I have a problem with America. It's a big problem, one that bothers me to no end and makes me cringe every time I encounter it.

On Jan. 22, President Obama signed executive orders to close Guantanamo Bay by 2010, proving to the American public once more that he is an agent of Change (note the capital "C") and "claiming the moral high ground" for our nation once again.

Recently, as in within the last week, the government officially alerted the American public to the fact that we are experiencing a recession. How astute.

The Iraqi cabinet made history on Sunday when it decided by overwhelming majority to support a pact under which American forces will remain in Iraq for up to three more years. It remains to be seen whether the Iraqi parliament will approve the measure, but many hope that they will.

I went hunting last weekend and I must say it was sublime.

Tuesday is Election Day, and many of us will be going out to the polls to cast our votes for John McCain or Barack Obama or who have you. There will be many, however, who won't go to the polls, who won't cast their votes and who won't exercise their rights.

War has been on my mind a lot lately. Specifically, I've been wondering about the essential nature of war. Is it ever justified?

John McCain said, in Tuesday's debate, that he'd bring our troops home with honor and victory, and it seemed strange to me at the time that he put such emphasis on victory.

Three Chinese taikonauts have recently returned from space, bringing China the bronze in the international space race that began between the United States and Russia so many years ago.

Imagine a day of peace on Earth. Literally, imagine a day when the various warring factions on our little blue-green planet say to each other, "Let's not fight today." Then, imagine it works. Luckily, Sunday was nearly that day. Monday wasn't, but Sunday was, and that's what matters.

Seven years ago today, at 8:45 a.m., I was in Social Studies learning about the Iroquois Confederacy. We'd just gotten into a discussion on wampum when the intercom switched on with a crackle and the principal told us that there'd been a terrible accident and a plane had flown into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

Happy election season. In this time of mudslinging, empty promises and an increasingly disinterested public, I have a modest proposal to put forth that, I think, would entirely change the nature of American elections and open the electoral field to a whole swath of people who'd never be able to effectively run for President.

It seems like a good time for governmental reform. I say this in light of President Bush's approval rating, according to an April 11 Gallup poll report. His rating? A measly 28 percent. This is among the lowest approval ratings ever, along with Nixon and Truman, whose ratings were in the 20s during the last years of their presidencies. Disturbing, no?

Here I sit in the Union, watching lunchtime swirl around me. Foccaccias are eaten, chicken tenders consumed, and what appears to be several metric tons of soda pours down the throats of happy college students.

Welcome, friends, to our modern world of sleaze and vice. I'm certain that when this column is run and read everyone will have heard of the Spitzer Scandal (I'm stealing the term from the Times) and will have formed myriad opinions regarding it. I'm certain Wall Street will be pleased and breathe a bit easier, I'm certain President Dahl will regret his glowing speech, and I'm certain there are already several million voters who feel duped.

Last week, Jacob Kriss, The Lamron's editor-in-chief, wrote a column about a letter received regarding the "Sex and the 'Seo" column. Nine Geneseo students signed the letter, which threatened going to the administration in efforts to censor the paper. Like Jacob, I was struck dumb by the suggestion that ideas ought to be censored in the media.

Good morning, Generation. I am going to piss you off.