Well, I decided to try the blogging thing... even though it took me 30 minutes just to think of what to call it. There's a lot of good things to say about life, politics (oh yes), the world, religion, recent happenings, and so much more!
Going along with the theme of "first time for everything," my first topic will be the new president-elect and my feelings on the subject. I watched CNN Tuesday night like a football game. It wasn't as exciting as a good game, but I was still interested in the outcome. I was very impressed with John McCain's concession speech and the manner in which he has determined to help his country, the most important thing, no matter who the president is. I agree 100% with his statement: "I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our goodwill and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited." No matter who you voted for, I hope and pray for the success of President-elect Obama-our lives are in his hands. Just as he said: "I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here." (see the whole speech
here) Believe in America!
In addition to McCain's speech, I was also impressed with Obama's speech when he talked about the white verses black "racial" ideas (I'm going to pick and choose parts in order, just to pull out the bold points):
"But the anger is real...
... a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. Most working- and middle-class white Americans don't feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race.
Their experience is the immigrant experience -- as far as they're concerned, no one's handed them anything, they've built it from scratch. They've worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor.
So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African-American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they're told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time.
And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns -- this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding.
This is where we are right now. It's a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naive as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy -- particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own..." (read his speech on CNN)
I feel like Obama really wants to bring this country together. But, we can't do it without believing in his same dream. It's not just blacks and whites getting along, but actually BEING equal--no special privileges, no matter who you are. I hope for the best for him, our next president.
Last night Scott and I went to see The Nutcracker at Capital Theater in Salt Lake. We left early and ate at the Garden (top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building) which was delicious. Here are some pictures from the view.
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