A Late Christmas and WWII Themes

Inauguration
To say that attending the Inauguration of our 44th president was an amazing, moving experience that I will never forget is a major understatement. Let me start of by telling you all that the crowds were so massive and claustrophobic that it took an hour to walk there, two and a half hours to walk back, I had to stand for over four hours, my back and feet hurt, it was freezing, my lips were chapped, I had to get up super early after only getting two hours of sleep, I lost one of my gloves, I forgot my scarf in my apartment and you know what... NOT OF THAT MATTERED! It was incredible. President Obama's speech signified a changing of the guard and a fresh new international perspective. Obviously many have criticized that Obama's goals are lofty and idealistic but why not attempt a new approach to interacting with our enemies and friends abroad. "To the Muslim world... your people will judge you not by what you destroy but by what you build", "we are willing to extend a hand if you are unwilling to unclench your fist." These words thoroughly excited me and I pray that the over 2 million people along with me on the mall were not the only ones listening. I have toned down my harsh rhetoric against the Bush administration and the Republican Party but I feel that the doctrine executed for the past eight years has not brought us any closer to bringing peace to Iraq or Afghanistan nor has it quelled the fierce hatred held by many of the nation's in the Middle East. So when I say I am excited it is because I want to see a new doctrine. A doctrine that stresses diplomacy over incursion, tolerance over torture, and peace over conflict. The speech was so uplifting but it also called us out. "We have to pick ourselves up." I urge everyone to listen to the speech if you haven't already.

http://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barackobama/barackobamainauguraladdress.htm

I Pray that the new president is able to deliver on his promises and that we, his most valuable constituency, will cooperate and be open minded to the change that is to come. I have also heard several people compare the crowds that attended the inauguration to the masses that congregated around Hitler during hid rise to power. Now I ask all of you reading this blog if you heard Jesus Himself was going to make a speech in Orlando, Florida wouldn't you buy yourself a ticket to the Sunshine State ASAP? I know I would and so would millions of other people. Now I am not comparing Obama to Jesus but I am also not comparing him to Hitler either. I feel like Obama falls somewhere in between. So please stop mocking people for getting excited about Obama or if you hear someone else doing it just throw my fresh new argument their way.

So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.)
Part of the American Studies Program requires that we interact in a service project within the city of Washington DC. Last Thursday a group of fellow students and I went to serve at a non-profit that serves and aids homeless individuals in the DC area. They provide food, clothing, addiction counseling, dental, medical and mental aid. On our first trip the program director, Simon, had us pick up trash in the surrounding neighborhood. Simon shared with us that recent studies show that neighborhoods that have less trash in the streets and less graffiti on the wall are less likely to experience crime even in areas that are considered where there is low income housing. So that is why Simon had us pick up trash. I can honestly tell you that picking up the trash was initially pretty gross and eventually put us in a pretty lousy mood after a while. But then a thought came into my head that while we were picking up these disgusting, raunchy piles of garbage Jesus and His angels were rejoicing at the sight of our service. It's hard to be down in the dumps (literally) when you know that spirits in heaven are joyous with your actions. After picking up trash we were reassigned to a new project, one that was both fulfilling and quite fun. Over this last Christmas S.O.M.E. received an abundant amount of donations. S.O.M.E. usually distributes the donations that they receive as gifts to give out to homeless people on Christmas day. The Lord blessed S.O.M.E. with so many gifts that they had more gifts than homeless. So we were designated with the job of opening up the gift-wrapped presents and sorting the gifts into categories. Can you believe it we got to open presents for our service project? It was so rewarding. Though obviously we were not able to keep any of the gifts it was so enjoyable seeing the kindness of strangers exhibited on such a large scale, especially in a year when many of our pundits have been proclaiming that the economy has slowed our holiday spending. Plus it is always fun opening up Christmas gifts!

Holocaust Memorial
This past Friday our program visited the Holocaust Memorial on the National Mall. I frequently called it the Holocaust museum before I went on Friday but apparently they consider it a Memorial even though it has exhibits and shows just like a museum. However, this memorial is not only designated to educate (the usual role of a museum) but it also is designated to call to remembrance the horrific genocide attempted by the Nazi regime. I have to confess something I am very ashamed of. I was deeply moved by the memorial and am completely sickened by atrocities committed by the Nazis in the 1930s and 40s, however during a video presentation in the memorial I fell asleep. Not only was this a completely disrespectful act but upon later reflection I realized that this incident was indicative of a greater struggle that I must address in my life. I feel like God has blessed me by surrounding me by great truths and ample opportunities to learn but often I am caught sleeping. There I was in a historic memorial meant to commemorate the sacrifice and bravery displayed by those in one of the most evil moments in human history and I was catching some z's. I had the opportunity to learn and realize a great truth about the existence of evil and how good still survived even in the worlds darkest hour. The author Walker Percy once said that "you can get straight A's but still flunk life." Well I don't want to flunk life and I sure don't want to sleep through it when there are so many things to learn. I am deeply sorry that I fell asleep in the memorial and I pledge to all of you publicly that I am going to dedicate my time here and DC and beyond to trying to keep my eyes and ears open so that I may learn and maybe one day teach. I found this quote in scripture that will help me do this:

"Ears that hear and eyes that see- the LORD has made them both. Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare."
Proverbs 20:12-13

Where I am at...
Do you know who Victor Kugler, Johannes Kleiman, Meip Gies, and Bep Voskuijl are? Dont worry neither did I. I had to look them up. I had a though the other day while reflecting on how my friends and family have been so incredible to my mother and I during these past eight months. You see Victor Kugler, Johannes Kleiman, Meip Gies, and Bep Voskuijl are the individuals that helped hide Anne Frank and her family from the Gestapo during the Holocaust. These four individuals aren't recognized as often as Anne Frank even though they are the ones who selflessly put their lives at risk and defied the law because they had a higher understanding of good over the law of the land. Anyway, I just wanted to say that if you are reading this blog you are most likely a friend to me and you haven't received enough credit for all the good that you have done in my life and in my mom's when we needed you most. You all have a deeper understanding of good and I am thankful for your selflessness.

Thanks again for reading my rants and crazy ideas. Please comment and call me or text me if you miss me. Have a great day.

My First Few Days

Well let me start off by saying that I have never experienced anything close to what I have experienced in DC these last five days. It is entirely incomparable. The closest I could get is comparing DC to Disneyland except everywhere you would normally see a Mickey Mouse picture you instead see an Obama picture, statue or display. Everyone here is fired up and ready to go. I was traveling back from the big inaugural concert they held on the National Mall, which I will cover in more detail below, I had to pack tight into the subway like a sardine. Usually when you stuff a large amount of people in a very small space people get cranky. Not this week! Everyone is loving on each other, talking to each other, and for sure there are a ton of smiles on every one's face. The city has such electricity in the air and I am definitely caught up in the vibrant current.

I was privileged enough to attend the concert at the Lincoln Memorial yesterday. The list of celebrities and performances included Denzel Washington, Bruce Springsteen, Laura Linney, Martin Luther King III, Mary J. Blige, Steve Carell, Jamie Foxx, Jon Bon Jovi, Bettye LaVette, Tom Hanks, James Taylor, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, Marisa Tomei, John Mellencamp, Queen Latifah, Josh Groban, Heather Headley, George Lopez, Kal Penn, will.i.am, Sheryl Crow, Herbie Hancock, Tiger Woods, Jack Black, Rosario Dawson, Garth Brooks, Ashley Judd, Forest Whitaker, Stevie Wonder, Usher, Shakira, Samuel L. Jackson, U2, Beyonce, and of course Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and the First Family. It was a phenomenal experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have posted pictures of the event on my facebook if you would like to see where I was and what I saw.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2073959&l=c0dda&id=56904304

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2073960&l=829f7&id=56904304

I can remember more that four years ago my mom, dad and I sitting around the kitchen table watching the then Illinois State Senator Barack Obama deliver his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. My parents and I knew we had witnessed something special that day but I never thought I would be able to be present when this self-proclaimed skinny man with a funny name would ascend to the highest office in the land.

My trip to DC has not even completed its first week and already I have felt so blessed to be here at this time, at this moment in history. This time will be a time that we speak to our children and grandchildren about. I urge all of you to put aside your political affiliation and just bask in the incredible achievement for progress. This is momentous to say the very least and I cannot express how humbled I feel to be allowed to be so close to the action.

As many of you close to me know that this year has been a difficult one for me. It has been full of challenges and struggles but I truly believe that I am a better man for it. I too am trying to bask in my progress instead of turning to negativity and self pity. I want to thank everyone that has somehow helped me in my time of need or reached out to me when I needed a friend. Rest assured I am happy and I feel now more than any other point in my 20 years of life that I am a blessed and privileged man. I feel as though wants me where I am now and I am content in that notion. Especially when it just so happens that he wants me in that nation's capitol during the most positive, significant historical event of my lifetime. But onlu do I feel that he wants me "here" in the geographical sense but also at this impasse in my life as well. I have and desire the chance to grow in my faith and in my relationships. My chance is here and my time is now to do just that.

I promise in my next enrty I will discuss more about the people I have met in my program, how my courses are going, new friends I have made, how I am dealing with the "harsh" weather and maybe even how I am doing being a vegitarian during the week for at least until Feb. 15. I dont know what has been more difficult, the near 0 degree weather or forging meat during the week. And of course I will talk about my day at the inauguration ceremony. Until then please comment on my blog and feel free to call me or text me anytime. Thank you friends.