their slogan for “CHANGE”. It would be a breather if a democratic president is elected. However, 360 degree changes in US Foreign policy maybe too idealistic.
Regards,
Ian
--oo0oo--
From: Sarah Brown
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 2:32 PM
To: braggart_21@yahoo.com
Subject: Hello from Al Jazeera
Hello,
Many thanks for your thoughts on the US election on our Your Views message board. My name is Sarah Brown and I am a senior journalist for the Al Jazeera website. I read your comment on the US elections with interest and was wondering if you would like to write me a small piece giving me your thoughts on the US elections. It would only have to be around 400 words and you would just need to answer these questions:
1) What do you think of the US election candidates in the primaries? Who do you think would be best for your country?
2) How will the US elections affect your life, or will it affect it at all? 3) What do people think in Saudi Arabia? Do they even care about the election?
4) Do you think it will make a difference if a Democrat or Republican will be elected?
If you would like to take part and could answer these questions and send them to me as soon as possible that would be great - I would also need a few details about you - your full name, age and occupation and where you live in Saudi Arabia.
Many thanks and look forward to hearing from you,
Sarah Brown,
Interactivity Producer
--oo0oo--
REPLY TO SARAH BROWN:
Dear Sarah,
I’m very sorry for a very late reply. I don’t usually open my yahoo email. I really appreciate your email. It only goes to show how much Al Jazeera, my favorite news channel, really cares and love its viewers.
--oo0oo---
1) What do you think of the US election candidates in the primaries? Who do you think would be best for your country? We see a mixture of independent, liberals and conservatives amongst this year’s presidential hopefuls. The primaries started in Iowa, Wyoming (for Republicans) and New Hampshire. Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee lead the Iowa caucus while Hillary Clinton and John McCain emerged victorious in the New Hampshire primary. There are more primaries and caucuses to follow but for me it’s a close call between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for Democrats and John McCain and Mit Romney for the Republicans. I personally wanted a candidate from the Democratic Party to win this year’s presidential election. I prefer Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama since she’s more experienced and is ready to take on the job. Republicans are too conservative and I doubt if a new republican president would dare to change their foreign policy. I’m a migrant worker from the Philippines and currently reside and work in Saudi Arabia. The Philippines is a traditional ally of the US. Our country, a Third World Country, for decades have been dependent on US Aids particularly military equipment. Our government is a hostage to the US since we could not change our foreign policy, such as establishing closer relations with other nations that America considers as enemy, or we risk losing US Aids. Aside from the Aid, we could also face economic sanctions and it would mean economic collapse as US is our No. 1 trade partner. I see no difference in whoever wins the US presidential race. US have changed leadership for decades yet there’s no change in their policy towards their TWCs allies.
2) How will the US elections affect your life, or will it affect it at all? I don’t think that the US elections will affect my life directly. The results may affect my country and Saudi Arabia but not me. However, the devaluation of the US Dollar has affected the economies of so many countries. The Philippine Peso is at the all time high. The downside of the rising peso is that migrant workers’ earnings are reduced. The Saudi Arabian Riyals is a fix currency so the declining rate of dollars does not affect Saudi Arabian economy. With the rising oil prices at 100 USD per barrel, it will only make Saudi Arabia richer.
3) What do people think in Saudi Arabia? Do they even care about the election? People in Saudi Arabia wanted a change in American Leadership. In fact, when the Democratic Party won the Congressional election, everyone in the in Kingdom celebrated the Democratic victory. It simply means that they care about the result of the US elections. Saudi Arabian society wanted a 360 degree turn in the US policy in the Middle East. The US have been critical of the Arabs after the 9/11 attack in the US. Saudis and Arabs are treated as criminals and disrespect when they reach the American soil. Most of them also wanted a long lasting peace in the Middle East (Palestine, Israel, Lebanon and Iraq). Obviously, the present US administration’s roadmap to peace in the Middle East is not working.
4) Do you think it will make a difference if a Democrat or Republican will be elected? Everyone in the US wants change and it was demonstrated in the congressional elections, democrats winning over republicans. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have been leading the US Polls because of their slogan for “CHANGE”. It would be a breather if a democratic president is elected. However, 360 degree changes in US Foreign policy maybe too idealistic.
Regards,
Ian
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