I was born and raised where politics didn't always play a pivotal role in my day-to-day life. I was interested in the elections, to be sure, and the issues of the day. More so when I was in high school (1988-1992). It was around that time I was working as a reporter on my high school paper, El Caballero. Unlike my current political leanings, which hover over the center of the spectrum generally, I was very right-wing oriented. During Desert Storm when the U.S. invaded Iraq in 1991 I found myself calling on my classmates during a lunchtime forum to support the president and support the troops. Talk about unpopular. My remarks were like the complete wrong note in what was otherwise a VERY left-leaning peace rally. I know what it is like to be on the "other side" of the issue, especially in a very liberal SF Bay Area.
This political ideology stayed with me (Republicanism) until I left for Ricks College in the fall of 1992. It was election time and President George H.W. Bush was up for re-election against President Bill Clinton. Clinton was described as a New Democrat and was largely known for the Third Way philosophy of governance that came to epitomize his two terms as president. His policies, on issues such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and welfare reform, have been described as "centrist."
I turned 18 in 1992 and was able to vote for the first time. I mailed in my absentee ballot thinking that I had committed some kind of crime voting against the Republican party.
From that moment, I became much more involved in government and more aware of the issues. I was covering sports, arts, and entertainment at the time for the Ricks College award-winning weekly paper, The Scroll. The newsroom was always buzzing with the hot topics of the day during Clinton's first four years in office.
I spent most of Clinton's first term as a missionary in Philadelphia, and quite frankly, wasn't interested in anything other than sharing the gospel. So politics was out of my mind entirely until Clinton's second term.
That was when Clinton presided over the longest period of peace-time economic expansion in American history, which included a balanced budget and a reported federal surplus. Based on Congressional accounting rules, at the end of his presidency Clinton reported a surplus of $559 billion. Imagine that, in light of today's trying times.
It was also, unfortunately, when the allegations of misconduct were being brought to light and President Clinton, it turns out, was carrying on with a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. I was very disillusioned by this and the whole situation caused me to think about my situation in life at the moment.
Well, as Clinton was wrapping up his 8 years in office, I was getting my life on track and it just so happens, I bumped into Kari and started dating. We wound up marrying on December 16, 2000, roughly a year before President George W. Bush took office.
The presidential election of 2000 really caused me some sleepless nights and plenty of frustration. I was busy with my teaching credential program and much more aware of issues regarding education. It was Bush vs Gore, and this yahoo Stockdale, a PoW who Ross Perot had on board for a third party running mate. The election itself was a complete catastrophe of the worst imaginable kind.
For the second time in the history of presidential elections, the popular vote did not decide the winner. President Bush received more electoral votes and not as many popular votes. And the method in which the votes were counted was under intense scrutiny in Florida, where the election was ultimately decided.
My family was a bit quieter when it came to politics than Kari's. At that time, I was feeling the pressure, as I do from time to time today, to get on board with the Bush / Cheney ticket. I don't know that it bothered me very much at the time. I have no journal entry for that time period. I was writing about my wedding on December 16th, but have nothing on the election.
The next journal entry is dated 9 months into President Bush's first term. It was a day that you most likely recall: September 11, 2001. I wrote the following on that fateful day:
I will never forget this day for the rest of my life. Early this morning there was a MAJOR terrorist attack in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. Two airplanes were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center, completely destroying both 110-story buildings. Another hijacked plane crashed into a field 80-miles outside of Pittsburgh. No one will know for certain the total number of those who perished for quite some time. A terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan has been linked. This disaster is worse than Pearl Harbor, Grandma said. Unfathomable. Absolutely inconceivable. Complete tragedy. I am shocked, dumbfounded, and completely amazed at the scale and measure of this calculated, cowardly attack. I will never forget this day or my feelings at this time. I'll write more later.
Indeed, it would turn out to be much later. My next journal entry is dated December 29, 2002. Interestingly enough, I was in the Coyote Hills Ward sacrament meeting at Von Grow's missionary homecoming.
By this time, Claire was now with us (07-31-02). My sister, Bridget, had a baby, Aidan. Leslie and Matt were settled back in Maryland. I was happily involved teaching. Kenny left to Utah to get settled before his January wedding. I was about a month away from tearing my tendon playing Ultimate Frisbee.
Well, in the world, the U.S. was well into their conflict in Afghanistan. Then, it was Iraq. I can tell you that it was right around this time that I became passionately involved in NOT wanting ANYTHING more to do with being a "Republican" or "Democrat." The war really shook me up. I was confused and angered and upset and couldn't imagine ANOTHER four years of the guy (Bush) who decided to pre-emptively go into Iraq. A quote floated around at that time:
Invading Iraq is the equivalent of Frankin Roosevelt invading Mexico to retaliate for Pearl Harbor.
I'm not sure if you ever read that one. For me, I was just sick having to deal with this issue and to hear about how wonderful Bush / Cheney were whenever we went to Kari's house. In one of my most difficult, personal journal entries at that time (11-02-04), I wrote:
It's election day today and I've come to accept that President Bush will remain in office another four more years. He lost my vote this year due to his handling of the war in Iraq. He has jeopardized the trust our servicemen and women place in their Commander-in-Chief by invading a country without (it appears) no real plan to finish the job. I cannot sustain this individual ever, and I ... swear ... that we shall all regret the day that George W. Bush was our president. It's enough to drive me crazy!
This election has truly been one giant step away from my loved ones. Inside, I feel like there isn't anyone I can talk to about my feelings that understands me when it comes to politics and the like. My goodness, how interesting life becomes when you make a decision, stand for something, and speak your mind.
With just a few weeks now before the upcoming presidential election, I've made my choice and been vocal about it:
B-A-R-A-C-K O-B-A-M-A.
There you have it.
I hope to continue forward on my journey through life knowing that I can think for myself; make my own decisions; be a man; raise a family; teach important principles; serve others constantly; and be respected. I know that what I stand for is right. And I respect others' opinions. However, my journey to get to this point and to sort out my own thinking has been incredibly challenging for me.
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