Apathy is ugly - The Colorado Caucus

Apathy is an ugly word. It even makes my face contort when I say it. A-pa-thy. Try to look pretty as you say it. It can't be done. There's nothing worse when it comes to a political election. As much as I can't stand it, that's exactly what I experienced as I walk my neighborhood promoting our caucus next week. The most frequent response from my neighbors was, "Nope. Not going." Excuse me, what? I'm shocked. Not going? I cannot imagine throwing my hands up like that...completely abandoning any power I have as a citizen and voter.

The only logical conclusion I can make is that they just don't understand the process. Why else would you not attend your caucus? I don't blame them...it's a confusing process that takes some effort to understand. Perhaps the fact that it's not just a "show up and vote" event causes the majority to shy away.

Our caucus takes place at a neighbor's home. Sometimes they're held in schools ,VFW facilities or in similar buildings. They usually run an hour or so and, typically, not very many people show up. Still, caucuses are excellent examples of grassroots politics. They offer a chance for you to meet your neighbors, chat about issues that are important to you, stump for a candidate and vote (in our case, the caucus is a straw poll so it's non-binding, but still important... just ask any candidate). I'm looking forward talking politics without people looking at me like I have three heads. Civilized debate is welcomed here. Ahhhh.

Caucuses also give you a chance to vote for your precinct delegates (or become one!) and committee people. Think these aren't important roles? These people represent you at the county, congressional, state and national conventions. They also help decide what candidates appear on your ballot and how money is allocated in your district. Not important??

I've heard some say they don't want to go because they "don't like talking politics," or "sometimes it just gets too heated." I've even heard people say, "We're too far gone. Caucusing won't make a difference." I'm going to say it....A-PA-THY. Yep, it's still ugly. Sure, the conversation may get a bit heated but is there a better topic to get fired up about than the direction of our country?? Sorry, but I can't think of any.

If you don't know where to go, check your party's county web site. I'm in Jefferson County, so I found my caucus information here: http://www.jeffcorepublicans.com/index.php/en/. Do a simple search, plug in your address and show up. Easy. This is a rare opportunity to participate in our legislative process and to drive policy from the BOTTOM UP. Is that not worth the effort?

If you support the Department of Education, please tell me WHY?

As a homeschooling mom, I suppose it's in my DNA to oppose the existence of the Department of Education but I do so with conviction and facts to back up my beliefs. Of all of the things we've entrusted to our government (retirement, health care, the environment, charity, etc. etc.) perhaps the most shocking, to me, is the education of our children.

Most of us can agree that government is, in a word, INEPT. Yet, we are expected to trust that the Department of Education has everything taken care of when it comes to educational standards, benchmarks, facilities and schedules. Why? Where does this blind trust come from? We have become so dependant that most parents feel completely unable to assume responsibility for their child's education (or, perhaps, they just don't want to. It is easier, after all, to just leave it all to the government).

People think I'm crazy when I speak of my disgust for the Department of Education but few are able to articulate the reasons why they support its existence. I am a reasonable person able to make decisions based on facts. So, if I am overlooking actual (and by actual, I mean real) facts, I am open to hearing them.

The latest issue of Imprimus, a publication of Hillsdale College, addresses this very issue. If you haven't already, please read this piece from Charles Murray, the W.H. Brady Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Murray makes the case that the Department of Education is unconstitutional, spends ridiculous amounts of money with virtually no measurable improvement to education and is basically at the mercy of the education lobby groups. Since its inception in 1980, the state of education has not improved and we continue to churn out college graduates who have learned nothing, are in debt and are often unemployable. Is this system worth maintaining? Help me out. If you believe in the Department of Education, please tell me why.

Just FYI, "The American Enterprise Institute is a community of scholars and supporters committed to expanding liberty, increasing individual opportunity and strengthening free enterprise. AEI pursues these unchanging ideals through independent thinking, open debate, reasoned argument, facts and the highest standards of research and exposition. Without regard for politics or prevailing fashion, we dedicate our work to a more prosperous, safer and more democratic nation and world."

My husband quit his job to audition for Idol...and I'm cool with that.

I am not a fan of American Idol. I mean, it's mildly entertaining but I have a few problems with it. First of all, I think they are cruel to make fun of vunerable people who are, ahem, just not that talented. Second of all, I cannot handle the fact that the show completely takes over television. Do we really need to see 2 hours of auditions in 10 different cities 5 nights a week (Ok, slight exaggeration)? Finally, I'm so sick of people worshipping the idea of American Idol -- the quick path to fame -- the Golden Ticket.

My hubby, on the other hand, loves Idol so I endure it when I can. Well, that was the plan at least. After last night (the first night of season 11), the plan may change. I understand that people like to see some of the stories behind the contestants but when one of those stories involves a husband quitting his job to audition, I just can't take it.

This guy was cute. He was a good singer. He was from a small town (which, I would presume, probably doesn't have a ton of options when it comes to employment). Perhaps most disturbing (for me), is that his wife is about to have a baby and she totally supported this decision. What is she thinking? Um, our economy isn't stellar right now. Jobs are scarce and he quit his to "follow his dream." I'm all for dreams, but at a certain point in life, you buckle down and do what you need to do to survive -- to support your family. Bottom line: I so would NOT be ok with that.

I'll give the guy credit for confidence but if he can win Idol (I'm assuming he thinks he can, since he quit his job to do so) there has to be another way to be discovered -- perhaps one that doesn't involve walking away from gainful employment and towards an uncertain future (one that certainly involves a wife and newborn). Before we were married, I would have totally supported my hubby if he wanted to go crazy to follow a dream. But, the game changes once you have actual responsibilities -- a family. I can only hope that this particular contestant goes all the way or is able to find a job to support his family when he returns to Appomattox.

There's an appropriate time for everything and, on a certain level, I think we all understand that...unless a carrot full of quick fame promises is dangled in front of our face. Why is that life so much better than a simple one full of hard work, small town quirks and family? It isn't...unless you watch American Idol.

Sarah's Key - A (Tearful) Review

Shortly after my husband and I were married, we were sitting in our hotel room in the Dominican Republic. He was slipping through the t.v. stations and I was on the bed flipping through the final chapters of The Notebook. As I turned the last page, I burst into tears and my husband immediately dropped the remote and rushed to my side.

I'm not a big crier, so he was obviously alarmed. Through sloppy tears, I tried to explain to share the powerful message of this book and the heartbreak I felt I was experiencing after reading it. He just stared at me, not sure of how to react. Of course, he couldn't understand a word I was saying so, after he realized I was not in physical pain, he started laughing hysterically at my emotional breakdown. I wanted to hurt him.

We laugh about it now, but I'm really glad he wasn't by my side last night as I finished reading Sarah's Key. Wow. Talk about emotional. I read at night before bed but found myself thinking about the story of Sarah and Julia during the day as if they were walking with me. I couldn't escape the horror of the brutal Vel' d'Hiv' roundup and imagined myself in Sarah's shoes on that fateful July morning in Paris, 1942.

While the story is fictional, the book is based on the very real experiences of French Jews during World War II. In the spirit of some of my favorite books of all time, All Quiet on the Western Front and A Farewell to Arms, author, Tatiana de Rosnay, invites the reader to experience a historical event through the eyes of her expertly developed characters.

Sarah's story is truly devastating. Heartbreaking. Almost unbelievable...if you didn't know it could be true. This innocent child transformed into a hardened and scarred woman virtually incapable of experiencing joy at the hands of a world that completely discounted her existence. How could this happen? I couldn't even hold back the waterworks until the last page turned. Usually, when I love a book, I am crushed when it ends. In this case, the ending was satisfying. Kudos to de Rosnay for her perfect timing (sometimes an author just doesn't know when to call it quits). After I (somewhat) pulled myself together, I hovered over my sleeping children and thanked God for their rhythmical breath -- for their carefree giggles -- for their warm and sticky hugs.

Simply put, I LOVE THIS BOOK. I am better for reading it -- which is rare.

My homeschooled kids are under the microscope

Not too long ago, it was cute when one of my kids mispronounced a word or failed to conjugate a verb correctly. I rarely corrected them because I felt their lack of language skills demonstrated a sweet sort of innocence that I wasn't ready to leave behind. I figured they have plenty of time to pour over grammar workbooks, diagram sentences (do people even do that anymore?) and ponder the use of a dangling participle.

That was before homeschooling.

Now, whether right or wrong, I feel a bit under the microscope when it comes to the way my children speak. When we're out and about during the day (when most kids are in school), many people stop to ask my children why they aren't in school or what they're doing at Target in the middle of a Wednesday. I tend to hold my breath and pray that they answer in complete, well-formed sentences. Most of the time, they do. Whew!

Now, saying "winned" instead of "won" isn't so much cute as it is a reflection on my teaching skills. True, this probably isn't the best way to approach my first year of homeschooling but all of these little mistakes leave me making mental notes at a furious pace. Should you open up my brain, you're sure to find a road map of red Sharpie scribbles and notes all designed to make tomorrow's homeschool day better.

Homeschooling has taught me that everything my kids do or say can be traced directly back to something I've taught them, or failed to teach them. That's really the essence of parenting, isn't it? Eventually, the responsibility for their words and actions will fall squarely and completely on their shoulders, but for now, I'm hyper-sensitive to each and every move they make. Exhausting? You bet. Worth it? Absolutely.