Thursday, October 21, 2004
I really can't believe that in about 11 days we will elect a new president... it's really just crazy to think about it. I've never seen so many people getting politically active and it's pretty cool.
I've thought about who to vote for a long time, read everything I could get my hands on and just tried to remain as objective as possible. Ultimately, I've decided to vote for John Kerry because I believe he is a better candidate than Bush. I don't think Bush is an evil man, not at all... but unlike Kerry, I don't feel that Bush really understands the complexities and responsibilities of being the President of the U.S.
Particularly, I'm disappointed that we went to Iraq without the approval of the UN Security Council after they voted against it.
I'm also disappointed with many of his policies... tax breaks to the richest americans amid increased spending and general acceptance of job outsourcing.
I'm disappointed that Bush has a lack of understanding about the potential of stem cell research and has limited federal funding in that area.
I'm disappointed that Bush's policies are so cold to homosexuals. I don't agree with a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage because I feel that it is merely trying to sweep over the issue. I'll admit that I'm torn on the issue... my faith teaches that homosexuality is against God's will, and I do understand that and believe it.
However, I don't hate anyone for their sexual preferences any more than I could hate someone for not liking Top Gun (I say that because I actually have a friend who doesn't like the movie... I was left in a state of shock!). I don't think I could ever vote for an amendment specifically designed to discriminate against one group.
And that's EXACTLY what it is because the Constitution
I've thought about who to vote for a long time, read everything I could get my hands on and just tried to remain as objective as possible. Ultimately, I've decided to vote for John Kerry because I believe he is a better candidate than Bush. I don't think Bush is an evil man, not at all... but unlike Kerry, I don't feel that Bush really understands the complexities and responsibilities of being the President of the U.S.
Particularly, I'm disappointed that we went to Iraq without the approval of the UN Security Council after they voted against it.
I'm also disappointed with many of his policies... tax breaks to the richest americans amid increased spending and general acceptance of job outsourcing.
I'm disappointed that Bush has a lack of understanding about the potential of stem cell research and has limited federal funding in that area.
I'm disappointed that Bush's policies are so cold to homosexuals. I don't agree with a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage because I feel that it is merely trying to sweep over the issue. I'll admit that I'm torn on the issue... my faith teaches that homosexuality is against God's will, and I do understand that and believe it.
However, I don't hate anyone for their sexual preferences any more than I could hate someone for not liking Top Gun (I say that because I actually have a friend who doesn't like the movie... I was left in a state of shock!). I don't think I could ever vote for an amendment specifically designed to discriminate against one group.
And that's EXACTLY what it is because the Constitution
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Ok... so it's been a while... a long while... like 8 months-awhile. I could try to talk about all the things that have happened, but who knows if I'd ever remember. Long and short ofit... here goes.
The school year ended and Kären graduated. Summer time brought employment with the city of Eugene once again, and this time, Kären worked with them too. I was assigned to Petersen Barn, this year as a Recreation Leader rather than a Site Director. I was not that enthusiastic at first, but I got over it and had a GREAT year.
In September, just before school started up again, I went on a weeklong trip with my mom's two sisters, Aimee and Emily and their families to Disneyland. Emily's husband was terminally ill with a brain tumor, so it was a last family vacation. I went mainly to help out with her two sons: AJ, 10, and Nickolas, 7. Their youngest, Flavia, 4 wasn't too bad because she got tired easily and didn't want to stay at the park all day like her brothers. We had a great time and I took over 350 pictures to chronicle the event... perhaps I'll post some of them.
Unfortunately, Scotty succumbed to the cancer about two weeks after we arrived back in Sacramento. My entire family - Dad, Mom, Len, Samantha, Chelsea and Olivia - flew down for the funeral. Emily asked me to sing and I ended up doing a version of "Oh My Father". After the funeral ended, Emily had "Aloha Oe" played... everyone was fine until Emily started to break down. She had been so solid the days before... but that did it, and for the rest of us, it became a unified moment of mourning. My uncle was a great man... only 35-years-old when he died, and it was difficult to say goodbye. Everyone rose to their feet and sang along to the final words of the song, a traditional farewell song sung all over Hawaii (note: my grandparents used to live in Hawaii along with Emily and her husband, Scotty... so there was quite a bit of signifigance).
School started up and with luck I'll be able to graduate this year! I'm thinking about going Business School after this to get an MBA, but we'll see how that works out.
The school year ended and Kären graduated. Summer time brought employment with the city of Eugene once again, and this time, Kären worked with them too. I was assigned to Petersen Barn, this year as a Recreation Leader rather than a Site Director. I was not that enthusiastic at first, but I got over it and had a GREAT year.
In September, just before school started up again, I went on a weeklong trip with my mom's two sisters, Aimee and Emily and their families to Disneyland. Emily's husband was terminally ill with a brain tumor, so it was a last family vacation. I went mainly to help out with her two sons: AJ, 10, and Nickolas, 7. Their youngest, Flavia, 4 wasn't too bad because she got tired easily and didn't want to stay at the park all day like her brothers. We had a great time and I took over 350 pictures to chronicle the event... perhaps I'll post some of them.
Unfortunately, Scotty succumbed to the cancer about two weeks after we arrived back in Sacramento. My entire family - Dad, Mom, Len, Samantha, Chelsea and Olivia - flew down for the funeral. Emily asked me to sing and I ended up doing a version of "Oh My Father". After the funeral ended, Emily had "Aloha Oe" played... everyone was fine until Emily started to break down. She had been so solid the days before... but that did it, and for the rest of us, it became a unified moment of mourning. My uncle was a great man... only 35-years-old when he died, and it was difficult to say goodbye. Everyone rose to their feet and sang along to the final words of the song, a traditional farewell song sung all over Hawaii (note: my grandparents used to live in Hawaii along with Emily and her husband, Scotty... so there was quite a bit of signifigance).
School started up and with luck I'll be able to graduate this year! I'm thinking about going Business School after this to get an MBA, but we'll see how that works out.
