Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Political Rant...

Despite many around me I have not yet decided who to vote for for President next fall. I think this is a true indicator of how I am a true moderate in my political beliefs. I also am referring to people who have chosen our current President Obama and not just Candidate Mitt Romney.

A few things I do not like about this election: People assume I need to vote for Mitt Romney because he is Mormon, and or Republican. For my Mormon friends, never has it been said that we need to vote for a republican in church and never will. The Republican party of Abraham Lincoln was more like the Democrats of today. Democrats have also changed. Parties change over time. Mormons outside of the United States tend to like the Democrats of the United States.

In my world I have seen benefits of both candidates. I voted for Obama in the past and do not regret it. I had a hard time in that election too. I do not think Obama is perfect, but I also do not think Romney is either as is evidence by the rest of this rant.

Mitt Romney made some major mistakes in his political tour. Many will not think these are major, but let it be known they are and can possibly lead to some major terrorist actions.

Mitt Romney declared Jerusalem to be the capitol of the Jewish state. For many this is true, but the US embassy is in Tel Aviv where they recognize as the capitol because of the situation where Palestinians (who have an Olympic team) refer to Jerusalem as their capitol. He went on and talked about how the culture of the Israelis is better than that of the Palestinians. Really??? Are you kidding me??? That is a super racist comment. I know that the US is the best ally to Israel, but should we be? In the United States we only here of those Palestinian terrorists, but do we hear of all the horrible things Israel is doing to occupied Palestinians? They take over their given territory and build settlements and expect Palestinians to be ok and even happy about it. That is not a peace settlement move. How would you feel if in 1948 you have to give up land for a Jewish state? I do not disagree it should exist, it should, but not at the downfall of the Palestinians. Many are still in refugee camps. Yes refugees since 1948. It is many generational problem. Their "culture" may be less according to Romney because their businesses may be small, and many have little money, but they cannot help that.

Now to my Mormon friends who say things in regards to how this is fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant. You are right, Jews living in Israel is part of that. But...did you ever consider that Abraham is one of the Muslim prophets too? They descendants from him too. Shouldn't they be considered for that as well? Palestinians can be Muslim or Christian. Both we should respect and be good world citizens with.

Okay last part of my rant...Many of the middle eastern problems we have had are due to this conflict and US relations with Israel. It may not be the only factor, but Middle eastern people will stick with their brothers and sisters in Palestine above the US every time. It is not a good idea to treat them poorly.

I may still not have made a definite decision for this fall, but this recent event is a point in the Obama camp in my book.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Boyfriends Through Time...

As you know I went on an AMAZING trip to Boston and Philadelphia with some of my favorite people in the whole world: JHAT teachers. JHAT=Jordan History Academy of Teachers this group was specifically 4th and 5th grade teachers. Here is a link to amazing teaching ideas and movies staring us using the strategies we learned. JHAT. I had many boyfriends on this trip and it was a delightful experience.



On the trip it became kind of a joke that as one of the single ladies, I could find a boyfriend. It all started in Plimouth on the Mayfower II. John Alden was on the ship. The Mayflower II is set in 1620 shortly after the Pilgrims arrive and lucky for me John Alden is still single. So of course I took a picture of him with me. So he was my first boyfriend. True Tammy and I share him, and he did get a little embarrassed, but he is an amazing boyfriend.





On our bike ride from Lexington to Concord I luckily found another boyfriend...sadly I do not know his name. I do however know he was a good soldier at the dawn of the Revolution.





Later that day we got to see Mr. Thoreau. It is true that perhaps he was not looking for a wife and that he wanted to live his days deliberately in the woods near Walden Pond in a simple way, but how could I resist such a man as Henry David Thoreau.





As we continued on our trip I acquired more boyfriends. On the Freedom Trail I found Robert Newman. He was the one who put the lantern in the Old North Church for Mr. Paul Revere. William Dawes also made that midnight ride lest we forget... Mr. Newman was not so keen on sharing me with my other boyfriends so I did have to say he was my one true boyfriend.





Also on the Freedom Trail and now onto the war or 1812 I found another boyfriend. Perhaps one of my favorite experiences from the trip was to go onto the USS Constitution. That is where I found my FAVORITE boyfriend of the trip. The USS Constitution is the longest running commissioned naval ship still afloat in the world. There the people running the ship are Naval Officers in our current Navy. Some are dressed in naval uniforms of today where as others such as my boyfriend are dressed as if they were in 1812. I still am a little giddy thinking of him, true story ...the saddest part about it is that I do not know his name.




Valley Forge and an awful winter brought me to my next boyfriend. He perhaps is a little old for me, but he will do the job through that hard winter. "Welcome to winter at Valley Forge."





I also acquired a Ranger boyfriend. He was stationed at Valley Forge near George Washington's Headquarters. Ranger Rick at the Adams National Historic Park was not nice, but this fellow was and so he became my boyfriend ...He is quite adorable if I should say so myself.





John Dunlap was a boyfriend that got everyone involved even Reid. I knew this adventure was a success then. John Dunlap may drink a little too much and spend his time in the City Tavern where we met, but he had an important job to do with the Declaration. He was the printer to the Declaration of Independence. I do enjoy him.




My last boyfriend was a tour guide of sorts in Philadelphia. He was flustered by all the Utah teachers. I do have a funny look on my face, but He was a good end to my week of boyfriends. Alas, too bad this wasn't real life.






One more boyfriend who will always mean a lot to me is my Movie Star boyfriend Matt Damon. He grew up in Boston and went to Harvard for a time. I did not see this, but Pam S'ua texted me this as she took the Harvard tour from Harvard students. He lived in this apartment. I only went to the campus, on a self guided tour so I did not see this, but still worthy to add to this boyfriend post.