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Government Efficiency - Who Woulda Thunk It?
Author: Jenn, Category: Life
I just have to say - I’m pretty damned impressed with the State Department.
I’m hoping to make time to visit England in February. It’s my first international trip (other than a trip to Canada as a kid, which I don’t count). I didn’t have my passport yet.
While I knew not to expect the 12-week-style delays of last year, I was expecting it to at least take 2 - 3 weeks before I’d get it.
To my amazement, it arrived yesterday - just 5 business days after applying. I don’t know if I’ve ever been that shocked on checking the mail.
I was anxious for it for a few reasons:
1. I didn’t want to seriously look into hotels and flights until I knew I had that in-hand.
2. I found out recently that I was born a dual-citizen (US and German). I needed to get this passport before I could go up to NY to the German mission and apply for a German passport as well.
Because it came so quickly (and if I get some news I’m expecting this week), I may even have the German passport before going to England. I don’t really need it while I’m in England, but if and when I go back to Europe, it means I can travel a bit more freely (read: quickly) between EU countries. Being the family history buff that I am, it’s also pretty exciting uncovering a birthright like that - especially one that connects me to the most difficult branch of my family tree to trace (my namesake no less).
Election 2008 - Just Have to Say It
Author: Jenn, Category: Life
I was never a huge Obama fan. But over the last few weeks I warmed to him a bit more. I didn’t find it surprising - I’m never a huge fan of any politician.
Anyway, I voted for him (I believe I had 5 elections yesterday, and voted pretty typically - on a case by case basis that ended up with 3 democrats and 2 republicans).
I tried to convince myself that I shouldn’t watch the results come in. The last time I did was 2000, when I voted for Gore, and well… we all know how that one went. I gave in though. I couldn’t resist.
I ended up watching MSNBC (mostly because I’ve always like Chris Matthews). I was nervous as hell. After voting it got worse - I realized there wasn’t much more I could do but wait.
So I waited.
And thankfully I didn’t have to wait very long.
Around 11pm, they announced it - Obama will be our next president.
Something happened - a reaction I didn’t expect, because I didn’t realize previously exactly how “down” I really was about this country and our government. I cried - like a friggin’ baby. Not because we had our first black president (that’s historically important of course, but I hope it doesn’t distract everyone from everything else this election says). I cried instead because this huge weight was lifted - this incredible, heavy gloom that loomed over me for much of the last 8 years was gone.
Yes, Bush is still our president. But for the first time in years I realized that I could have faith in the American people again. I was finally proud again. We stood up, and said “Not anymore!” We took the country back, and can finally look forward to trying to heal - our economy, our relationships with other nations, and our relationships with each other.
I know everyone’s not happy about the results. Frankly though, I don’t give a damn. Those who feel that dread now can finally see what so many of us felt and feared for years. They called us “Un-American” while being so out of touch with what the American people really wanted themselves. I don’t see us doing the same. In time, I hope that most people will warm to Obama like I did (I know “all” never will). More importantly, I hope he earns that respect and warmth by finding ways to unite us after the divisions of the Bush administration.
I think everyone with an ounce of sense knows things won’t suddenly change for the better the moment he takes office - things take time. We took 8 years to fuck up this country, and it’s going to take time to fix it. What I’m finding amazing here though is that Obama’s helped a lot of folks realize that they can take steps to fix it - they’re not just puppets of their government. And for that, I’m pretty damned thankful. It’s exciting to see that excitement brewing in people who want to get involved. Let’s hope Obama keeps that spirit alive.
Listening to Obama’s speech, I didn’t hear anything overly fascinating. It was about what I expected, and he delivered it well as he often does. I was particularly happy to hear him reaching out to the international community though. Having so many international friends, colleagues, and clients, I often hear what others around the world really think of us beyond what we hear from our government or in the media, and frankly it’s been scary (even from people in countries that are supposed to be our allies). I think Obama will make an excellent diplomat, and I hope he steps up on that front.
Listening to McCain’s speech was similar I suppose. I figured he’d concede as gracefully as possible and not do anything to even further damage his party’s reputation (like acting like a whiny, pouting bitch demanding recounts left and right). So bravo to him for that and for asking his followers to unite under our new president elect. I do wish he’d put less emphasis on the race issue early in the speech though. At the time, I almost got the vibe that it was a “he won because he’s black” sort of thing (although I’m sure that was unintentional), and it disturbed me until he moved past it. Nothing terribly surprising in what he said, but I have to admit, it was the best speech I heard him give. Why he sounded more passionate and involved in a concession than in running is beyond me. Or maybe I was too caught up in feeling hope, faith, and pride last night to hear any typical boring, droning elements.
Anyway, congratulations to the incoming first family. Now let’s sit tight and see Obama’s first important decisions - who he fills his cabinet with.
I received more campaign garbage in the mail on Saturday, including one flyer that really rubbed me the wrong way.
It was dubbed something like a “complete voting guide” for one of the parties - listing the party’s presidential candidate and all of the local, state, etc. folks running. That was their “complete guide” - a list of names, with the party name emphasized below each one, and the office they’re running for. No mention of the issues.
What really got me is that the list was done in vote ballot format, showing voters that they could either manually fill in their little circles for each one, or that they could just fill in their little party bubble and vote party lines.
That’s always disgusted me. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think anyone should be allowed to place all votes across party lines by simply filling in a little circle (or whatever you do where you are). While I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion, I feel that if you don’t know the issues, you really have no “right” to vote in that particular race. Anything else is ignorance - something we have far too much of here already. I’m sure it happens elsewhere, but obviously it’s on my mind locally with the election tomorrow.
I never vote in a race where I’m not aware of the candidates’ positions on issues that are important to me. I also never vote strictly along party lines - I very regularly end up with a pretty even mix of votes for liberal and conservative candidates depending who I feel is the best man or woman for the job, period. There’s no other valid reason to vote for someone as far as I’m concerned. And frankly, as an American, knowing exactly what we’re voting for is more than a simple suggestion - it’s our responsibility.
So if you’re an American who plans to vote tomorrow, I truly hope that you’re more than just a label.