put a name to the face.

Okay. so if you have yet to notice.. i suck at writing while in school. Hopefully while I’m in Aus, I’ll be a little bit better about getting on wordpress. See my big problem is getting the ideas out. not coming up with them.

But I wanted to tell you about an awareness thing K-State does. Almost every week, there are flags in the Quad. It’s become a regular thing. One week each flag represents an amount of people suffering from eating disorders. Another week each flag represents a certain number of kids with autism or maybe a number of people who died at the Nazis’ hands. Stuff like that.

Each week, I think. “Oh wow, how sad” – but that’s the wrong word. astonishing, maybe apalling.

This week was different.

It may have been a protest, I don’t know exactly. But I walked into the Quad area, and saw thousands of yellow flags with various red flags lining the walkways.

Each flag had a name, an age, and a city.

This week each flag represented a man or woman who died because of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. There was something about the name on the flag that hit me.

I felt a few different things..

I was scared for my cousin – Christopher, who is in Iraq currently. I thought of Ryan – the dude from Real World (yes. i just watched that season.) and wondered how he was doing. If he was still alive. If they were scared.

I was proud of those men and women. They gave their life for the people I love, and for me.

I cried. For each flag didn’t just represent that man or woman who had fallen in duty to his or her duty to their country, but each flag had people who loved them.

A lot of times I don’t know where I stand on the war exactly. I think it was inevitable, but right? maybe, maybe not. My opinion changes day to day – and I’m not near informed to the degree necessary to make a decision like that. So I don’t know. But I put my trust in my government, like many of these men and women did.

I don’t really know what my point is other than this. Those are real people fighting for us – regardless of how right or wrong you think the government is for sending them. They are people like us. Those that are still out there fighting deserve our support and prayers more than ever.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

So I’m forewarning you that even though I have stewed over this issue before venting my reactions, and tried to put together a well thought out, non-rant. I apologize if I step on the soapbox. I will try to come back and edit if necessary.

I generally try to avoid speaking in public concerning my personal views on politics nowadays simply because I find they cause fights. And I hate fights. I only speak when asked, and with people who I really believe can carry on a civilized discussion about our two opinions, differing or alike.

I am apalled at the lack of respect our new president is recieving from so many. I see facebook flooded with comments of “when will he get shot” to “Obama is already screwing the country up” and even some mentioning and questionning Christians dedication to Christ if they support Obama. To be honest, to see these comments from my friends, and especially those who take such a stand for Christ, scares me.

We follow Christ who said, “Give to Caeser what is Caeser’s and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21) I really don’t think that Jesus was speaking only about taxes and monetary things. He was telling them to respect their government and Caeser by giving the government the taxes they owed according to law. Granted, the law doesn’t say you must respect and lift up the president in America. I’m very glad it says the opposite almost, that we are allowed to say the things we do by law. (duh, I’m a journalism major. i love the first amendment.) BUT I think that because he was elected by the public, that he should be respected regardless of what he does.

We prayed for God to choose the right man and put him through. Maybe he is not the right man, but I know God has a plan like he always does. He will make the best out of every circumstance. So many Christians coated this election with prayers. Now it is time for us to pray for our country. Pray for our President Barack Obama–I don’t care what your opinion of him is. He is still a human who needs our prayers.

I may not agree that he is the best choice for president. But I do know that he is my president. And I will respect him.

I challenge you to do the same. At least give him more than a week to form an opinion on the man!

i voted in johnson county

yep. i finally got to do it. i voted. one of the good privileges of being eighteen :].

although i didn’t know a whole lot of what i was voting for… so before i went, i brushed up super quick, but nonetheless, it made me think. Especially since the movie “Swing Vote” is now out.

Idealistic or not, I’ve always been a proponent of the idea that “one vote makes a difference.”

So, I always thought that would obvioulsy mean that you vote no matter what right? you make time.

BUT- is it better to vote and not know what or who you’re voting for?

OR

to not vote?