Dear People of the World (formerly Dear Americans)

McCain for Republican, Hillary and Obama still dead heat for Democrats.

I think this is going to be very interesting election.

I don't think Republican candidate would win because of the war in Iraq. In fact, Mr. McCain is too old, I think. He is over 70. Can he do 2 terms?

So the point is who is going to be Democrats candidate?

The first woman president or first Black president?

I am afraid to say Hillary is not fitted to a new president. Not because she is a woman because she seemed to be too much influenced by her husband, the former president of the U.S.

Yes, she is smart and independent and worked as a senator. But because she was a first lady, she does not seem to be a self-made politician. She also seem to be hysteria and too strict. Cannot find the open-minded motherhood.

Obama is a great candidate. I don't know if he is really qualified for the presidential candidate.

But if he is elected, this is going to be a great revolution for the U.S. It can change the image of the U.S. No one calls your country "white-dominated racist society" which I did. It can drastically improve deteriorated image of the U.S. caused by the war in Iraq.  

As far as I've seen the recent Hollywood films, Americans wish to have a Black candidate like the one in "Deep Impact" and FOX's real-time drama series "24."

But I just don't care, it is up to you to decide.

My country is not presidential system. The parliament members choose the leader of the nation. The head of the ruling party becomes the prime minister. I think it is good system. It is like Nancy Pelosi becomes the president of the U.S. You don't have to spend too much time, money and energey to choose the leader. In fact even if you choose a quality leader, unless the parliament members get along with him or her, politics don't work out.  

I am showing you some great photos of Tokyo's snowing views.

I took some photos and video clips in Tokyo's most famous park "Shinjuku Gyoen (Shinjuku Garden)."

Heavy snow covered big turf field.

It was very cold but very amazing views.

The below photo is Chinese house in the park.

Next is Japanese garden and the skyscraper.

You can see the video clips on You Tube site, Tokyo Heavy Snowing. The first scene is the view of the city from balcony on the 11th floor of the building.

Compare with Tokyo's most beautiful Park, which is normal view of the park.

This morning, I learned a very shocking news that an Australian actor, Heath Ledger died in his Manhattan apartment.

I've known him since I saw the movie "Brokeback Mountain." His act was superb. He turned out to be very American cowboy. His horse riding was great, too.

I would like to extend my deepest condolence on the sudden death of this great Australian actor.

But sorry, I don't like his home country, Australia because of whaling conflict.

I ate Aussie beef, tonight. But that's it. I do not think I would visit that country in my life.   

The film was about a woman who taught English at Long Beach High School. The school became decayed after integration program. Non-white students occupied the school and then good white students had gone. Most of the students had problems in their families.

A young teacher, Gruwell played by Hillary Swank taught her students how to live with confidence. It is based on a true story.

The main theme of the story is "Express yourself and learn how to live."

Learn how to live in the ghetto like Anne Frank did.

I know a woman who were a high school teacher. I think she was already retired. I remember she came over to help me with my life in US. She was so kind to me.

She said the message she gives her students was "There is no fair." The family she was born was very poor. She worked so hard to get a teacher's credential. Her father was half-Native American. She told me the stories of her father's experience.

I understand these words as I grow up. This is what a teenager should know before entering the grown-up society.

We want to complain but things don't change so easily just like the song "Waiting on the world to change."

But there should be a way out. The world is not perfect but can change better little by little. Don't do wrong things by your emotion.

Even after I left the U.S., we exchanged the emails each other from time to time.  

I was sometimes very rude to her because I had been so childish. I miss her so much. What is she doing now?

I hope I can see her again. Her name is Joyce Becker. She told me she was awarded a "Teacher of the Year" Award in California several years ago. She graduated from UC Berkeley. She was a teacher in San Diego.