Ok so there are many deeper, philosophical reasons why I love politics and I respect (most) politicians and I think our country actually is in really good hands despite the gloom and doom from both Left and Right, but here's a lighter reason. I love these guys...
Friday, September 12, 2008
Why I Love Politics
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Why I Hate Politics
I consider myself relatively informed. Well...maybe 70-80% informed. I think I'd get a solid B- on any quiz of current events or civics. I like to think about the issues, what they mean from a philosophical, religious, and practical perspective. I like to debate ideas and methodologies.
I just don't like dogmatic followers of one ideology or another. I think for me I've chosen which ideology I will be dogmatic about, and that's religion. Even though I have a very strong deep-seated belief in letting others worship "how where and what they may", when it comes to what I believe, I am pretty committed to it.
Which is where politics gets rough for me. In my world politics is something you should be able to talk about, debate about, even CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT. I don't like that politicians have to pick an ideology when they're 12 and never deviate from it for the rest of their lives.
At the same time it does bug me when politicians (and yes I'm talking about you Romney) seem to change their position more out of political expediency than enlightenment.
I really don't like it that I can't have a conversation with either a hard-left atheist or a hard-right conservative because both of them think I'm a wacko because of my religious beliefs.
I don't like that all the pundits make a living from turning our diverse, tapestric (it would be a good word, don't you think) nation into a binary "Red vs Blue" map.
That's enough for now. There are more things that bug me, things that if they weren't in place would make politics more accessible to the masses but also probably erode the base of people on both sides that raise all the money and get the machines going in the first place so they're probably necessary so I shouldn't complain because that's how it works anyway...whew. OK I'm done.
By the way I'm voting for Obama today.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
So Who'll it Be?
It's been a great three weeks of Hollywood-free TV, first with 2 amazing Michael Phelps-powered Olympic weeks, then with a great week of civic showmanship with the Democratic convention.
I find myself jumping back and forth with who I really relate to...(Glen Beck and Bill Maher equally make me fear for the future of the country...let's just hope the actual politicians never get as partisan as either of them) I am not a litmus-test kind of voter, just try to pick a stronger portfolio. So I always look forward to election season as a time to do some window shopping, take ideas for test drives, and see where I end up on election day. I found myself going back and forth until I actually walked into the voting booth in each of the last two elections. Probably will be the same with this one.
I'm intrigued with Palin as VP -- will be interesting to see how that one plays out. If the Republicans can put on a show half as polished, well-orchestrated, or moving as the dems (Ted Kennedy! Hillary! BILL! Al! Biden! Barack!) then it will be a great week of TV.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Summer Where are You?
As much as I love Seattle weather (no, really, I do love it! - it's so nice to be out all day long in July with the kids and not be totally heat-exhausted at 3pm or sweating all over everything you own. And it's so nice not to die of frostbite between the front door and your frozen solid car door...) man it seems like summer comes and goes so quickly here. It's all the way until June when you really feel comfortable wearing shorts 24/7, and it's now still AUGUST and it seems fall has already arrived.
The long long summer days are cool though. It's daylight from 5am until 10pm. Makes it really easy to go running at 5:30am...but this morning I walked out my door at 6am and the sun was still hiding behind the hills. Makes it a little tougher to roll out of bed when it's dark outside. When is daylight savings coming again? I'll gladly fall back to get that additional hour of light in the morning even if it means it gets dark at 4:30pm
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thank You President Hinckley
(Note: this is a work in progress that will be completed over the next week(s) as I remember) Some things President Hinckley taught me that will always stick with me:
• “Forget yourself and go to work.” I recalled this story often on my mission, and at many other times when I feel discouraged, overmatched, or down about myself. I always find that when I make myself busy, especially in productive or service-oriented things, I feel much better.
• “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” I always think of him as a small boy making money stretch and fixing holes in his socks. Especially when I’m throwing out old socks or DI’ing a bunch of my clothes. I wonder how wise of a steward I’m being and if I’m really “wearing it out.”
• The Family Proclamation
• The increase in temple building. Of the 8 temples I’ve attended in my life, 3 were created during President Hinckley’s time as prophet. When you consider that 4 are Utah temples, and 3 of those 4 were built in the 1800’s, it is even more significant how many more temples we have in the world today. I’ll always remember serving as an ordinance worker in the New York Temple, one that he prophesied would be given to us in his lifetime, and leading the prayer circle, always remembering to give thanks and ask for blessings for “our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley.”
• He had such love and admiration for his wife Marjorie. He said that in all the years he’d been married he never remembers going to bed with a quarrel unresolved. He also said they had differences but they learned to live with them and learned to make one another better. The sorrow and loneliness he showed after she passed was deep and moving to observe.
• Indefatiguable work ethic
• Deep personal humility and wonderful sense of humor
• Unbounded optimism and belief in people
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
