From Global Olympics to National Convention - America at World Center Stage
The national conventions to elect the presidential candidates of the two major political parties in the United States flow right into the tidal swell of the Olympic Games in Beijing, where America made its usual strong imprint on the world.
Among others, the American Michael Phelps swept up a record-breaking eight Olympic gold medals while the United States softball team accepted a loss in a sport considered too American to be competitive.
A record-breaking 1.
2 billion of the world's 6 billion people watched those developments.
While that level of enthusiasm for sport could not have been anticipated before reality proved the fact through the event, both the Democratic and Republic National Conventions are prepared for the wide new interest in American political affairs the world can now satisfy with the new technology so highly effective in gaining fervor for both Olympics and China in Beijing.
The scheduling of the Democratic Convention in Denver, Colorado and the Republican in Minneapolis-St.
Paul, Minnesota, is in itself a sign that America is well aware of its position as a country of interest to the world.
By tradition, the Party holding the White House holds the second Convention.
The 2008 Democratic Convention begins the day after the Olympics, when global applause still resounds from both the Games and their presentation.
The Democratic Convention goes through Thursday and the Republican starts the following Monday, the last day of the American Labor Day weekend.
By contrast, in the 2004 quadrennial cycle for both the sporting and political events, the Olympics took place between the two Conventions.
In 2000, both Conventions were concluded a month before the Olympics.
Other indicators of American awareness that American political conventions are no longer only American affairs include the addition of communications in Spanish.
The Republican Convention site is accessible in a Spanish version while the Democratic Convention is simulcast in Spanish, not just for 35 million Spanish speaking Americans, according to the convention website, but for the 300 million-plus Spanish-speakers outside the United States.
The Democratic Convention site also outlines ways in which the convention is the most technologically-savvy event of its kind ever, a "transitional" and more inclusive event than any in the past.
New features include live high-definition streaming of proceedings, daily webcasts and a partnership with "YouTube" giving conventioneers an opportunity to air personal on-site experiences with the country and the world.
No doubt the world will be watching alongside Americans as the world's great innovator nominates for the first time a candidate for its president who is a nonwhite male.
Already in this 2008 year of revolutionary global change, America proved its right to leadership in setting a forward-looking social, economic and political agenda for the world by choosing between two equally qualified and unconventional candidates to run for president.
The candidate chosen by the Democratic Party to be its next presidential candidate was the one deemed most capable of winning out above the opposing Party's candidate in the November election.
Women the world over may be disappointed that the candidate of their gender was not the one to make history in America in 2008.
But America did break through the ice of convention in 2008 and the world will watch in November as America elects its next leader in a global world where economy, energy, employment and global migration are all connected and communication is key.
Among others, the American Michael Phelps swept up a record-breaking eight Olympic gold medals while the United States softball team accepted a loss in a sport considered too American to be competitive.
A record-breaking 1.
2 billion of the world's 6 billion people watched those developments.
While that level of enthusiasm for sport could not have been anticipated before reality proved the fact through the event, both the Democratic and Republic National Conventions are prepared for the wide new interest in American political affairs the world can now satisfy with the new technology so highly effective in gaining fervor for both Olympics and China in Beijing.
The scheduling of the Democratic Convention in Denver, Colorado and the Republican in Minneapolis-St.
Paul, Minnesota, is in itself a sign that America is well aware of its position as a country of interest to the world.
By tradition, the Party holding the White House holds the second Convention.
The 2008 Democratic Convention begins the day after the Olympics, when global applause still resounds from both the Games and their presentation.
The Democratic Convention goes through Thursday and the Republican starts the following Monday, the last day of the American Labor Day weekend.
By contrast, in the 2004 quadrennial cycle for both the sporting and political events, the Olympics took place between the two Conventions.
In 2000, both Conventions were concluded a month before the Olympics.
Other indicators of American awareness that American political conventions are no longer only American affairs include the addition of communications in Spanish.
The Republican Convention site is accessible in a Spanish version while the Democratic Convention is simulcast in Spanish, not just for 35 million Spanish speaking Americans, according to the convention website, but for the 300 million-plus Spanish-speakers outside the United States.
The Democratic Convention site also outlines ways in which the convention is the most technologically-savvy event of its kind ever, a "transitional" and more inclusive event than any in the past.
New features include live high-definition streaming of proceedings, daily webcasts and a partnership with "YouTube" giving conventioneers an opportunity to air personal on-site experiences with the country and the world.
No doubt the world will be watching alongside Americans as the world's great innovator nominates for the first time a candidate for its president who is a nonwhite male.
Already in this 2008 year of revolutionary global change, America proved its right to leadership in setting a forward-looking social, economic and political agenda for the world by choosing between two equally qualified and unconventional candidates to run for president.
The candidate chosen by the Democratic Party to be its next presidential candidate was the one deemed most capable of winning out above the opposing Party's candidate in the November election.
Women the world over may be disappointed that the candidate of their gender was not the one to make history in America in 2008.
But America did break through the ice of convention in 2008 and the world will watch in November as America elects its next leader in a global world where economy, energy, employment and global migration are all connected and communication is key.