Listening to Hillary...

Watching the Democratic National Convention; listening to Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton. I have to say, she sounds great. If I weren't into thinking so much, I might be one of those people who just follow along. All I have to say is this: I don't buy any of it. I don't buy what's being said at the DNC, and I won't buy what will be said at the RNC. Both candidates suck. I don't like either one, and I don't want to VOTE for either one. I refuse to become apathetic, so I WILL vote... but I really don't want to.

I was talking to a friend today who spent some time overseas this summer like me. We talked about how our mindsets have kind of shifted from "national" to "international." What does that mean? Still trying to figure that out... But what I think it means to me is that I can't stand having this idea in my mind that says all there is is America. The idea that the world revolves around America. When I was in North Africa teaching English, it hit me like a ton of bricks. The worker said, "We're trying to change our national business language to English... but before you make any assumptions as to why we would want to do that, I will remind you that Saudi Arabia and China both use English as their primary business language." Wait a minute... you mean to tell me that they are using OUR language because of Saudi and China?! That's exactly right. America is not in good standing with the world right now. Another thing that was brought to my attnention in Africa was that "they love our people but hate our government..." Hats off to the past few administrations for that.

I don't think it's a Bush thing, I think it's a general American politics thing. We are selfish and greedy and LAZY, and we don't really care who takes over as long as they give us what we think we want. And ladies and gentlemen, I believe that's why the world hates us (generally speaking). And that's why I have decided to shift my mindset outside of the U.S. borders (physical and mental) and focus on an international perspective. I want to be a global thinker. A global Christian. Because I'll tell you right now, "American Christians" are lame, self-centered, shallow thinkers. Trust me, I was (and probably in large part, still am) one.