What This Election Means

So now that all the political aftermath has seemed to maybe calm down a bit, let me take a minute to talk about my favorite part about the American Democracy.  Let me remind you I am not passionate about politics in any way. I voted, sure. It's the basic American right. What I felt most passionate about when I was following this election, was which candidate was going to take care of the country's healthcare system better? Thats basically what made my vote for me.

But thats not the point of this blog.


The day of voting, I went after a long day in class/work/orientation. I stood in line like many across the country did that day, and in front of me was an elderly gentleman. I noticed this man was on supplemental oxygen and was alone. He managed to either drive or get dropped off, but regardless made the effort to participate in the election. He then walked all the way into the polling center, and waited in line like the rest of us. What I was pleased to see was that other people in line in front of him, all let him go before them. They also went and got a chair for him to sit in not only while he waited but during the process of actually casting his vote. Other people helped him carry his oxygen machine. The poll director helped him back down the stairs and to his car.

Now I was pleased to see that not only people in my country but people in my community, still have human souls and would go out of their way to make this gentleman comfortable. But what really made me so happy was that this gentleman bothered to come out and vote.

It made me angry to think of how many young and able people don't vote because they're lazy, think their vote won't count, or they don't "believe in politics"....and yet this 90+ gentleman citizen believed enough to make it out to vote.

I don't even care a single ounce if he voted different than me. I don't care whose side he is on. He is on my side because he lives in America, and that is the point. To just participate. To make your voice matter, no matter what you believe in. Thats what election day is all about.


Thats all, simple post today. :)


~WNB


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THIS Year's Resolution's

Okay...so, I've thought all day about how I want this year's resolutions to go down. This is the first year that I was able to actually read what I wrote as last year's resolutions...usually I just am like, "Oh, it was probably to lose weight or something...But THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR IS GONNA BE EPIC." But as you can see, last year was clearly an epic fail. I met like...what? Two? Three? So I wanted this years to be a bit more attainable...realistic. But we'll see. I've thought a lot about it. I don't want to make the typical "Lose weight, watch finances better, keep room clean" type resolutions. Boring, and typical. Ok so here goes.

1) I want to learn. I feel like such a dumbass either when I'm talking to smart people or when I'm trying to do something by myself (usually something simple) and I realize that I am not capable of living on this earth and cannot do anything. The other night I went out with a good friend who got a degree in political science. So we talked a lot about politics.

I had no idea what he was saying.

And that seriously bothers me! I want to know, I want to be able to talk about the Health Care Reform. See, I don't even know if that should be capitalized or not! I only JUST learned LAST YEAR that you put TWO spaces after every period when writing a paper. WTF?

Anyway, its not just politics. I know nothing about religion. I want to know, though. But every time I try and read bible stories or pay attention in church, I get extremely lost and give up and start thinking about fun colors and songs in my head. Yesterday when I was babysitting, I was cleaning up their house toys and found this book that was "Bible stories: For Children" and I was like, oh, this is totally what I need. So in the middle of my child-watching duties, I was all like, hold up- I have to read this book and catch up. It had all the stories. But unfortunately, kids are crazy and get into everything and I could not keep reading, nor could I realistically steal it and take it home for later reading.

So, politics, religion...Shakespeare, literature, famous people...famous bands, famous movies....Stuff that people know. And thats just what people talk about. The other day I had to google whether or not I could use olive oil to make eggs because I couldn't find cooking spray. I also had to google how to use a real tea kettle and not a water boiler. Do not laugh. I am ashamed. Really. So it's stuff like that. Stupid stuff. Sometimes people ask me to do stuff, and I'm like....seriously? You're gonna have to show me how to do that.

THe funny thing is...this friend that I was with? The whole time (I found out later on in the night) he thought I was smart! HA! Just because I have a whopping 3.5 GPA (which isn't even that high in my nursing program), that makes me a genius, apparently. This friend complained that his GPA was in the 2.0's, I considered him smarter. Because he knew how to talk about things in this world...important things. All I know how to talk about is nursing stuff...and half the time I have no idea what I'm talking about with that, either. So its a lose-lose. :-(

So how do I accomplish this resolution? Well...I don't know. I plan to like....read the paper more. I guess. Because that has worldly important things in it, right? I'm already reading a lot of books...even though they are all nursing. So...I guess reading the paper is all I've got right now. And paying attention to smart people when they talk.

2) This is sort of a spin off of number one. I need to pay attention to people when they talk. I have ADHD (self-diagnosed) and when someone is talking and talking and talking, especially about a topic that I have no interest in, my ears literally shut off. Its like a defense mechanism gone haywire. It is really bad, because while the person is talking about something they deem really important, I am thinking about oompa loompas and prairie dogs and green things and how i should eat more vegetables and fruits and less carbs but then what kind of carbs? Why are carbs that bad, actually? Shit, do i have to babysit tomorrow? Crap. I totally forgot. what time was that? I should get a calendar. and stick to it. And -
"Julie? What do you think?"
and I'm all like FUDGESTICKS I HAVENT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION EVEN THOUGH I TRIED REALLY HARD."

Its really not something I'm proud of. Its really a problem. Especially when I'm supposed to be listening to something I know is super important. Like in clinical when my instructor was giving me a free pass and explaining to me before we went into the patient room how to hook a piggyback into a primary IV bag thats currently running, and I found my ears turned off. I got bits and pieces.

I guess when the topic doesnt interest me or doesnt make sense, I just stop listening. Solution? Listen to every single word and process what is happening. Get some ADHD medication. Either of those two would work out great.

Okay so as of now, those are my two resolutions. I plan to add on, maybe tonight or tomorrow or something...but thats all I thought of today. Those are two pretty big things to work on. We'll see how it goes. :)

~WNB

UPDATE:

So, I just had a depressing moment. I just voted on a poll on facebook that was all, 'do you think 2011 will be awesome??" and my immeditate reaction was YES! but then, my overthinking, overanalyzing self was like....well...actually, no. 2011 is the scary year. Hopefully, an amazing year, if it all works out nicely....but, nonetheless, a year about uncertainty, and graduating, and getting a JOB, and getting through the first couple months of that job...and liking it.....Scary :-\

So, my third and final resolution is this:

3) Have more confidence in myself. Just....go with the flow. Fate/Destiny has a plan. It will all be OK in the end...I just have to be the best that I can be...take care of myself, and have days to de-stress. It will all be OK. I hope by this time in 2012, I can look back on 2011 and say "awww, what the heck was I so worried for? 2011 was fantastic!!" My 20's are supposed to be the best years of my life. I hope nursing doesn't prevent that...:( *stress*

What Defines a Hero?

I am not about to sit here and lie about my knowledge of politics. I pretty much only know the basics and personally choose not to bother myself with the stress of nationwide and worldwide politics. To me, Its all jibberish. Sure, I voted. Sure, I didn't like George W. Bush. Why? Because on my basic level of knowledge of politics on the surface, I didn't see any clear evidence of good accomplishments Bush was making in his presidency. Barack Obama, although many are already unimpressed, I have a good feeling about. But that's not what this essay is about.

The article I choose is titled, "Iraqi Shoe Flinger Gets Hero Treatment" and was featured in the USA Today and written by columnist Nadeem Majeed. Last December, Iraqi TV journalist Al-Zeidi threw both of his shoes at President George Bush during a speech in Baghdad. Bush was unharmed, and Zeidi was immediately arrested and thrown in a Baghdad jail for nine months (originally a three year sentence). Iraqis have many mixed feelings about this, as do I, America, and the Bush family. Most Iraqis are treating Zeidi as if he saved 100 people from a burning building. On a telephone interview an Iraqi quotes, "All Arab people…hope to get the chance of doing of doing what (Al-Zeidi) did." Zeidi, due to be released this Monday has received the following in his honor: Full pay by his employer while he was in jail, a two story fully furnished villa bought by his employer, numerous wedding offers, with brides coming "loaded with jewels and gold", A prince in Qatar has offered to pay for all his health care, A businessman offered Zeidi $10Million for the "famous" shoes… His brother quotes, "What he did was heroic and deserves all this appreciation from people who hate occupation".

Bush has downplayed the incident, despite him looking foolish ducking the shoes being chucked at him on national T.V. He plays it off as a "show of dissent in a newly democratic Iraq." Former first lady Laura Bush calls it no laughing matter and it was a direct assault. A common Iraqi man also has mixed feelings as he quotes "He should have spent more time in jail to learn how to respect guests".

What it comes down to, is how is one to define a hero? Webster defines hero as " a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities or 'one that shows great courage'". Clearly, the Iraqis think that Zeidi fits this description on their side. Technically, every "side", every "team" has their own hero, and he/she is the enemy, or the "villain" to the opposing side. But who is right? In the Iraqi eye, George Bush might seem like the "evil villain" which is why they feel no remorse for treating him with disrespect. Take a common action movie for example. We (the audience) are exposed to one side, one team. We learn to love our hero character, we are rooting for his/her side throughout. The movie usually shows clips (maybe) of the villain side doing horrible things to detriment the "good side". But if you flip it around and look at both sides of the story, the "villain" is doing what he feels what is right and what he needs to do. Excluding your typical comicbook where the villain is just some nasty troublemaker that is in it for pure joy and evil, most villains nowadays are common people that are fighting for their own cause, their own dignity and respect, or fighting for their own country. Technically, in the eye of many other countries, the USA is the "bad guy". But who is the "good guy" in every American movie? Duh. Its all about whose side is portrayed and how.

So, yes, I think it is silly and disrespectful of Zeidi to have thrown his shoes at our president. I think it is absurd as to how much treatment and appraisal he is receiving. But on the other hand, I definitely knows where he and the rest of Iraq is coming from. Here is their country, living the way they liked it and we come in a change everything around and get in everyone's business. Who would like that? What if Al-Qaeda or Sadam Hussein were to have ever received the unlikely chance to make a speech here in the U.S.? Would we not treat the person that threw a shoe, or something worse at him as a hero? Think about it…