USA! USA! USA!

When I was in Guatemala, a Dutch woman asked me and Mike if we were proud to be American.  Mike then went on to explain the problems of that question; that being American is so inextricably linked to who we are--our identity--that a pride or shame about it would inevitably also reflect how we felt about ourselves and therefore, probably not what she really wanted to ask.  I disliked the question for another reason.  I am proud to be an American (because I'm proud of who I am), but I feel that comes with it the need to defend myself against foreigners and US citizens alike who think that means that I must then love everything our nation does.

I've traveled to over thirty countries and roughly as many US states, and I love the United States.  Now, that does not mean that I think it's "the best country in the world" (whatever that means).  It means that I love it.  Kind of like my parents.  I didn't get to choose them, but I am (largely) who I am because of them.  They're my favorite parents in the world--but really only 'cause their mine, not because I have any empirical evidence that they're superior to other parents.  And besides, that has nothing to do with why I love them.  They have traits that make them great parents and great people.  Similarly, the US has traits that make it a great place to live and a great country.

So, being that today is July 4th, I'm going to go on a bit about what I love about the United States and its people.  (Didn't see that one comin', did ya?)

US Americans maintain a reverence for the tenacious farmer, the enterprising business-owner, an infatuation with the intrepid explorer, and the determined immigrant.

We value the outdoors: barbecues, camping, sleds, mountains, lakes, pets...
physicality: baseball, football, basketball, and sportsmanship...
celebrations: parades, awards, roller coasters, bright lights, block parties, pies...
exploring: road trips, RVs, motorcycles...

The natural beauty, as revealed in they very concept of a National Park, is unparalleled not only in its ecological variety but in the nation's unified desire to protect it.

I love that we have no official national language.  We don't force people to learn English, limit its transformation, or guarantee that it will always be spoken by the majority of us.

I love how the diversity of our 300 million people also brings endless varieties of skin colors, food, traditions, rituals, music, dances, and seeming contradictory values.  

We value functionality over aesthetics and love frivolity and escapism.
We cheer for rebels and respect authority.
We stand against injustice and root for the underdog and maintain our global preeminence.
We cherish individualism and isolation and promote hospitality and community.
We resist government involvement and practice volunteerism and philanthropy.

I love that we were founded on principles and "universal truths."  We became a nation through great thought and planning, whether or not we live up to our forefathers' intentions, or even if their intentions were as pure as we like to imagine, those ideals bring great potential.  That's what I love most about our country, not so much what we are, but what we could be.  I can call, visit, and email my legislators, propose legislation, protest, and vote--and I have.  I will continue to question what our country does, how it spends my taxes, and whom it is genuinely helping; and for that ability to devote my life to helping my country be the best it can be, I love the United States of America.  

The Obvious Truth

Upon reading an article about the Great Garbage Patch, a swirling vortex of garbage in the middle of the Pacific, I've become depressed. This plastic soup formed mostly in the last 50 years when plastics became prevalent. We've known about its existence for the past 20 years. It doesn't seem we've been doing a whole lot about it since then. Many scientists agree that the size, consistency, and risk to the living creatures within the vortex prevent clean-up. There are some who disagree and are researching what clean-up will realistically take; but the general consensus: the only thing we can do now is stop it from getting bigger.

So what are we doing in that vein? What major steps are manufacturers, retailers, consumers, and goverments doing? How much longer are we going to continue to just make more and more garbage? When will "disposable" become a curse word? When will we stop making things that will be with us for the next few hundreds or thousands of years?

We do not have the land or water resources to allocate to garbage. We simply have to stop making it. If a product cannot later be reused, recycled, or composted, why is it being made? Why has no one talked about the concept of solid waste elimination? Not reduction--elimination. I concede and understand that such a change could take up to four 4 generations to fully implement (Teldyn will be a great grandad). But why haven't I heard our leaders talking about how to get to that point?

I've heard that 70% of our landfills could be recycled or reused. I don't understand why we aren't doing it. What are we waiting for? Where do we think this crap is going? We know we have no where to put it. We know we're poisoning ourselves, and we keep doing it. I'm at a loss. I'm frustrated and confused. I feel helpless.

Today, on July 20, 2009, 40 years after we first walked on the moon, I wonder how we are dealing with the challenges we now face. Is preserving our planet and life as we know it not enough to inspire us into action? In 1969, scientists collaborated and succeeded in getting us to another world. We were racing towards a bright, new future. Now I fear we're stagnating in swirling garbage. Where is our bright future?

West to East

Since my last entry, my parents have gone back to Connecticut, while I went on to Santa Barbara to visit my long-time friend (since high school), Kevin. After having stayed in a different hotel every night when traveling with my parents, being able to stay in one place for a week was fun and relaxing. Kevin and I used our annual Six Flags pass (yes, we have annual passes) to enjoy the Magic Mountain amusement park and its glorious roller coasters. Kevin especially needed the distraction considering he just finished the most intense test for his graduate English degree at the University of California in Santa Barbara. In fact, his continuously talking about the test was not only understandable but contagious. I think my friends in Portland know much more about the graduate English program at UCSB than they want to.

Portland has been great. It’s really the only place where I have so many friends, in close proximity who also know each other. Considering that I lived here and try to visit every year, I have a good contingent of people to hang out with and always have fun. My friends received some tragic news while I was here, and I was glad that I could be here for them. Despite the bad, there’s been plenty of good, and I should have even more people to see next time.

Hanging out with Kevin and Marah in their and their friend’s apartments, I’m getting a glimpse into what I want and can expect when I start my own search for a place in Honolulu. I love living within walking distance of restaurants, shopping, and friends, I can’t wait 'til it's my turn!

I’ve decided to forgo the cross-country bus trip. A flight was only $50 more than the bus, and I’d prefer to spend the few days with my friends rather than on a bus. I still like the idea of a trip across the US, but it will have to wait.

Next and last stop: New York/Connecticut. At the moment, I have a return flight to Honolulu dated for July 13^th. By the way, I'm looking to use my annual pass again, so anyone who wants to go to Six Flags New England or Great Adventure, I am so down.

Oh Beautiful! (Revised and illustrated)

Since May 27th, a satellite radio-equipped rental car has been motoring Mom, Dad, and me through the national parks of the Southwest US. Road-tripping through expansive deserts and mountains with few signs of modern development seems uniquely, and therefore classically, American. Vast landscapes unfold as the black ribbon of road winds through them, granting us access to these rugged wonders. (See? It makes me wax all poetical!) From California to Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada--we're getting a solid sense of what the Southwest has to offer, and we are thoroughly impressed. In fact, all of us like the idea of moving to Colorado.

We've visited more than 25 natural parks in 12 days, and each was uniquely beautiful. This trip has been filled with contrasts: only 3 hours of driving took us from the highest elevation (Mt. Whitney) to the lowest (Death Valley);

seeming contradictions: the Mohave Desert was filled with life and color; and diversity as revealed by the towering sequoias, the Dr. Seuss-like joshua trees, and delicate aspen groves.

We've learned how the 50,000 year old Meteor Crater was formed, how trees became rocks at Petrified Forest, and how ancient peoples survived these climates. We've also discovered that in this part of the country, a population of 50 or even 1 is sufficient to put a town on the map.

As expected, we've paid some dues to the travel gods: I have a nasty cough (again), I left my soon-to-be-retrieved ipod charging in a hotel room, and our Garmin GPS took us on an off-road-vehicle-only road almost stranding us in the forest--but all small prices to pay.

Easily exploring these natural and ancient spectacles, and learning of the efforts to preserve them, lead me to an (unfortunately unusual) declaration: I love this country! Anyone else feel like singing "America the Beautiful"?

After a few more days of nature-gawking (Grand Canyon and Zion to come), my parents head back east, and I make my way north along the west coast where I'll then bus it to the east coast. I've been to 32 states so far (this trip added 3), and I'm hoping that the cross-country journey will get me close to, if not over 40. Whoo hoo!