Treatise on American Politics

There has been a lot going on in the USA and I need to get my feelings out. Hopefully I will remain as eloquent as the title.

Oh, where do I start?

Now I know I am a bit behind due to my hiatus but I will go back chronologically. First of all the shooting in Aurora, Co. and the subsequent shootings that followed in Wisconsin and Texas. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Of course following these tragedies there was a cry for gun control and then those who opposed gun control cried out for their constitutional rights. Now, I am not a scholar on constitutional law but I think I have a fairly well reasoned understanding and what I don't understand is how the following "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." has been interpreted and accepted to mean anyone can have a gun. Now I'm going to have to bring out my nerd and my history books because I am simply too irate not to. The U.S. Constitution was written during a time of war where the future was uncertain and therefore a militia was necessary to keep. This would prove all to true as the War of 1812 came soon on the heels of the American War of Independence and the U.S. began expanding across the North American continent. Now it is 2012 the US has the strongest military, including a National Guard (which in a sense is a militia) ergo no one really needs to have a gun. That being said you are allowed to have guns, so lock 'em up, keep the safety on. Personally I think you should only be allowed to have a personal gun or rifle if you live in an area where there are bears or you have a lot of cattle. That's my inner New Mexican coming out. Also simply because you have the right to bear arms does not mean you have the right to kill people. Or bears. Really I think that as a society we need to look at all the violence that is happening and there needs to be a discourse to come up with an actual solution.

Now, unfortunately, this mis-intrepretation of the second amendment has spread to the first amendment which states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Yes, you have the freedom to practice your religion, and yes you also have freedom of speech but that does not mean you can enforce your own moral beliefs because of your freedom to practice and preach. The Chick fil A situation was a bit terrifying to watch from overseas. Especially when you have to explain that yes, people are up in arms over a fast-food chicken chain because the chicken eating people do not support gay marriage but they think that their first amendment right allows them to discriminate against others. I was especially saddened when I saw a photo of African American Chick fil A supporters languishing in their anti-gay marriage stance when the Civil Rights movement was only fifty years ago.  As a nation we have come so far and yet we have so much further to go. Marriage is a right that should be granted regardless of sexual orientation, race or religious belief. 

Further, religious beliefs should not influence law. I think that really is what Jefferson meant by "separation of Church and State". If you're morally against birth control or abortion than that is your belief but do not make a law that will affect millions of women because of your beliefs. As a woman it is very frightening to think that a government could have more control over my own body than myself. There is certainly nothing constitutional or moral about that.

This brings me to my last point and that is that Barack Obama has to win this election. There is way too much to lose. I have been thinking about this a lot and some may wonder what I, a twenty-four-year old, knows about anything? Well I know that in my twenty four years of life there has been four Presidents; Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr., and Obama. That's two Republicans and two Democrats. Of those presidencies I was only eligible to vote for the last and I voted for Obama. So perhaps some of my fears are simply because this is the first time I may lose the President I voted for. Except that growing up I was still aware and affected by the actions of my government regardless of whether or not I could vote, which has I think made me all the more an active citizen. The problem is that we are not all always active citizens (myself included) and we sometimes become apathetic and jaded. We haven't been given all that was promised but I think that Romney is going to do a lot worse. I am scared that after election day I may wake up to a potential world where health care will come at a cost, may not cover me under my parents' plan till I am twenty-six, or may be completely denied due to my own pre-existing conditions. I am afraid that I will lose the right to control what happens to my own body; that women will be made vulnerable to laws re-defining rape. I am afraid that my LGBT friends will not be able to know the happiness of marriage or be able to be with and take care of their loved ones in hospitals. I am afraid that the Romney tax plan is only going to benefit the very wealthy and the rest if us will be left struggling. I am afraid for the future of my generation and those to come if we cannot get past the hatred, hypocrisy and bigotry that seems to be more prominent than ever. If you share these fears than please take whatever action you can. In the very least vote. Talk to other people, write your own blog or share this one if you want, donate your time or some money to Obama's campaign. I feel anxiety every time I get an email from the campaign front but I think I will feel better knowing that I am trying to spread the word, that I care about my country and the outcome of its politics-and that hopefully others do to.

Good night, and good luck.

My New Sea Side Life

Oh yes I know it's been way too long. I have so much to say so I will break it into three posts. This will be the catch-up/news post.

The Irishman and I finally found an apartment and have moved in together! EEEKKK! We are now living outside Dublin in a small coastal town called Blackrock. It has a reputation for being very posh, but we certainly are not, really it's just close to his work and now I get to learn the joys of commuting. I am enjoying living by the sea after a life of living in the desert it is really nice to be able to take a stroll along the water. Yesterday I went and collected a large handful of sea glass. I am becoming one of those crazy women who collects everything she finds on the beach.Speaking of collecting there is also a market every weekend and last weekend I purchased three antique bottles (circa at least 1900), I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them yet but they are lovely.

I am in a play in the Absolut Dublin Fringe Festival! I am so excited! Can you tell? I have been very busy with rehearsals and am looking forward to the performances in September! The play is with Sugarglass Theatre Company and is called All Hell Lay Beneath. Unfortunately I cannot divulge too much information because the piece depends very much on the audience's participation and I don't want to give anything away in case there are people (other than my most wonderful family) reading this blog. If you are in Dublin please come to the Fringe!

I have officially completed the "couch to 5k programme" and am now regularly running approximately three miles or 5k a few days a week. It's really great and hard to believe that I only started running in May. I highly recommend it to anyone out there wanting to give running a try.

Things have been very exciting here during the Olympics. The pride of Ireland has been female boxer Katie Taylor who won the gold medal. I saw her fight on tv in a pub (naturally) and it was amazing and a real incredible atmosphere to be a part of. Who knew I would be cheering on a girl to beat up another girl?

This week Ireland finally got a bit of summer, you know, like about seventy degrees farenheit. It was great. The Irishman and I explored around our new coastal area and visited quaint little sea towns, walked along piers, and saw lighthouses. I really have to figure out a way to adjust to this rough lifestyle. It feels like I'm on holiday, I have to make sure my brain doesn't go on permanent vacation. Then today the forecast said "hurricane like weather". I'm not sure what that means, I didn't think Ireland really could get hurricanes. Apparaently it means raining all day with strong gusts of wind and then-oh wait-the sun is coming out now. Looks like I survived "the hurricane".

You may have heard of the "crazy cat lady" but I think I'm becoming a "crazy sea lady". I already mentioned that I  went beach combing and found an amazing assortment of sea glass, but yesterday after my three mile run I decided that I would take a quick dip into the Irish sea on account of the sun being out and the tide being in. It was glorious! There was also a group of old ladies, who I assume are regular swimmers, who talked to me about how nice the water was and they called me "lovey". They were also concerned that I only had on my wet clothes as I decided on a whim to go in with my running clothes on. Oops. Oh well, it's Europe. Next time I will bring my swimsuit.

Over the weekend we went to the Dublin Horse Show. We had gone last year and it is always a nice activity, although it can be a bit snooty. I saw a woman wearing Christian Louboutin shoes and while I guiltily coveted them, I really think it is ridiculous to wear shoes like that in a place where there is horse poop everywhere. She certainly would not have gotten away with it at a rodeo. Back to the horses though there was a man from France, Jean Francois Pignon, with his gray ponies which he trained to do routines without wearing harnesses or leads. It was very impressive and the ponies were adorable. They reminded me of my little gray donkey.

Photo Courtesy of jfpignon.com

Ok. I think that's a good re-cap you're all caught up! Sorry about the delay. Stay tuned for more!