23 Days

Well, it's almost over. There are 23 days left before Election Day 2012, and then I'm coming home.

I've been looking forward to this since I left. Actually, I've been looking forward to this since I figured out where Crookston was (way too frickin far away, as it turns out).

The last 5 months have been interesting at their best, terrifying at their worst, and enlightening all the way through. I've met some awesome people, been yelled at at millions of doors, seen the ugliest of all lawn decorations, and found out that I have a favorite (and least favorite) type of screen door. I've learned how to order people around without them catching on to the fact that I'm telling them what to do, I've learned how to cram 17 tons of stuff in a tiny little apartment, and I've learned that you should never door knock in 100 degree weather with a migraine (you'll throw up in a constituent's bushes and you will probably not get their vote).

Most of all, I've learned what I can and can't live without. I can live without TV, actual homemade food, a conveniently located Macy's, and any semblance of control over my life. What I can't live without is simpler: my family (and soon-to-be family). My family, my boyfriend, and his family have been absolutely priceless during my time up in the northwestern boondocks. My family has put up with my infrequent trips home, my wonderful boyfriend has been up here every time he could get away, and and his family has made me feel like I really am part of the family. I've done a lot of thinking since I got up here in May, and I've just realized how amazing they all are, and I never tell them that. So if you guys are reading this, thank you for everything you've done and continue to do to make this possible. I love you guys!

Violent Partisanship

**DISCLAIMER** I’m coming at this issue from my point of view – things that I have seen and heard and experienced recently. I don’t condone threats of or wishes for violence from ANYONE – whether I agree with their politics or not. The first part of the post is directed at the Democrats I have personally heard wishing for the deaths of Republicans at the RNC. The last part is for everyone – even my own party. This post is not meant to convince everyone to hold hands and sing “We Are The World”. I know some people will keep thinking I’m an Evil Republican out to oppress and hate and stuff my pockets with money, no matter what I say. Get mad at me all you want, but read the whole post before you do. Think about it – is wishing death upon your political opposition really what you want to be known for?

It always makes me spitting mad when I see people joking about their political opposition getting hurt or killed. I’ve seen so many posts about how the GOP delegates/candidates should be wiped off the map by Hurricane Isaac that I can’t count them all, which begs the question: aren’t you supposedly the party of tolerance? Aren’t you supposed to promote democratic processes and a fair and inclusive dialogue?

Instead, you laugh about the possibility of conservatives being killed. You can’t see past the political beliefs to the actual person who holds them. You can’t make yourself see that their beliefs are every bit as legitimate as yours, informed by life experiences, research, and values. Just because they came to a different conclusion does not give you the right to wish death on them.

Shame on you for betraying the basic tenets of your party – tolerance and equality for ALL PEOPLE. Regardless of how they believe. Diversity does not end at skin color or religion, it extends to political belief – and thank God it does. No one mindset should hold power exclusively forever. The existence of opposing viewpoints is what this country was founded on, what it thrives on. So all of you who are out there rooting for the deaths of your political adversaries, shame on you. We are Americans, and that is not acceptable to us.

My Ireland Mission

If you know me even a little bit, you know how in love I am with Ireland (the entire island, not just the republic). I've dreamed of living there, of raising my kids there, of finding my past and making my future there.

The problem is, I don't know what to do when I get there. I know that I want to work in reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants, especially now that the IRA is seemingly back in business following the Good Friday Agreement.

So my options are either to work in their government, trying to achieve reconciliation that way, or work in a church that does the same thing. I wrote a whole big long plan involving track-two diplomacy to reconcile those on either side, but that was based entirely on secondhand knowledge - interviews, books, etc.

Now the issue is, how do I get myself accepted into Irish reconciliation work? I honestly have no idea. I guess I don't have much of a right to try to keep the ball rolling, since I'm not from there, but I just feel like I have to. I feel compelled to, called to, like my mission is bigger than I am. I guess I can trust God to lead me there if that's where He wants me to be ("do not be terrified, do not be discouraged..."). I just want to know how it's all going to work out.

Man I hate waiting.

My Little Praise God Moment

In stark contrast to my last post, I just want to praise God for the people he has brought into my life, and to thank those people for being amazing.

Moms always come first, right? My mother is really amazing. She's strong (and strong-willed, maybe there's a little family resemblance...?), she's always on top of the details, she knows how to make a house a home, and I aspire to be like her someday.

My dad is the funniest person I've ever met. I like to think I got a little of that hilariousness! He's also the smartest person I know, I'm pretty sure he's legitimately a genius. I also aspire to be like him someday :)

My twin, Andrea, is probably my best friend. I'm so glad she and her husband are home, and I hope that we can continue growing closer. I'm so proud of her, and I wish I could be as strong as her.

My little sister, Liz, and I haven't always been close, but we're better friends now than we have ever been. For that, I'm so thankful. She has such drive and determination, and I'm so proud of her.

My brother-in-law, Mike, is the brother I never had growing up. He's hilarious, and he's perfect for Andrea, which I am so thankful for.

My wonderful boyfriend, Trevor, is absolutely the most amazing man I've ever met. He makes me laugh, he knows everything about me and still loves me, and he makes me happier than I've ever been. I'm so thankful that God brought us together in such a perfect way (in Ireland, bonding over Smithwicks, at Lavery's...absolutely perfect!).

Last, but certainly not least, is everyone in Trevor's family. His parents, grandparents, aunt, and adorable cousin, have worked so hard to make me feel like part of the family, and they've succeeded. I love every last one of them, and I'm so glad that they have been the ones who have surrounded Trevor and made him into the man he is today.

Pity Party

Here's my own little pity party, I promise this is all you'll have to read about it!

I truly, truly love politics and campaigning...but I love my family more.

Here I am, in Moorhead, about to leave again for Crookston, and I'm hours away from everyone I love. I don't know how I'm going to do another 3 months living over 5 hours away from them.

Honestly, I've thought about quitting. I know, logically, that it's not really an option, but some days I just feel like I can't go another 3 months without seeing everyone. Sometimes I wish I hadn't taken this job. I thought I would do just fine being so far away, but this is so much different than I imagined it. I'm a relational person, I hate being so isolated!

Anyways, I guess all I can do is work hard, win elections, and finish out the season. Please pray for me!

Condi, Sheryl, and Susana - Girls Make a Difference

Today was the first day of the Global Leadership Summit, and it was amazing. Condoleezza Rice spoke, and she was so great! Such an amazing leader, such an inspiring speaker, and such a strong Christian. I'm excited to read her book!

Condi mainly talked about her experiences in politics from 1998 until 2008. She has some amazing stories...I can only hope I can amount to half of her accomplishments by the time I leave politics.

One thing she said that really struck me was that "Democracy cannot mean the tyranny of the majority". It seems to me, though, that, with the level of partisanship in politics today, people in government actually expect that. The minority (whether it's Democrats or Republicans, everyone does it) filibuster and propagate hatred as if they expect the majority to turn Congress into another North Korea if they allow them even the slightest scrap of ground on policy questions. This can't be what we're about, as politicians, as legislators, or as Americans. Ultimately, the goal of all branches of government has to be the improvement and care of our nation.

Another point she really emphasized was that every life is worthy and capable of greatness. She said that everyone should have the opportunity to make the most of their life, no matter who they are or where they're from. I love this. As Christians, we are called to love everyone and treat them equally, and Condoleezza really did an amazing job of translating that into government. I personally think that a politician's faith (whether that means faith in God or faith that there is no God) inevitably seeps into their political decisions, and Condoleezza did a really great job of balancing faith and policy, care for people and making sure government functioned properly.

By far, my favorite quote from her was that "The government cannot deliver compassion. Delivering compassion and hope has to be the work of the person". I've never quite been able to put that thought into words, but now she's done it for me! The church (meaning every Christ follower, not actual brick-and-mortar churches) needs to take charge of delivering compassion in whatever form they can. Government can give aid, but it can't take the place of human help.

The part of today's conference that was particularly inspiring to me was Sheryl WuDunn - she and her husband are journalists who have gotten involved in the plight of trafficked women around the world. She said that the moral challenge of the century is gender inequality and the oppression of girls and women around the world. Now let me be clear here - she was NOT talking about American women flipping out about making a little bit less than men in white collar work. She was talking about girls being kidnapped and forced into prostitution, about women being denied basic health care, and about the sky-high maternal mortality rate.

Women of America have vastly lost sight of what real oppression and inequality is. Sure, making less is annoying. However, there needs to be perspective. American women are incredibly lucky to be born into American society. We're beyond blessed to be born into a society that at least makes an effort to give women the opportunity to be educated, to be employed, and to make choices as to what they want to do and when. Women around the world would give anything to be in our shoes, and we take for granted the great strides our society has made since its founding.

Anywho, let me put my soapbox away.

What I actually wanted to pull out of Sheryl WuDunn's talk, was that she emphasized the importance of giving girls a chance to be educated and live a halfway decent life...so I sponsored a little girl through Compassion International! I am so excited about being able to make a difference in her life. She is an adorable almost-4 year old from Indonesia named Susana. I saw her picture in this huge pile of packets about kids waiting to be sponsored, and I couldn't put her down. Something just drew me, God pulled at my heartstrings until I admitted that this was something I needed to do.

Long story short, I love this girl already and I'm so excited to start writing to her! Prayers for her and her family (mom, dad, and 6 siblings) would be much appreciated.

Longings

So I woke up this morning longing to go on a mission trip. Weird, I know, since I spent one of yesterday's posts talking about how I've moved around too much this summer and I just want to be settled. But there it is - I want to go on a mission trip. I feel like I need to. Now the only question is when, and to where. I know it can't be until after the election (my bosses would resort to physical violence if I asked for a week off this close to Election Day), but maybe sometime this winter. How amazing would that be? I know I can help people where I am, but I just feel like I need to go somewhere.

Also, as I've been feeling on and off since January of 2011, I really feel like I need to get back to Ireland. I miss it soul-deep - I felt like I belonged there, I felt at home. And the fact that the weather suited me perfectly (gloomy and rainy all the time!!!) is just icing on the cake! Gosh I miss that place. I want to work in their government, or at least for our government at the embassy. I want to walk around in the rain on the streets of Belfast and Dublin, I want to drink Smithwick's where it was meant to be drunk, I want to go back to Lavery's and I want to spend ALL my free time touring castles.

Anywho, those are my longings, the things I feel like I NEED to do or I'll never feel settled. I'll pray about them and we'll see what comes from it.