We the People

When we first got to China, Mister and I were walking through a nearby park and I told him, "People are really happy here!" I was genuinely surprised. I have always felt bad for the lack of freedom the Chinese have.

-Their freedom of speech is restricted.
-They can't have more than one child without heavy taxes.
-Media is heavily influenced and censored by the government.
-They can't move with the freedom we can.
-They have absolutely no representation in the government (can you say "taxation without representation"?)

This bookstore is in an old parking garage. There were hundreds of books, but not all of the books we have access to in the US.

Despite this and more, the people are happy. They are "a people". They are together. They are pleased with how far their country has come. They are proud of their country.

Can we say the same thing?



I distinctly remember the first presidential election that "mattered" to me. I don't remember the issues of my sophomore year election so much as the feelings.

With each of the following presidential campaigns and elections those feelings from my youth have become more familiar...

My stomach and chest knot up.
I feel helpless.
I feel frustrated.
I feel sick.
Can you relate?

The thing is, I don't think it's due to the worry about "my" side winning (at least not mostly). It's about how people are treating each other. It's about how I don't feel like "a people" with my fellow Americans. It's about how I don't feel too proud of my country.

The election days are filled with snide comments and not-so-uplifitng discussions.

It is true: we are a country that prides itself in it's diversity. With that diversity comes diverse opinions. That being said, I think it's time we take a lesson from the Chinese.

A monk near a place where Chinese come to burn incense. (Their form of prayer)

We have a president. Let's be "a people" to make our nation the country it is meant to be. Let's get to work to use the representation others don't have to build up this nation. Let's do our part by working hard and taking care of our people and our cities the best we can.

Let's do this. (A message from my church leaders that anyone can relate to-democrat, republican, or neither.)

I'm going to try for this one

and this one. (Last week at 32 weeks!)