So with all my grand ideas about writing every couple of days or at least once a week, 11 days have passed since my last post. I was thinking about why that is... It's certainly not for lack of thoughts on political topics - those I have in abundance :) Part of it of course is busyness - I seem to always have reading for classes or other things that I need to do. But I think the other part of it has to do with my mindset towards blogging. I am hesitant to post anything unless it is carefully thought-out and conclusive - almost like writing a paper, I want it to be perfect before I submit it. This perfectionism, this need to fully formulate my thoughts before communicating them is something I have been aware of for several years, and something I always find difficult to overcome. Yet it is part of who I am.
Anyway, I hope to break myself of this as I blog. I want this to be a place where I can freely express thoughts, where I can figure things out as I go. I think of deep conversations with friends where we explore a topic without knowing where it will lead, but wrestling with it and bouncing ideas off of eachother - it would be great if that could be replicated here. Maybe it's not so important to have the right answers as to be asking the right questions.
In that spirit, I promise to post something after class today :)
~Peace~
Amanda
Monday, July 21, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Summertime...
I have a new political topic taking shape to post about, but don't have time to write it out before my next class. So instead I thought I'd give a quick update on my life...
France seems like ancient history already, even though it's not even been 6 weeks since I got back. I don't miss it (except maybe the food) - it's been so wonderful to be HOME. However, things do change in 5 months, and that I was not quite prepared for - close friends leaving for the summer, deaths in my church, and many other small things. It would've been nice to have everything the same as before I left, but that's not reality - life constantly changes, whether we want it to or not, and we have to deal with that. But despite those changes, it has been wonderful reconnecting with the people and places I've been separated from for so long :)
And the summer has been flying by - I can't believe it's July already! For those of you who don't know, I'm living with a family from my church over the summer, which has been really good. As much as I love my family and enjoy spending time with them, I haven't lived at home for more than a couple of weeks at a time since 2006, and I didn't want to generate unnecessary conflict by being with them too much. I still see them at least once a week, but now I also get to be part of another family too :) They have two adorable boys, 9 months and 2 1/2 years, and it's great to come home from a long day of academic work to play with them. They make me laugh, and sometimes they reward me with a smile :) I am realizing more and more, though, the gift and burden that comes with being "Mama" - how your heart must warm when you're the only one who can dry your child's tears, yet also how exhausting it must be to be the one constantly called for. But it's been fun to spend time with the boys and their mom :) When they're traveling it can be kind of creepy being in the big house all by myself, but now I have a new "roomie" downstairs - a student who's interning at my church. She's really cool, and it's been nice having someone around to talk to and do stuff with.
On the academic front, I finished my first set of classes last Tuesday (after pulling an all-nighter Monday!) and then had 5 days of sorely-needed vacation. Those classes had been hard - US Foreign Policy probably the hardest course I've ever taken - and I learned a LOT, but my brain needed a break. Monday I started new classes - American Literature and International Politics. Although I'm not very interested in Lit, the prof is nice and engaging, so I think it'll be a fun and not-too-hard class. International Politics is not at all what I expected, though! The prof is totally laid back - wearing shorts and sneakers, wasting time talking about irrelevant stuff, and always letting us out early. I'm the only POLI SCI major in the class - everyone else is just taking it as an elective or a Gen. Ed. - and he's obviously gearing it to their level. Although it would be nice to have less work, I really want to learn something and not just waste 6 weeks on fundamentals, so that's kind of frustrating for me.
Another big part of my summer has been BIKING! Inspired by the bikers in France, I decided to get my own when I got back - decreasing my carbon footprint, getting exercise, and experiencing the city in a new way. Although it was scary in the beginning (Philly drivers do have a reputation!), I absolutely love it - the freedom, the exercise, and the lack of carbon emissions :)
Well, I have to head to class now... Look for something about Iran and Israel in the next few days :)
France seems like ancient history already, even though it's not even been 6 weeks since I got back. I don't miss it (except maybe the food) - it's been so wonderful to be HOME. However, things do change in 5 months, and that I was not quite prepared for - close friends leaving for the summer, deaths in my church, and many other small things. It would've been nice to have everything the same as before I left, but that's not reality - life constantly changes, whether we want it to or not, and we have to deal with that. But despite those changes, it has been wonderful reconnecting with the people and places I've been separated from for so long :)
And the summer has been flying by - I can't believe it's July already! For those of you who don't know, I'm living with a family from my church over the summer, which has been really good. As much as I love my family and enjoy spending time with them, I haven't lived at home for more than a couple of weeks at a time since 2006, and I didn't want to generate unnecessary conflict by being with them too much. I still see them at least once a week, but now I also get to be part of another family too :) They have two adorable boys, 9 months and 2 1/2 years, and it's great to come home from a long day of academic work to play with them. They make me laugh, and sometimes they reward me with a smile :) I am realizing more and more, though, the gift and burden that comes with being "Mama" - how your heart must warm when you're the only one who can dry your child's tears, yet also how exhausting it must be to be the one constantly called for. But it's been fun to spend time with the boys and their mom :) When they're traveling it can be kind of creepy being in the big house all by myself, but now I have a new "roomie" downstairs - a student who's interning at my church. She's really cool, and it's been nice having someone around to talk to and do stuff with.
On the academic front, I finished my first set of classes last Tuesday (after pulling an all-nighter Monday!) and then had 5 days of sorely-needed vacation. Those classes had been hard - US Foreign Policy probably the hardest course I've ever taken - and I learned a LOT, but my brain needed a break. Monday I started new classes - American Literature and International Politics. Although I'm not very interested in Lit, the prof is nice and engaging, so I think it'll be a fun and not-too-hard class. International Politics is not at all what I expected, though! The prof is totally laid back - wearing shorts and sneakers, wasting time talking about irrelevant stuff, and always letting us out early. I'm the only POLI SCI major in the class - everyone else is just taking it as an elective or a Gen. Ed. - and he's obviously gearing it to their level. Although it would be nice to have less work, I really want to learn something and not just waste 6 weeks on fundamentals, so that's kind of frustrating for me.
Another big part of my summer has been BIKING! Inspired by the bikers in France, I decided to get my own when I got back - decreasing my carbon footprint, getting exercise, and experiencing the city in a new way. Although it was scary in the beginning (Philly drivers do have a reputation!), I absolutely love it - the freedom, the exercise, and the lack of carbon emissions :)
Well, I have to head to class now... Look for something about Iran and Israel in the next few days :)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
"The Stormy Present"
This is the title of a West Wing episode in which President Bartlet finds himself on Air Force One with several former presidents going to a funeral. Their conversation turns to a situation in Saudi Arabia, where thousands are protesting for freedom and democracy. Walken, a former Republican president, advocates using our superpower status to bring democracy to Saudi Arabia by force - overthrowing the royal family, setting up a provisional government, and getting out. Owen, a former Democratic president, strongly disagrees, saying that would leave them with a weak and hated government. He pointed out that during his term he spent billions on Saudi oil and billions more supporting the princes selling it - all to preserve stability. But it came with a price - now the people hate us because we support their oppressors; we are their oppressors. His final words for President Bartlet - "If you start saddling up camels in every country in the Middle East, then you better be prepared to spend the next 50 years sifting through sand. Because this isn't a quick run on the beach, Jed - this is the new world order."
After this conversation, the President sits with his Communications Director, Toby, who's supposed to be writing the eulogy. He hasn't made much progress, though, saying: "I've been walking up and down these aisles, looking at these old men - these great, terrible old men - and thinking: prosperous, free, and democratic Saudi Arabia, something to wish for. But the men on this plane spent the better part of the late 20th century trying to play God in other countries, and the regimes they anointed are the ones that haunt us today."
This episode gets at the heart of dilemmas in US foreign policy. There are many repressive regimes in the world, and spreading freedom and democracy is a laudable goal. We have the power to bring it with force, but do we have the right? Can democracy imposed from the outside ever take hold? And can we stomach the long-term consequences of intervention? It seems that in trying to solve one foreign policy crisis, we always create more down the road. If that is the case, should we intervene at all? As well-intentioned as it may be, if we make things worse wherever we go, might it be better to return to isolationism?
These are questions that have been on my mind over the last few months - brought on by some conversations and experiences in France, and resurfacing in earnest during my summer classes. Recent US History has given me so many examples of "blowback" - the weapons Iraq used against us in both Gulf wars we had given them to fight Iran; the Taliban, which trained the 9/11 terrorists, was supported and armed by us to fight the Soviet Union; and on and on. In retrospect it seems so counterproductive, yet hindsight is 20/20. If I've learned anything from my US Foreign Policy class, these decisions are never easy or clear-cut. Leaders faced with crises have limited information and limited time, and are operating under both foreign and domestic constraints. I used to think of foreign policy in terms of bumper sticker slogans, but now I am realizing more and more how impossibly complex these situations are. Protesting against bad policies is not enough - intelligent, nuanced, and pragmatic policies are needed.
"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate for the stormy present."
- Lincoln's 2nd State of the Union
After this conversation, the President sits with his Communications Director, Toby, who's supposed to be writing the eulogy. He hasn't made much progress, though, saying: "I've been walking up and down these aisles, looking at these old men - these great, terrible old men - and thinking: prosperous, free, and democratic Saudi Arabia, something to wish for. But the men on this plane spent the better part of the late 20th century trying to play God in other countries, and the regimes they anointed are the ones that haunt us today."
This episode gets at the heart of dilemmas in US foreign policy. There are many repressive regimes in the world, and spreading freedom and democracy is a laudable goal. We have the power to bring it with force, but do we have the right? Can democracy imposed from the outside ever take hold? And can we stomach the long-term consequences of intervention? It seems that in trying to solve one foreign policy crisis, we always create more down the road. If that is the case, should we intervene at all? As well-intentioned as it may be, if we make things worse wherever we go, might it be better to return to isolationism?
These are questions that have been on my mind over the last few months - brought on by some conversations and experiences in France, and resurfacing in earnest during my summer classes. Recent US History has given me so many examples of "blowback" - the weapons Iraq used against us in both Gulf wars we had given them to fight Iran; the Taliban, which trained the 9/11 terrorists, was supported and armed by us to fight the Soviet Union; and on and on. In retrospect it seems so counterproductive, yet hindsight is 20/20. If I've learned anything from my US Foreign Policy class, these decisions are never easy or clear-cut. Leaders faced with crises have limited information and limited time, and are operating under both foreign and domestic constraints. I used to think of foreign policy in terms of bumper sticker slogans, but now I am realizing more and more how impossibly complex these situations are. Protesting against bad policies is not enough - intelligent, nuanced, and pragmatic policies are needed.
"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate for the stormy present."
- Lincoln's 2nd State of the Union
Me(me)!
In case anyone from the broader blogsphere is reading this, I suppose I should tell you something about myself... To do so, I'm going to use a device my friend Cynthia sent me - the "meme". According to Wikipedia, this is a term "used to describe a catchphrase or concept that spreads in a fast way from person to person via the internet." As a recipient of this, I am supposed to post 7 facts about myself. Here goes...
1. I am a Christian, but don't like being pidgeon-holed because of that affiliation. I define my faith as trying to love God, love others, and follow Jesus.
2. God has placed in me a heart for social justice, which aches at the oppression and inequalities I see everywhere.
3. Politics is my passion, my calling in life - I love learning about and debating issues of the day, and hope to make pursuing solutions my life's work.
4. I deeply value community - the acceptance and support and care I have been blessed to experience in different settings.
5. I can't imagine living anywhere except a city - I love the fast pace, the closeness of people and places - it energizes me and makes me feel part of something bigger than myself.
6. I'm becoming vegetarian. It's something I've thought about for a while, but what tipped the scale for me was learning that increased meat consumption is one of the factors driving the global food crisis.
7. I love kids :) I'll be excited to have my own some day, but for now am happy giving parents a break by helping care for theirs.
1. I am a Christian, but don't like being pidgeon-holed because of that affiliation. I define my faith as trying to love God, love others, and follow Jesus.
2. God has placed in me a heart for social justice, which aches at the oppression and inequalities I see everywhere.
3. Politics is my passion, my calling in life - I love learning about and debating issues of the day, and hope to make pursuing solutions my life's work.
4. I deeply value community - the acceptance and support and care I have been blessed to experience in different settings.
5. I can't imagine living anywhere except a city - I love the fast pace, the closeness of people and places - it energizes me and makes me feel part of something bigger than myself.
6. I'm becoming vegetarian. It's something I've thought about for a while, but what tipped the scale for me was learning that increased meat consumption is one of the factors driving the global food crisis.
7. I love kids :) I'll be excited to have my own some day, but for now am happy giving parents a break by helping care for theirs.
Introducing...
My last blog focused on experiences during my semester studying abroad in Strasbourg, France. Here, I hope to combine the personal with the political, posting my thoughts on important issues of the day in addition to sharing about experiences from my life. Since politics is such a part of who I am, I guess that won't surprise anyone who knows me :)
Why this new blog? Often a conversation or an article or a movie impacts me deeply and makes me think about an issue in a new way, but I don't take time to write it down. I hope that this can be an informal place to articulate my thoughts so that they don't get lost in the hecticness of my life. On the personal side, I also hope to give friends far and near a glimpse into my life right now :)
I don't want this to be a monologue but a conversation, so please comment! Especially those of you who are politically-minded, I'd love to hear your responses to my thoughts and opinions :) So...here goes!
~Peace~
Amanda
Why this new blog? Often a conversation or an article or a movie impacts me deeply and makes me think about an issue in a new way, but I don't take time to write it down. I hope that this can be an informal place to articulate my thoughts so that they don't get lost in the hecticness of my life. On the personal side, I also hope to give friends far and near a glimpse into my life right now :)
I don't want this to be a monologue but a conversation, so please comment! Especially those of you who are politically-minded, I'd love to hear your responses to my thoughts and opinions :) So...here goes!
~Peace~
Amanda
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