“Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.” -Plato.

Maybe so, Plato....maybe so....

I've always thought I was pretty "middle of the road" when it comes to politics, but this is crazzzzzy!

The Political Compass
Economic Left/Right: -0.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.41



Here's the link for the quiz: http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

I really just try and stay out of politics in general. I support whoever leads my country at the time because I think of myself as a patriot and that's what we are called to do by being in the armed forces of this country. It's NOT LIKE MY VOTE COUNTS! Grr. Still bitter, finding that out days before the last election.

Yeah, that's right. Many states do not count absentee ballots unless it is nearly a tie....MEANING, if those active duty military members send in absentee ballots, they are most likely not being counted. Isn't that the shaft?? I was on a deployment and my freaking ballot was sitting in a warehouse. Sigh.

“He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors” Thomas Jefferson

How to exactly portray my thoughts today.....hmm. That's what seems to be bothering me right now.

Basically. I'm so sad that our country is so torn apart. This is not a political comment. Not a religious one. Not one that is blaming a person, party, group of individuals. It's just an overall sadness.

I started having a discussion with my parents the other day and like we always do, we have to agree to disagree. I tell my father he watched too much Glen Beck and we move on. Haha. (in all honesty, I love that man when he's talking pure history...very interesting...just don't like listening to anyone when they start talking politics) Anyway...it had to do with religion and politics. I believe it's hard to have one without the other, but I do believe some times that one should not force one on the other. It's hard to explain what I mean.

On another side note...I feel we sometimes glamorize the founding fathers by making it seem they are perfect, without error and only cared about the country....because I promise you this...they were still politicians. These were men, who if you read up on them, were not all faithful husbands, honest and wanted Christianity to guide the founding of our country. (I suggest a book entitled "American Gospel: God, The Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation") That's all just a side comment.

I basically wanted my dad to sit back and realize the world is not ending tomorrow. All of these problems that are occurring right now have been there in the past. Racial issues? YES. Sexual orientation issues? YES. Murder? Yes. Poverty? Yes. Famine? Yes. Evil rulers and governments? Yes. Christians being persecuted? Yes.
In fact, you can find a Biblical story that nearly mirrors similar problems facing our world today. There isn't anything new about these issues. They won't be fixed either. We don't live in the Garden of Eden. That ended a LONG time ago. We live in a world full of sin and hatred. It's awful, yes. I wish there was a magical way to make it all stop and have world peace. It's something to strive for, but in the end, it just will not happen. That's sad, but true.

I stick strong to the belief that history has a wave to it. As a country for a decade or two, we will be a strong, prosperous, positive unit...and then there will be a dark time where we are weak, failing, negative one. Right now, I believe we are in a dark time.

I don't lose my happiness over it. I believe some day we will rise again as a great unit who work together and love one another. Maybe I'm a romantic for our country. Maybe it will never happen, but I think in my heart we will some day.

We need something to bring us together. If anything, turn off the news. Forget CNN, Fox News, MSNBC. The only news that sells that anyone cares about is negative news. If that is all you keep looking for, then that will be your outlook on life. Instead, check out www.happynews.com. It will still show you what is happening in the world, but will put you on the right track to think positively.

Focus on what you can achieve. Love. That is something that each of us can do and whether or not it makes an impact on a nation or our world, it can make a difference in one person at at time. Quit looking for someone to blame. Quit looking for a reason to hate or worry or fear the future. It has to be an active decision.

And a special note for fellow Christians: We especially need not worry. When you worry and question, you are doubting God's power. If you are angry about something that someone is doing that is wrong. Let it go. Justice does come, so why should you carry that burden of being angry? As I reminded someone recently....Jesus walked the earth when Christians were being persecuted. Did you see him storming up anger and hatred about it? No. He knew in the end that God would continue to be a just God and there was no good in growing angry and bitter. SO, when this world seems evil and sad, stop and pray to let that bitterness go. Being one of God's children, what do you have to worry about? You have eternity in Heaven to look forward to and nothing here on earth can take that away.

"How despicably have I acted!' she cried. - 'I, who have prided myself on my discernment! - I, who have valued myself on my abilities!."

A Song of Opposites by John Keats

Welcome joy, and welcome sorrow,
Lethe's weed and Hermes' feather;
Come to-day, and come to-morrow,
I do love you both together!
I love to mark sad faces in fair weather;
And hear a merry laugh amid the thunder;
Fair and foul I love together.
Meadows sweet where flames are under,
And a giggle at a wonder;
Visage sage at pantomine;
Funeral, and steeple-chime;
Infant playing with a skull;
Morning fair, and shipwreck'd hull;
Nightshade with the woodbine kissing;
Serpents in red roses hissing;
Cleopatra regal-dress'd
With the aspic at her breast;
Dancing music, music sad,
Both together, sane and mad;
Muses bright and muses pale;
Sombre Saturn, Momus hale; -
Laugh and sigh, and laugh again;
Oh the sweetness of the pain!
Muses bright, and muses pale,
Bare your faces of the veil;
Let me see; and let me write
Of the day, and of the night -
Both together: - let me slake
All my thirst for sweet heart-ache!
Let my bower be of yew,
Interwreath'd with myrtles new;
Pines and lime-trees full in bloom,
And my couch a low grass-tomb.

I see myself in another time. I see myself Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Early 19th century England. Back when the slightest touch of a hand or a look was more intimate than anything else. I want to be romanced. It is rare to find a man who has a way with a pen and actually longs to write. I just watched Bright Star, which is a movie based on the romance between John Keats and Fanny Brawne. The looks. The way that when they held hands it was the most delicate and intimate thing they could do. The love. Alas.

The funny thing is that when I am romanced I don't know what to do. I think again that's Elizabeth's fault. Mr. Darcy appeared aloof, proud and mysterious. Without her even acknowledging it, Elizabeth falls in love with Mr. Darcy. He doesn't come out and give her flowers or shower her with poetry. In fact, he is cold and insults her. So, when did this all begin? The "nice guys finish last". It's true. Women want to be romanced, but then wouldn't know what to do with it. Even in modern times with Sex and the City, Mr. Big was always the aloof, proud and mysterious character. Just like in Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Big's first name is rarely mentioned. There are a lot of similarities between these two characters. If I could go back to AP english with Mrs. Burris, I would write an essay outlining this. Of course, my paper would be crap since it has been years that I've actually written an english paper, but the idea would be there.

I think many of the independent women out there are a lot like Elizabeth and Carrie. They fight it.

I would love to go back to a day where men opened doors, stood up when you came to and left the dinner table, when men would "call" on you.

The other reason I'm thinking this way is my weekend in Savannah. That city is so rich with history. I see myself in bustles and large dresses walking the brick laid streets. I loved the afternoon I had where it was just me and the city. I visited the art museum and sat in the Telfair Square and wrote in my journal and read. You can almost hear the city speak to you.

I want to be that "southern belle" who's gentlemen comes to "call" on her.

But, as soon as I would get that I would get stubborn and want to prove I didn't have to be treated differently as a woman. I'd want to show my strength and maintain that I could keep up with the men.

Oh. I'm so confusing. No wonder men can't quite get us at times. Here's the difference. I'm giving out all the secrets now!

I want to be independent, but for you to be there to take care of me when I need it.
I want to show I can do things for myself, but really love for you to do them for me.
I want to open the door for you, but only to see how you will react and I want you to then insist on holding the door for me and wait for me to enter (I do this all the time....and it's interesting to see how different men react. I'm usually let down if you let me hold it and you don't insist on holding it for me.)

Basically, I want a man who does things for me because he loves me and not because he thinks I can't do it myself. Just as long as he knows and acknowledges how strong, intelligent and handy I am.

I was never a "daddy's girl". I carried my own bags. Opened my own doors, etc. It's taken me a few relationships to learn to let things be done for me and not feel that I have to show off that I can do it all the time. I enjoy it now. It's also just maturity in general. Never in a million years would I ever thought the idea of courting or being "called" on would be romantic.

These days so many girls forget about romance. We go to the bars (because that seems to be the only place men and women can talk) and meet people who are only surface deep. I don't want that. I long for something more. I know God has something more for me and the excitement of waiting is something I'm so glad I have now. It's fun to dream of what my future husband will be like. Will he be tall? Short? Funny? (has to be funny!) How will we meet? Have we already met? Ah. It's so fun to dream.

In the meantime I'll continue to grow and mature so that when I do meet this man, I'm ready and hopefully, he will be too. I'll also enjoy my all night movie marathons of old time romance. :)