Blessed Are The Meek

Well, I have one exam left (tomorrow) then I’m off to DC for my first solo trip down. Anyway, I just wanted to address my last post. Firstly, thanks to those who commented…you were all very nice. I actually wasn’t expecting such nice things to be said about me... not that I’m trying to sound self deprecating…Its just that often when people describe me I hear words like; feisty, aggressive etc. This seems very odd to me as I do not see my self in this light. I guess I’m just so used to being me that I don’t notice that I’m assertive or intimidating. I certaily don't see myself as the opposite though.
These days I’ve been thinking a lot about who I am and how I got to be who I am and who I want to be. And I think that looking at how other people see you is an important part of really making yourself who you want to be. Its no good if you're really trying to be something but others don’t see it.
I’ve been thinking for a couple of days about the word meek. Its listed as one of the fruits of the spirit and also “blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth’ (matt 5:5) Meekness is def. not something that is often attributed to me. I know that meekness doesn’t have to be weakness but sometimes I wonder how it differs from being a doormat or how it would work if everyone was meek. It makes me think of mice or dogs cowering away from you b/c they know they’ve done something wrong. I know that I’m supposed to want to be meek… but I don’t. maybe its b/c my definition is a little messed up right now. Maybe its b/c its not something that the world sees as at all beneficial and I’m getting sucked into that. Maybe its b/c I feel like its contrary to my personality. I’m not sure… I just don’t even know how I’d go about becoming meek if I wanted to.

A quick question

So my friend Hilary and i were talking over coffee tonight (actually she had a cookie and i had a steamer) and we were discussing how you see your self and how others see you. And it often puzzles me how/why people see me as they do. So, just for the sake of my own curiosity please take the time to comment and describe me in a few words or sentences. i'm not asking for complements and feel free to not leave your name, i'm just curious.
thanks so much
R.

Thoughts on Washington

So having spent some serious time in DC last week I thought I’d post some general impressions of the city and how it contributes to American culture and identity.
First off, the city was beautiful. Well laid out, beautiful architecture and the weather made things even better. Having visited Washington its really become very clear to me how so many people can buy into the whole “rah rah USA” stuff. I used to think it was total garbage and that only idiots couldn’t see through it. But when you’re down there and you’re standing inside monuments, that are reminiscent of Greek temples, dedicated to ‘great’ men like Jefferson and Lincoln its really no surprise at all. All the memorials tell the Americans how great they are and where they come from. They preach the ‘founding principles’ of the nation and point to the role of the USA as a city on a hill and a defender of rights. Even the holocaust museum, while being an excellent memorial to the horrors of Hitler, celebrated America as the savior of Europe and sort of spun it to point to the US as ‘needed to defend the weak against evil’. Everything is spun that way. Everything is so BIG, so ornate. You don’t see that in Ottawa. In Ottawa you have an 8 ft statue of a PM but no temple for him to stand in much less a gift shop and washrooms attached. I’m not complaining, I love Ottawa, I just think that the capital of the US really, really designed to sell to the American people an image of themselves that isn’t necessarily true. And it used to seem dumb to me, but after having visited, it makes sense…heck, for a moment there I almost wished that they were my forefathers and my fallen war Heroes. But then I walk through the security to get into every building and I see the cops on every corner and watch military choppers flying low over the city and I remember why I’m glad I’m not American. It’s a beautiful city- suitable for the capital of an empire- of the world even. It’s just so different in every way. Its so close to Canada but so very foreign. Basically, it’s a nice place to visit but I couldn’t live there…unless I was specifically representing Canada. That’s all I have to say for now.

Back from DC

Well, I’m back from DC and I’ve posted some of my pictures. I’m pretty tired and I have a whole lot of studying to do but I want to post some general thoughts on my views on American nationalism after having visited their capital. I will do this but not today. So enjoy the pictures, I may post more later. It was like 25 degrees on our last day there! So insane! Also, it was the cherry blossom festival so I put up a pic of the cherry blossoms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off to DC

Well, just incase anyone is wondering why I am not around for the next little bit i thought I’d just pass along what I’m up to. I’ve been asked to start work early this spring. I work for an educational tour company. We do elementary school trips…grad trips pretty much. Last year I did trips to Ottawa, and this year they’ve asked me to do Washington DC trips too! So I’m off to DC for 5 days starting Thursday, to learn the city and everything about it. and all this, right before exams! Oy. Anyway, I’m really excited about it but it will make me ultra busy. So off to the center of an empire for an education in culture, geography and history. 10 hours on a bus either way, with free food and board. I hear the weather is nice there this time of year. I’ll post when I get back. I’ll probably have some observations on the city and its people. And I’m sure I’ll take some pictures. So that’s where I am. I have to go pack!