A few of my thoughts ...

This is not a political blog. I never intended for this to be anything but a place to share what Andrew and I are doing and to keep everyone updated, but with everything that has been going on recently, I just had to share a few thoughts, if for no other reason than for me to simply think out loud.

I am extremely proud to be an American. I always have been. That is why I first became a history major and then switched to teaching history so that I could share that love of history and of America. I am truly grateful to live in this great country and I recognize all of the many sacrifices that have been made on my behalf. Because of this feeling of love towards my country, I can't help but feel frustrated with recent comments and events. Just to mention a few: Justin Timberlake said, "America, we're cool now." Seriously? Nothing else in history has made us "cool?" Sorry James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and countless others, apparently what you did was not quite "cool" enough. And I will never get over Michelle Obama saying, "For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my Country." I honestly will never be able to take her seriously after that comment. And then to hear President Obama basically apologize to the world on behalf of America. It's a little too much for me to take right now. Have we, as a county, made mistakes in the past? Absolutely. But we still love America!! Those mistakes make us what we are today. We learn and grow from them and we move forward, together, united.

But that's the problem ... unity in this country has fallen apart. I didn't vote for Obama, but over the past few months I have had hope. I see the effect that he has on the people, he has been able to unify this country in a way that I have never seen in my lifetime. And if there is anything that America needs right now, it is unity. I hope that he can unify this country and that will in turn, hopefully make it better. It does make me sad that people had to wait for him in order to want to change. I firmly believe in "being the change you want to see in the world." For too long people have sat back, complained about their circumstances, and done nothing about them. It's just sad that people could not be inspired on their own.

With all of that said, I understand and recognize the historical significance of the Presidential Inauguration yesterday. It really will be remembered in history as a great day. I pray for our new President every day. I hope that he understands and recognizes the trust trust that the American people have placed in him, and that he can be worthy of that trust. I hope that he will continue to make America what it is, a great country.

That's all. Just my thoughts. Take it for what it's worth. I'm done. No more politics!!