Seeking up

Why talk politics?

I love politics. I find policy making fascinating, and politics really is war with the pen, instead of the sword. The problem is that when you would like to talk about current events or politics, people take these things very dearly. Some take criticism of their chosen political party closer to heart than country or even family it seems. I understand that too, We are pre-disposed to like everything that our parents like because that’s how we are raised. If you grew up in a tight-knit, jesus-fearing, conservative family, Chances are good that you will also desire those things. It’s not rocket science, I get it. I find however, that speaking in the presence of someone of a different political mindset 95% of the time will bring a conversation where all those involved believe they are right and that they must protect the banner of their chosen party. I wish that it was easier for people to understand that talking about politics is not an attack on you personally if a conversation is started questioning the party that you support. Like I said earlier, political affiliations in the United States are a brand you are given at birth, or it is something that is tattooed on and never removed. I wish that would change, I wish that people would keep their views, but listen to a conversation as it develops. If someone is complaining about out of control spending, then do some math and figure out is the claim has base. Put it in perspective, dissect it, chew it and spit it out. That’s how we should be forming our opinions. Through research and experience. Pulling along with your party line on every issue from birth is a lazy way to stay interested in politics. Think about it, if you have the SAME opinion as the majority of your party, then you are akin to the lemming running with the pack. It’s safe, and everybody is doing it, you feel good that everyone is doing just what you are, but it’s the ones that slow down, look around and start to think about the world around them who truly have the best ideas. Because it’s a long way down if you don’t stop and think about what you actually believe in.

This mind is full. Of what?

I have this problem today, nothing serious, but it is a problem: I can’t focus on anything!

So, I figured I would re-visit my blog and write out all of the things that are currently on my mind, largest of them all is that I’ve had a strong desire to blog and maybe that would help me salvage the rest of this day.

First, it’s great to write on my blog again. I used to write on this thing daily, it was pretty much a daily check-in with God, or where that relationship was going. It was pretty cool for me a few years back to verbalize some of things that I was learning. However, I got older and some of the things that I was learning about faith etc weren’t exactly blowing my mind as they had in the past. It’s ok, right? That’s normally how it goes. I’m sure Moses even had his days where he was less than impressed with the magnificence burning bush right in front of him. but I digress…

Politics: While I don’t think I will ever write as much as I used to, I would like to open my blog/thoughts up a bit to things in addition to theology. I’m superbly interested in the future of this country and am convinced that we are in the middle of a very trans formative time in our history. What happens now will dictate how we all live when we are older. Writing my thoughts would be cool to look back on later and see if I was right, or is I was/am just drinking the kool-aid of the media.

Education: I am still taking grad classes in education. I am learning a lot and think that the change from IT to full time teacher is going to be one of the hardest things in my life. I am excited about this and at the same time, the thought of me in a classroom with minds to mold is quite intimidating, but I am truly looking forward to this challenge. I hope to always be taking classes, and think I will always have something to write about.

Relationships: I’m getting married soon. VERY excited for that. I think that relationships are one thing that nobody can master. You never “get it”. There is always learning to be done, everybody is different! We must adapt, try to understand others and where they are coming from and try to get along with everyone! Easier said than done, but it’s a goal of mine to always put my best foot forward and be a good friend to my friends, neighbor to my neighbors and husband to my (future)wife.

Technology: I just got a new iPhone, and I work in the IT field. This goes without saying.

House Work: I’m the VP of my condo association, and am currently renovating my condo. I’ve done a lot already, and I am learning a lot!

So, I don’t know if I made myself any more productive today. But, I am happy to get my thoughts organized. At the very least, blogging is going to enhance my writing skills, which have been on the shelf for years. I’m excited to dust them off and let everyone into a part my life, should you choose to.

How do I feel about history?

As I have been digging more into history lately, with the reality that I might actually become a teacher setting in, I’ve realized something; I need to do a better job of forming my historical opinions.

Why? What does that mean?

Well, most historians don’t just write books about facts, then go home for the day. They research, look at both sides of a debate, then make conclusions for people who might not have thought/realized them. They aren’t tell you what to believe, but they are telling you what both of them believed, and they might even take a stand based on what they learned.Basically, learning history is pointless if we do not learn anything from it. A recent example of this was when I realized that during the Cuban missile crisis, we(America) had more nuclear missiles pointed at Moscow in countries like Turkey, Italy and Britain. While, the fact that the USSR built silos in Cuba is scary, it’s not the whole story. We had already taken the lead in pointing nukes at Russia. Of course in America it is remembered as them provoking us. When in reality, we had provoked them. A scary situation, but from some digging, we realize that there is a lot of finger pointing that can be done at ourselves.

I think that this is also becoming lost in a lot of HIstory classrooms. Teachers come in with the lesson plan they wrote 15 years ago and drone on till the end of the period. Students who might care about history with a bit of interaction, are lost in waves of boredom as they listen to what they know is a recited speech about an event or time period. A lot fo what I aim to do here is to regurgitate what I read, so that it will stick in my mind, and that I will be able to pull out interesting bits that we should learn from, and that I can learn to use in the classroom.

“Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character.”

“Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character.”

Henry Clay

Just finished Lord of the Flies

Jacob and Hard Work

I read the story of Jacob the last few days and have been struck by how hard he worked to get Rachel. He worked 7 years to marry her, only to be told afterwards that he had to marry the older sister (Leah) first. This is insanely odd. He also didn’t realize it was Leah until after the wedding night. Really? This is one of those bible stories that is just too hard to swallow in today’s culture. I thought of it a different way and wanted to look at how dedicated Jacob was to fulfilling God’s will. He spent over 20 years working for Rachel’s father Laban before striking it out on his own. 20 years! I get upset when my goals stagnate for a month. a Month! Yet Jacob obediently served Laban, who changed his wages monthly, and treated him unfairly, yet God was always with Jacob to bless him as he waited for what he desired most.

The purpose of this post is not to suggest that if we stay persistent with God that he will give us what we want. As Jacob found out after seven long years of labor he was not getting what he wanted. I think the takeaway for us in the present is that we need to be persistent with things that are good and blessed by God. If they are we will know along the way and he will bless us as we work towards that goal.

So, don’t lose focus. Life takes time, things do not happen overnight. remember Jacob and stay on your path!

What Hath God Wrought

What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848 by Daniel Walker Howe

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! Daniel Walker Howe is a superb writer and an even better historian. Honestly, I was a bit skeptical about reading this book as I thought that there wasn’t much there to keep my interest. I was surely mistaken once I started reading. DWH does an excellent job of giving the reader a view of what life was like for the typical American during this time period, and doing it in an interesting way that keeps your attention and doesn’t just sound like facts being rattled off to the reader. He goes into great detail about social, political, economic and religious aspects of early 19th century life, which helps put you in the mindset of someone from that time. This book will not tell you EVERYTHING there is to know about all characters involved (John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Van Buren…so on) but it will give you a very detailed highlight of their effect on our country as a result of their political careers. The only parts I found a bit stale were some of the chapters that seemed to list every type of Utopian society or religious sect that was sprouting at the time. To me that part was a bit taxing for me to get through. Still that doesn’t have an effect on what I think of this book and I firmly declare this book worthy of five stars and the Pulitzer Prize that it received!



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