My mom wanted me and my siblings to care about our country. I remember watching the coverage of the 1992 Presidential election with my parents when I was only 5 years old. I didn’t understand what was going on, but every time a state went from gray to a color, I cheered. I didn’t know why, but it seemed exciting. In 1996 I played in Nickelodeons’ Kids Pick the President and ‘chose’ Clinton, probably because my parents liked him. In 2000 I realized the power that a vote has, and in the weeks of dispute and uncertainty MSNBC educated me a great deal about how the system works. Though disappointed with the results of 2000, I was not discouraged and when 2004 rolled along I was 18 and ready to start voting. It was exciting.
Despite my interest in politics, which manifests itself in lengthy debates with families and long times reading opinions and research online or in print, I have not yet donated to a campaign. This time its different, I have donated three times already in 2008, including today, bringing my total contributions to $100 so far.
Why the change? Because too much is at stake.
This year, our country is at a crossroads. How we move forward will be critical to our future. This year’s election will dictate how we greet the new decade. How do you want America to move forward? There a two candidates who each have a different answer to that question and a different vision. Find the one who most closely mirrors your own vision, and vote for them. If you have $10, contribute as well.
My contribution today was not a freebie for a budding politician, but a different kind of investment into my, and my country’s, future. I encourage you to do the same.
Scene from Beijing Opening Ceremony (Via Flickr user Ligadier Truffaut)
Tonight I watched the Opening Ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I was expecting a show boasting of ethnic pride and national ego, but instead I witnessed a spectacle; a mix themes including history, hope, and world peace portrayed majestically by a masterfully choreographed mix of pyrotechnics, technology, performers, and music. The show was unlike anything I’ve ever seen at the Olympics or otherwise, I sit here still stunned and still with a smile on my face. This show turned my ill opinion of these games around, and it reminded why I love the games so much.
So here is to Beijing! Go USA, and more importantly, go World!
Published on
August 7, 2008 in
Faith, News, Sports & Politics and Photography.
Tags: Faith, News, Sports & Politics, lightning, long exposure photography, night, Photography, religion, thunder.
God definitely has a sense of humor. Tonight he laughed at me–a lot–and I laughed with him–most of the time.
One of my many sub-hobbies of my bigger photography hobby is lighting photography. It requires an intense mixture of bravery, patience, and patience. Oh yeah… and lightning. I drove around in the heavy part of the storm looking for a sheltered place to set up. I ended up letting the storm pass looking for a spot. Eventually I settled in a ramada at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler. I aimed my camera at the horizon and began firing.
You see, to shoot lightning, you normally need to hold the shutter open until a bolt strikes. Easy enough, except where there are other lights (like street lights) on that horizon. I had six to ten seconds to before the other lights would ruin the photo. So for a good 15 minutes I passed the time taking a photo every 6 seconds. It seemed like every bolt (and there weren’t many) came inbetween exposures. I cursed aloud the third time it happened. A few minutes later, my SD card is filling up and I stop to dump some images, and I miss a spectacular bolt. Finally I decide to leave after 25 minutes, having gotten nothing more than a distant cloud-to-cloud and as I pick up my camera and tripod and beautiful bolt strikes right where my camera was pointed.
He laughed. I laughed. I said, “Okay! I stay a while longer and wait for it.” And it came. I walked away with 15 nice shots, but I had to first fall victim to God’s pranks.
"Cloud to Ground": One of my better lighting shots from tonight.
I guess God is funny like that.