"Intellectually I know that America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country." - Sinclair Lewis

I went to class tonight and learned some things. I learned that teachers should not try to act like teenagers (swearing, using slang terms that even teenagers themselves would never use such as “fo sho” or “phat”, etc.). I also learned that some people should definitely ask themselves this before they speak “Am I going to end up sounding like a total moron if I say this?” And really, if you even have to ask yourself that question, you probably shouldn’t say what you’re thinking. The professor asked this question “How can you obtain quality of life?” Don’t worry, I’m not a philosophy major. It applies to business…or so I’m told. A fellow classmate of mine forgot to ask himself the question I mentioned earlier before he spoke and said (in a really thick southern accent), “You know, I don’t have quality of life in Utah because it is way too overpopulated thanks to the Mormons.” Way to go for saying that in a room full of Mormons, first of all. Second of all, where are you from? Because seriously, if you think Utah is crowded try Phoenix-or better yet-take a trip to L.A.-or better yet-take a trip to NYC. Or China for that matter. Nice going picking Utah as your overpopulation example. Utah actually has a really good balance between civilization and the great outdoors. Did I just compliment Utah? I must be going crazy. Don’t worry, Arizona, you’re still my one and only even if you are overpopulated and full of cancerous air.

My professor constantly bashes Bush for all of the horrible things he’s done and it really gets on my nerves. I’m probably 1 of 5 people in this country willing to say this, but I actually liked Bush. I might be hunted down and killed for saying that. Granted, there are things he did that I’m not fond of, but it really bothers me when people start bashing their own president. Americans can be so quick to blame our recession on Bush, but fail to remember the fact that he pulled us out of economic uncertainty and kept us from going into a recession when he was elected president in 2000. Americans are screaming equal rights and that everyone be treated fairly, but we can’t even give our own president a little respect. I’m very nervous about Obama and do not agree with some of the things he’s already done, but I can’t imagine ever defaming his name the way a lot of Americans have chosen to do to Bush. We are very blessed to live in America. I’ve never actually been outside of the United States, but I’m very proud and happy to be an American. There are so many people right now who are saying “Oh, I am FINALLY proud to be an American now that Obama is president.” It’s beyond me why anyone would base his or her pride off of one person. I like to call these people "fair weather Americans." They're only proud when things are going their way, and the economy is good, and the person they voted for got elected as president, and we aren't involved with wars in other countries. I think now, more than ever, we need to come together as a country and be proud of what our nation stands for. There are a million and one reasons to be proud to be an American regardless of who the president is. I’ll get off my soapbox. I’m not really one to talk politics, but a level of respect for the president is deserved. Although I am nervous about Obama I do have high hopes that he will eventually be able to pull us out of the slump we’re in right now. I pray for him and his advisors every day to steer our country in the direction that the Lord would have it go. I may not agree with what he’s done so far, and I did not vote for him, but I am still rooting for him and for America to succeed. I feel like the Lord has blessed me with the gift of being born into a nation where I pretty much have everything I could ever want at my fingertips as long as I’m willing to work for it. I have so many opportunities here that I would not have in other countries. My patriarchal blessing says that I’ve been very blessed to come to this great land of America to fulfill the mission that the Lord has for me. I hope I live a life that shows how grateful I am to be able to live in a land of opportunity and be able to go about the Lord's work all because I live in a free country.
I am so very, very grateful for the job that I have. A good job these days seems to be something of a hot commodity, and I feel so lucky to have the job that I have. I don’t make a lot of money by any means, but since I work at an apartment complex my rent is dirt cheap and my bills are always very low. I highly recommend getting a job at an apartment complex to any college student. =) I feel like the Lord was really looking out for me a year and a half ago when I moved here to Utah. I had no experience with leasing apartments, but somehow got the job anyway. I work with and for genuinely good, honest people who care about their success as well as my success in the company. I feel lucky enough to just have a job at all these days. The fact that I love my job is just icing on the cake. I’m so grateful that the Lord looks out for me and has a plan for me.