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.