I created this image just after September 11, 2001 and each year I post it in memory of everyone who lost their life in the attacks on the WTC towers, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania, along with the rescuers that gave their lives as well.

Its hard to believe its been eight years. How far my life has evolved in that long, yet fast moving period of time — further, in fact, than I ever dreamed. Eight years ago, I was a month and a day out of my undergraduate studies, job hunting and taking classes I didn’t get to enjoy as electives due to the lack of elective hours in my bachelor’s degree. I spent the night before 9.11.01 in my World Religion class, where a classmate asked about jihad and our instructor, a pastor, encouraged discussion and helped us gain a bit of understanding as we hadn’t reached the Muslim portion of our textbook as of yet. Prior to that class, a Muslim coworker and I, after he saw me reading my textbook for that night’s class, discussed our religions, comparing and contrasting them without fear or worry.

What a difference that 24 hour period made in all of our lives.

My coworker and several of my undergrad finance classmates were of Middle Eastern descent, some here as international students, others first or second generation Americans whose parents sought a better way of life and the American Dream. I watched as they were disrespected and ridiculed for actions they had no part in. Just because some fellow Saudis back in the Middle East and Southeast Asia happened to have an extreme view of Islam doesn’t mean they all did. And I mourned like every other person who — American or not — was impacted by those hijacked airplanes who forever changed our lives. I was already patriotic as the daughter of a war veteran; now I cannot hear a patriotic song without tears flowing and thanking my lucky stars and the Lord above for living here, having my freedoms, and a military that protects them.

Eight years later, we may feel the impacts and changes created by the events of September 11, 2001 less than we did initially — unless one travels frequently — but I know I don’t take life for granted any longer. Our laws may make some feel stifled by the changes that were put into place to protect us, but I’d rather that than the alternative.

So, tonight, remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 — then hug your families or, if they’re not physically nearby, call them up and tell them how much you care and are grateful they’re in your lives.

As my cousin put it via the mass email he sent out last night …

If you don’t VOTE, then Don’t Complain…

If you do not vote for either candidate tomorrow, you give up your right to complain about the winner’s performance for the next four years.

Be Sure to Vote! 

We each have a civic duty to our country — although we don’t always like paying taxes or serving on juries, the one thing we can do free and willingly is VOTING. We live in a democracy where our voices can be heard, even if our politicians do not always listen to us. At least we have the RIGHT to speak freely and vote how we choose — do you honestly realize how many people on this planet do not have this privilege?

This is the one civic duty that you can educate yourself on and make an informed choice — don’t vote just because your “parents always voted that way” or because the candidate’s name is more appealing or because the mainstream media has practically called the election before early voting even began. Ignore the polls — anyone who’s studied political science knows they can be manipulated to give the desired results.

Educate yourself — stop worrying about party lines and learn about the ideologies involved in politics. Parties don’t follow ideologies like they used to. Don’t know what on earth I’m talking about when I mention ideologies? Google it. Then take/repeat basic American government at your local junior college. Study a candidate’s history of voting, their speeches — aka what they promise, and their votes — aka what they actually do, not just say/promise. Vote based on who represents your views — and those who walk the walk, not just talk it.

So — if you’re old enough to vote and registered by the deadline — find your local polling location and vote. Don’t know where your voter registration card is? Take a government issued ID (DL or State ID card are best) with you. Takes a bit longer, but its worth it.

And — as my cousin put it — if you don’t vote, you give up your right to complain about our politicians’ (whether its the president, your congressman, your representative, or state/local officials) choices and decisions for the next two to six years (depending upon position elected to).

That said, this is the only political post I’ll make until the evening of November 4, 2008.

I don’t vote based on party. I also don’t vote based on campaign promises. Very few candidates do what they promise once elected–I run out of fingers, toes, limbs, and bones when I think of the number of candidates in my lifetime who made great promises and failed to deliver, or even intiate them. Therefore, I make my decisions based on the candidates’ previous actions and how they conduct themselves. If they make a promise and carry it out in previous elections, they have something to stand on. I consider myself a moderate — both parties have aspects I agree with to some extent.

That said, for the first time in this two year presidental campaign, today I am actually excited about the prospects for this country. Not only is this a history making election in itself, but whoever wins will be making history themselves–whether its the presidential or vice presidential candidate making that history.

I voted in the primaries, not for who I preferred for the presidency, but who I felt I could live with for the next four to eight years if the candidate I wanted wasn’t elected. Sadly, that candidate isn’t on the ticket, and I truly ate my words when I told a pal several years ago I’d never vote for that person as president. Yeah, Eva, you have permission to not let me live that down. I don’t regret that vote. I felt and still feel that person had proven themself capable of doing what they said, walking the walk so to speak. Today, two of the four individuals have proven they have done what they’ve said. The other two, not so much if at all.

So, if you read between the lines, you’ll figure out my primary vote. And you’ll also figure out my general election vote. And, hopefully, after the popular vote is said and done, the electoral college will recognize the constituents’ voices.

And before anyone goes on the tangent I know nothing about the political system or anything else tied to American politics or campaigning, I just want to point out I do have education and school of hard knocks knowledge backing my beliefs and methods to this chaos known as the voting process in America. And unlike many of the bashers I’ve come across, I actually live in the US and participate in the political process. I feel citizens who vote have a legitimate claim to gripe with the system inadequacies. Don’t vote, not a citizen, you haven’t earned the ability to complain. I also realize the president alone cannot get all of his promises enacted, it takes the executive and legislative branches together to do that. I also feel the system our forefathers created at a time when few Americans had the education and knowledge to properly elect a president needs to be evaluated and overhauled. I was a double major in grad school — criminal justice and political science. While I decided not to complete the remaining reqs to get the political science masters degree (four classes), I focused my education on three areas: American Government/Politics, International Relations, and Comparative Politics. I was fortunate to have had most of my undergrad and grad political education with a professor who, while not American-born but came here as soon as he could and gained citizenship, has a passion for both the American presidency and campaigning and shared it with me and every other student to pass through his classes. I credit him for not only making me wiser to the system from an outsider’s view, but giving me the passion I have for it as well. One day, I hope I have the opportunity to share that passion with students as well.

Nice thing about these, you can switch them out if you change your mind!

Snopes.com: Hispanic Leaders Speak Out!

Btw, if I were a non hispanic resident in the state of California (see the quote towards the middle) or any state on the southern border of the United States, I’d like to remind the idiot (for lack of a better word to describe them) that is attributed to that statement about going back to Europe…many of us are mutts if you want to be technical about it. We ain’t just 100% White Europeans. Many of us have some form (or several forms) of Native American ancestry in our blood. And they were here first…