The story I am about to share is not made up, in fact, it isn't even an exaggeration. It is the truth as I remember it. I was raised in a very conservative republican household. My dad served as chairman of the republican party in Idaho for ten years, then as a national committee man, and now serves as general council to the RNC. My mom works for republican congressman Mike Simpson and has been heavily involved in politics for as long as I can remember. I was nine years old when I found out "Democrat" isn't a swear word. I was 17 when I learned that democrats aren't evil people. I was 22 when during an international Latin American politics class I discovered that Ronald Reagan wasn't exactly a saint.
This is a picture of the whole family on the floor of the 1996 Republican National Convention. I attended two conventions with my parents and loved watching them get crazy excited as they cheered for their candidate. I loved politics and decided to major in political science which for the most part I really enjoyed. However, after my "Ronald Reagan isn't a saint" class I began to burn out and slowly but surely grew apathetic. Then there was 9-11. My brother joined the Army. We went to war. My brother began his first tour in Iraq. (Read this book...It tells the story of what happened during the first week of his first tour in Iraq.) My brother was hit by an IED. He lived. My brother was affected by stop-loss policy. My brother served a second tour in Iraq.
I am voting Barack Obama for president in November.
It was fun to grow up in a politically charged family. I remember passing out political propaganda to our neighbors during campaign season and attending fund raisers and political events of all sorts during my growing up years. The intent of this post isn't to knock republicans or even to promote Mr. Obama. My intention was to share a sliver of my sheltered and naive past, in fact, I find it quite laughable when I think about how long it took me to see more than one side of the story.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
flashback friday...on tuesday
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9 comments:
What a cute family. Darci really looks like she was enjoying herself.
Wow Amy - that's pretty crazy. I definitely want to read that book. It's hard not to be shaken when things turn out to be much different than we thought they were.
How come no one did my hair that day? I mean come on, we were going to be out in public and everything, possibly on national television! But I must say, I totally agree with this post and the same thing has happened to me in the last few years of my life.
I really don't pay as much attention to politics as I should. I need to do more research before I decide who I am voting for. I love that old family pic and the description of your life growing up in politics.
Darci, what do you mean??....we did do your hair! Remember you were dancing on the streets for money.
Wow. The good'ole days huh?
LOL! I uh think you should be embarrassed that it took you so long to see the light. But well, welcome to the Dark Side.
You little rebel. I loved this picture because I remember you having it on display during our stint as roommates. I read that book a while back after seeing it on your goodreads list. Good for Trevor. I am glad he is okay. I think he is stationed near my sister, Whitney in TX.
Darci remember used to run and hide whenever we tried to do your hair. There really wasn't much we could do.
What a great post. Loved this picture, too. It's funny that as soon as I saw this photo I thought to myself that this is how I remember the Hall family. Then I saw the picture was in 1996 and knew that is why.
I laughed at how you learned in the teenage years that the word democrat wasn't a swear word. It was the exact opposite in our household growing up. The "R" word was never mentioned, and my dad cringes every time I mention Jeff's conservative views in politics. I feel like I'm stuck in the middle of two hardcore arguments whenever election year comes along as I talk on the phone with my dad one minute and Jeff at home the next with them expressing their views and then wanting me to side with them. It's good for me though. It opens my mind up and allows me to search out what I think is right. It's good. Again, loved the post. Thanks!
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