Chicago NATO Summit 2012

The 2012 NATO summit has ended in Chicago. Overall, the entire weekend is being hailed as a success. National leaders from around the world came together to form a plan to remove NATO troops from Afghanistan by 2014, which was a specific goal of the summit. The United States Coast Guard, National Guard, and Secret Service came together to ensure Chicago's complete security throughout the entire weekend.

The Chicago Police Department, supported by Illinois State Troopers and the Cook County Sheriff's Department, can only be described as heroes after the summit. Chicago Police Superintendent Gary McCarthy and his officers managed to maintain security for the people of Chicago while exhibiting constant restraint and sound judgement. The CPD managed to protect the balance of the NATO protestor's rights, while remaining intolerant of criminal actions.

This weekend, I watched Chicago Police Officers step between me and those who wished to harm me. For this, I personally thank the CPD.

Here is a small glimpse of what Chicago looked like during the 2012 NATO Summit:

Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard

Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard

Photo Credit: Ria Novosti

Photo Credit: Public Intelligence 

Photo Credit: ABC News

Photo Credit: David Combs

Photo Credit: David Combs

 

Photo Credit: David Combs

Photo Credit: David Combs

Photo Credit: David Combs

Photo Credit: David Combs

Photo Credit: David Combs

Photo Credit: David Combs

Photo Credit: David Combs

Political parties...food for thought

George Washington

However political parties may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.

George Washington, Farewell Address, Sep. 17, 1796

There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.

John Adams, letter to Jonathan Jackson, Oct. 2, 1789

(n) party, political party (an organization to gain and retain political power)

Princeton University

The people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of government hold their power, is derived.

James Madison

The great constitutional power in the hands of the people against usurpation of power, or corruption by their agents is the right of suffrage...

Andrew Jackson

This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it.

Abraham Lincoln

Present Day:

I'm happy to get good ideas from across the political spectrum, from Democrats and Republicans.

Barack Obama

Conservatives believe in providing Constitutional rights to our citizens...

Mitt Romney

I think that the Democratic Party and progressives have really gotten confused in getting trapped in this debate about are you liberal or are you centrist?

Barack Obama

For decades, it was an unquestionable clarity to our nation's leaders that the people held the true power in America. The idea of political parties defining government was unthinkable. Today, American Government would likely collapse if the two dominant parties ceased to exist. What has happened to "the people"? We rely on parties to manage the government for us. We don't have to, but we do.

Same Sex Marriage

Today, President Obama became the first sitting American President to openly support same sex marriage. This fact alone inspires disgust among some, and triumph among others. We are all entitled to our political and moral opinions. In an election year where flip-flops and backtracks highlight political propaganda, one question surfaces along with the president's new statements: has Obama flip-flopped on the issue of same sex marriages?

President Barack Obama in the Rose Garden at the White House
Photo Credit: Oliver Douliery-Pool 

So far, the media is calling Mr. Obama's views an "evolution". This evolution began in 2008 when presidential candidate Obama's support extended only to civil unions. In 2010, Obama himself said his views on gay marriage were "evolving".  Finally today, the President gave a complete endorsement. It is clear that Mr. Obama's views are not the same as they were in 2008, but does the change indicate an issue of integrity in the president? To make any call about the integrity of a leader, his own words must be taken into consideration.

"I've been going through an evolution on this issue. I've always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally."

"At a certain point, I just concluded that for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."

"I had hesitated on gay marriage in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient."

"I was sensitive to the fact that for a lot of people the word 'marriage' was something that invokes very powerful traditions, religious beliefs and so forth."

From these words, we see that Mr. Obama has taken much time to process his own beliefs on these issues, while also taking into consideration the beliefs of the people he represents. He realized at some point, that his original stance of supporting only civil unions was not enough to satisfy his moral views of equality for all Americans.

At this point I must beg of you to look beyond any personal opinions of same sex marriage. We are all entitled to our own opinions, as is the president. On this issue, his opinions have no more power to create any practical change than our own. In every leader, we will agree and disagree with certain beliefs. The opportunity here, is to examine how our current leader made a controversial decision. As we decide whether or not to rehire Mr. Obama as our leader, we see in his statements today that he puts great effort into being a true representation of all Americans, while also upholding his personal convictions. This is the most important job of the President of the United States.

World Trade Center Rises

One World Trade Center
Photo Credit: Associated Press

For the first time in a decade, One World Trade Center towers as the tallest building in New York City. The building reached 1,271 feet yesterday, or "Suck it, Al Qaeda height" as one writer so eloquently stated. When the tower is completed next year it will reach exactly 1,776 feet, in honor of the year of American independence. This will make One World Trade Center the tallest building in America, and the third tallest in the world.

One World Trade Center (Also known as Freedom Tower) is one of many buildings being rebuilt on the site of the original World Trade Center. On September 11, 2001 the fall of the Twin Towers (One and Two World Trade Center) damaged and destroyed many of the surrounding buildings as well. Seven World Trade Center was one of the destroyed buildings, but has been rebuilt and is open for business. The new Seven World Trade Center is, at 52 floors, 5 stories taller than its predecessor, and has already won awards for its environmentally friendly design. Two World Trade Center is under construction alongside its sister tower. The skyscraper will top out at 1,358 feet and incorporates a unique, angled design. The new One and Two World Trade Center Towers are being constructed next to the site of the original Twin Towers. On the original site are two massive water features, one in the footprint of each twin tower. Between the two memorial fountains is a museum, built in honor of the victims and emergency workers of 9/11.

Complete plan of the new World Trade Center Complex
Photo Credit: panynj.com

It has been a decade since the 9/11 attacks. The terrorists that created and executed the attack in 2001, hoped to create fear, terror, among our people. From the day of their attack until now, the American people have proved this goal was not reached. They failed on every level. American architects and construction workers are repairing and rebuilding damaged structures bigger and better than before. American soldiers have hunted down and killed the mastermind behind the attack. Rather than live in fear, American families honor and remember those lost as a result of the attack. On 9/11 itself, average Americans on United Flight 93 refused to be overcome with terror. Passengers retook the plane, and forced it down before it could reach any potential target. Their actions likely saved the lives of many in our nation's capitol.

The best part is, our recovery as a nation from 9/11 is not a one time occurrence. Throughout American history, when our nation is threatened, we somehow always manage to come together and turn what was meant to be devastation into triumph. In 1941, America was in turmoil. We were trying to get back on our feet after the Great Depression, and at the same time our allies abroad were calling for our engagement in the Second World War. These two factors alone helped make politics at the time very messy and full of conflict. (Interestingly, that doesn't sound too far off from the state of things today) On December 7, Japanese forces launched an unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor. Thousands of Americans were killed, and the vast majority of American buildings, vessels, and aircraft were damaged or destroyed. Sound similar to the general events of 9/11? The American reaction was also similar. The nation came together. Women went to work in factories for the first time, men and boys with no military background stepped up to defend their country. Workers rebuilt our fleet. Scientists came together to create and discover things that had never been thought possible, including the splitting of an atom. The culmination of that work resulted in the world's first atomic bomb. 

The point is, we refuse to be terrorized. America isn't perfect, we don't have a perfect system, and our people will likely never completely agree on everything, but we refuse to run away in fear. The 9/11 attacks and the years of recovery since emphasize that. 

Terrorists, our enemies, call their dead martyrs. We call ours heroes.

The Manhattan skyline with the World Trade Center Complex completed
Photo Credit: Alex Carter