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Other nations can instill hope in the U.S. again

As I watched Barack Obama deliver his address in Berlin, there was something about that evening that showed us here in America what change can truly offer.

Some will find it in the crowds that stood in line for more than a mile to hear him speak. Others may discover it in the idyllic backdrop that the setting sun created or uncover it in the soaring speech.

For me, that exceptional moment was found as the crowds waved our nation's flag and in watching the faces from every land pause to take pride in our nation again. The people of Berlin did not come just to hear Obama speak; they came to instill in us that same hope of what America can rise to again.

People of every race and nationality did not come to see the first African-American nominee. They came to demonstrate to us and to the world what change can offer. It offers hope, and the ever present belief that our nation's future is shaped by what we see.

I now ask that Virginia accept this mantel of hope and support Obama for president.

Obama can restore U.S. leadership

Blasts in New Delhi, Kabul and Baghdad are reported in the news. Billions scratch their heads and wonder why. Then someone or some group gleefully claims credit. And 270 million of us wonder why we and those around the world working with us are hated enough that some think we should be killed off.

We name ourselves "leader of the free world" and allow corrupt leadership at the top. Our leaders are too often catapulted into office by donations from corporate America, whose wealth is nurtured by porky defense contracts dripping fat onto the backs of our children in the form of a ballooning national debt.

But now, we have a presidential candidate who is of the world -- half black, with a middle name of Hussein. And yes, he is a diplomat to the whole world, as seen in his travels to Europe and the Middle East recently. And yes again, those who sit down with us also know he can and will use our country's resources to minimize abuse of people in the whole world.

Barack Obama is the man of and for the world to reduce global strife and reinstate the world's faith in our leadership.

Power plant defense was unconvincing

Pete Sarjeant's July 31 commentary "Wise plant adds to life cycle" is misleading and absurd. Sarjeant depicts opponents of the proposed power plant as global warming hysterics who are concerned only about CO2 emissions. Sarjeant's straw-man argument ignores more tangible and even more serious concerns about the plant.

Coal-fired power plants spew mercury emissions (autism rates increase significantly near the plants), sulfuric-dioxide (which causes acid rain), nitrogen (which causes smog) and other "fine particulate matter" that causes asthma, heart disease and cancer.

Furthermore, this plant will waste the region's fresh water, bury valleys with poisonous ash and intensify mountaintop removal mining.

Tellingly, Sarjeant cannot even rebuke the straw-man argument he creates for the plant's opponents. He claims that any extra CO2 will be soaked up by happy clams and trees. Unfortunately, the oceans have been able to soak up only 50 percent of the extra emissions (which has decreased their ph to dangerous levels), and rapid deforestation precludes vegetation from removing more CO2 from the atmosphere.

Even global warming skeptics concede an increase in atmospheric CO2 levels. The truth is, we must stop this plant from being built, for the sake of Wise County and the world.

McCain won't bring the troops home

Voters need to be aware that Sen. John McCain may talk about a timeline but his real plan, if elected -- as clearly indicated by his words and actions over the past five years -- will keep our troops in Iraq indefinitely and bankrupt our country.

The duly elected government of Iraq has asked the U.S. to provide a fixed timeline for withdrawal. They want us to leave so they can manage their own country. A recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll showed that 60 percent of the citizens of the U.S. also want a timeline to bring our troops home.

It is time for our government to follow the will of the people of both countries. I urge voters to select Sen. Barack Obama in November. He has committed to bringing our troops home from the very beginning.