By growing up in Utah there are several things that become learned behavior. One of those is becoming a Utah Jazz fan and another is a great dislike for the Chicago Bulls (it hurts too much to remember those horrific losses in the NBA Finals - not to mention that memorable "push-off" by MJ). Since MJ has left the game, and the Bulls aren't really threat anymore, my dislike turned to another foe: the LA Lakers. I'm pretty sure that Kobe Bryant has had a lot to do with my general dislike and the intense rivalry I feel between the teams. After viewing the excruciating loss to the Lakers in the second round of the playoffs this year, I came to a realization: I like the LA Lakers. That blew me away! That is on my list of things never to do (right behind "never lick a spinning tire" and right before "play patty-cake with a grizzly bear"). I guess it has to do with the fact that Derek Fisher is back with the Lakers. I was always nervous whenever the Jazz played against Derek Fisher's team because they were playing against Derek Fisher. I have to admit (and you should to), that guy is good! It was so exciting last season when he was playing with the Jazz. But alas, all good things must come to an end. So the Jazz lost.
Then, I was looking forward to the Spurs-Lakers series. I have always loved watching Tim Duncan play -- except when he played against the Jazz :). Anyway, after watching the game last night (Game 5), I have to admit once again, the Lakers just flat outplayed the Spurs in the second half.
So I regret to inform you that I think I am becoming a Lakers fan, at least until next season when the Jazz play the Lakers ;)
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Memorial Day - A Salute to our Veterans
For those of you who don't know, I am doing an internship at the Veteran's Medical Center in Salt Lake. I work in the Valor House, which is part of the Homeless Program for Veterans. I wanted to say a few words about my new perspective on Memorial Day.
I gained a new respect for Memorial Day after sitting through a 90 minute presentation at the VA where 35+ junior high school students presented 35+ handmade quilts to some Utah Veterans. The event went unnoticed by the world, particularly the news media, where only a 3 minute spot was done by ABC channel 4 news on Friday afternoon. But the impact that had on the veteran's with whom I work was monumental and unforgettable. I hope the experience was similar for the kids.
So originally, Memorial Day was set on May 30th to recognize the veterans who lost their lives, were POW's, were/are MIA, and those who survived. (though mostly it was for the vets who had lost their lives). Currently, we (meaning Congress) changed it to be the last Monday in May. The reason for this is so that employers didn't have people taking a holiday in the middle of the week. Thus, it was changed so that we all could enjoy a nice three-day weekend. Unfortunately, this change has altered the perception of some about the importance of Memorial Day. Now, I'm not suggesting that we need to spend the whole day in sackcloth and ashes remembering our fallen patriots; but I am suggesting that before we spend the whole day in a well-deserved vacation time, that we take a few minutes to ponder over the freedoms we enjoy and the cost of lives, blood, and other losses with which that freedom was purchased.
I myself have two grandfathers who served in World War II. One of them has passed away and the other is still alive and kicking. I want to say, "Thank You" to both of them (and the millions of other veterans) for serving so valiantly and courageously in the cause of freedom. Their service preserves our freedom, a freedom that I take for granted sometimes. Working for the VA has helped me see how much some of these veterans have suffered and gone through to preserve that freedom.
So even though Memorial Day 2008 has passed into existence, I hope that you can find some time this week to enjoy a few minutes of quiet reverence for our fallen men and women who fought for us.
I gained a new respect for Memorial Day after sitting through a 90 minute presentation at the VA where 35+ junior high school students presented 35+ handmade quilts to some Utah Veterans. The event went unnoticed by the world, particularly the news media, where only a 3 minute spot was done by ABC channel 4 news on Friday afternoon. But the impact that had on the veteran's with whom I work was monumental and unforgettable. I hope the experience was similar for the kids.
So originally, Memorial Day was set on May 30th to recognize the veterans who lost their lives, were POW's, were/are MIA, and those who survived. (though mostly it was for the vets who had lost their lives). Currently, we (meaning Congress) changed it to be the last Monday in May. The reason for this is so that employers didn't have people taking a holiday in the middle of the week. Thus, it was changed so that we all could enjoy a nice three-day weekend. Unfortunately, this change has altered the perception of some about the importance of Memorial Day. Now, I'm not suggesting that we need to spend the whole day in sackcloth and ashes remembering our fallen patriots; but I am suggesting that before we spend the whole day in a well-deserved vacation time, that we take a few minutes to ponder over the freedoms we enjoy and the cost of lives, blood, and other losses with which that freedom was purchased.
I myself have two grandfathers who served in World War II. One of them has passed away and the other is still alive and kicking. I want to say, "Thank You" to both of them (and the millions of other veterans) for serving so valiantly and courageously in the cause of freedom. Their service preserves our freedom, a freedom that I take for granted sometimes. Working for the VA has helped me see how much some of these veterans have suffered and gone through to preserve that freedom.
So even though Memorial Day 2008 has passed into existence, I hope that you can find some time this week to enjoy a few minutes of quiet reverence for our fallen men and women who fought for us.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The Presidential Race, so far...
I thought that I would get the ball rolling with my opinions on the presidential race.
I'll just start off with the obvious. I admit that I was disappointed when Mitt Romney dropped out of the race. I was looking forward to his ideas to "clean up" Washington, but mostly to help the ailing economy. To me, he wasn't very strong in the national defense category. But what won the most points with me was his dedication to family values. I enjoyed hearing his views on how to address domestic problems of crime and education. His point of view was that if you strengthen the family, by keeping parents married and Dad in the home (and not in jail) then families have a greater chance of survival. Why does that matter you may ask. Well, if the family is in tact, then the parents can teach and show their children how to grow up in this world. It is when families fall apart that the education rates drop and crime rates go up.
With that in mind, I like John McCain because of his strong stance on national security. However, I am a little concerned that national security is his only strong point (and an exaggerated one at that). McCain has made some friends along the way (on both sides of the aisle and some in the middle) which is indicative of his ability to work together and accomplish meaningful tasks.
Barack Obama is a lightweight in the ring of experience. Virtually no foreign policy experience, some domestic policy, and hardly any national defense experience. But what Obama lacks in experience, he makes up for in comraderie. What I mean by that is his ability (like McCain) to bring people to the table and work together to find solutions. We should never expect a President to be an expert in every aspect of his/her job. (If that same standard were held to us, we would all be out of a job). But what we should expect from a President is someone who can listen to the opinions of the experts (yes, even if they are differing) and make the best decision possible in that situation. I believe that Obama is an expert at surrounding himself with good people (Jeremiah Wright being the exception) and bringing the best out in them for the betterment of the country.
Hillary Clinton has more experience in Washington than what is good for her. Of all the candidates, I believe, she has the most experience with executive functions, having been married to the Chief Executive for his two-terms in office. Moreover, the way she handled the Lewinsky scandal (and all the previous ones) is a credit to her political ingenuity and savvy. She plays the political game very well, perhaps too well. Her best attribute, her experience, is also her weakest link because she appears to want to work with the attitude of "business as usual" in Washington. She has so much experience in the current Washingtonian political atmosphere that how can we expect her to change anything, let alone, reform the healthcare system. But I have to give her props for her determination and resiliency. Almost anybody that would have run for President would have given in by now (as evidenced by the fact that every other major candidate has given in by now). The real question is, who would be the 2nd vice-president behind Bill Clinton?
I like the free-market healthcare plan that McCain has adopted; but I also like the fact that Obama and Clinton would require healthcare coverage for all children (adults should be able to make their own decision about whether they want coverage or not, children shouldn't). I love Obama's dedication to education and his higher education reforms. I like McCain's strong sense of national defense, but abhor his stubbornness for unexplored paths of diplomacy.
The fact is, I am a voter that supports a candiate who has high morals, a good game plan, a strong dedication to this country, and an even stronger dedication to the family (particularly their own). I don't know who I would vote for if the final election were today. Perhaps I would just write-in Thomas S. Monson and leave it at that. But I know that he has a different job, and one that I am sure he would not give up even for the Presidency of the United States.
I'll just start off with the obvious. I admit that I was disappointed when Mitt Romney dropped out of the race. I was looking forward to his ideas to "clean up" Washington, but mostly to help the ailing economy. To me, he wasn't very strong in the national defense category. But what won the most points with me was his dedication to family values. I enjoyed hearing his views on how to address domestic problems of crime and education. His point of view was that if you strengthen the family, by keeping parents married and Dad in the home (and not in jail) then families have a greater chance of survival. Why does that matter you may ask. Well, if the family is in tact, then the parents can teach and show their children how to grow up in this world. It is when families fall apart that the education rates drop and crime rates go up.
With that in mind, I like John McCain because of his strong stance on national security. However, I am a little concerned that national security is his only strong point (and an exaggerated one at that). McCain has made some friends along the way (on both sides of the aisle and some in the middle) which is indicative of his ability to work together and accomplish meaningful tasks.
Barack Obama is a lightweight in the ring of experience. Virtually no foreign policy experience, some domestic policy, and hardly any national defense experience. But what Obama lacks in experience, he makes up for in comraderie. What I mean by that is his ability (like McCain) to bring people to the table and work together to find solutions. We should never expect a President to be an expert in every aspect of his/her job. (If that same standard were held to us, we would all be out of a job). But what we should expect from a President is someone who can listen to the opinions of the experts (yes, even if they are differing) and make the best decision possible in that situation. I believe that Obama is an expert at surrounding himself with good people (Jeremiah Wright being the exception) and bringing the best out in them for the betterment of the country.
Hillary Clinton has more experience in Washington than what is good for her. Of all the candidates, I believe, she has the most experience with executive functions, having been married to the Chief Executive for his two-terms in office. Moreover, the way she handled the Lewinsky scandal (and all the previous ones) is a credit to her political ingenuity and savvy. She plays the political game very well, perhaps too well. Her best attribute, her experience, is also her weakest link because she appears to want to work with the attitude of "business as usual" in Washington. She has so much experience in the current Washingtonian political atmosphere that how can we expect her to change anything, let alone, reform the healthcare system. But I have to give her props for her determination and resiliency. Almost anybody that would have run for President would have given in by now (as evidenced by the fact that every other major candidate has given in by now). The real question is, who would be the 2nd vice-president behind Bill Clinton?
I like the free-market healthcare plan that McCain has adopted; but I also like the fact that Obama and Clinton would require healthcare coverage for all children (adults should be able to make their own decision about whether they want coverage or not, children shouldn't). I love Obama's dedication to education and his higher education reforms. I like McCain's strong sense of national defense, but abhor his stubbornness for unexplored paths of diplomacy.
The fact is, I am a voter that supports a candiate who has high morals, a good game plan, a strong dedication to this country, and an even stronger dedication to the family (particularly their own). I don't know who I would vote for if the final election were today. Perhaps I would just write-in Thomas S. Monson and leave it at that. But I know that he has a different job, and one that I am sure he would not give up even for the Presidency of the United States.
Welcome to My Thoughts!
Welcome everyone to My Thoughts! I thought for a long time about whether or not I should create a blog. At first, I thought it would be okay if it were dedicated solely to politics and Mormonism; but then I couldn't post much about my family and how cute my kids are :). Anyway, so I made it a general blog where anyone can comment and share their opinions about "my thoughts."
I will continue to focus on the political atmosphere and and connections it has with the LDS culture. The purpose here is not to point fingers or blame or attack, but to create an open dialogue about your opinions on politics and the reciprocal connection with the LDS faith. This blog is open to anyone who wants to contribute in a meaningful way.
I will continue to focus on the political atmosphere and and connections it has with the LDS culture. The purpose here is not to point fingers or blame or attack, but to create an open dialogue about your opinions on politics and the reciprocal connection with the LDS faith. This blog is open to anyone who wants to contribute in a meaningful way.
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