Who's More American?

What determines how American a person is, How do you decide? There are many different things that a person can do to show their patriotism. Multiple time this year we have talked and discussed this question in my American Studies class, and I am still without an answer. During my lifetime there are things that I could do to be more American, but I don't feel the need to have to say out loud my patriotism. I think that I am a patriotic person who supports America. I do not stand for the pledge. I sometimes will say the pledge in my seat, but that's all. I do not where an American flag. I do not have any obvious ways of being patriotic or American. I don't know if you noticed, but during Barack Obama and John McCain's campaigns and debates, they would sometimes where an American flag pin and sometimes not. I noticed that one time I was watching John McCain speak and he was not wearing a pin, but he was wearing a red, white, and blue tie. I thought that this was interesting. What if a person is in the Army or some kind of unit protecting our country, does this mean that they are more patriotic than me. What about people with an American flag on their house, I personally have one, because my Dad leaves it up all year, but does that make me more patriotic. Ever since this topic was brought up in class, I have been trying to find an answer. What exactly makes a person more patriotic and American than another person?

Weather is Crazy!

For the past four years my dad has ran the Chicago Marathon in October. Throughout those years the weather has always been drastic in both hot and cold. The first year that we went to go and watch him it was almost perfect, like 60s which is good for running and good for spectating. The next year that he ran, it was 40 degrees and pouring rain which was like sleet, and the rain was cold. I was wearing my winter coat and gloves, it was so cold. Last year when he ran it was 88 degrees which is so hot that after a certain point they had to close the marathon because it was too dangerous to run in. I was sweating and I wasn't even running, I can't imagine running 26.2 miles in that heat. Yesterday when he ran and we went downtown to watch him, it was about 78 degrees, which is hot for the runners, but not as hot for the spectators. You would think that in October the weather would be pretty consistent with fall weather. That may be true, but then the marathon is cursed. It is weird how the weather could change so much, for being the same Sunday in October every year. 

POLITICS!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH

I am sick of politics. I think that they are really interesting and that it is an especially cool election this year, but I am so sick of everything politics. There are those people who no matter what they talk about politics is involved. I know that my Dad is very affectionate about politics. It is all he talks about especially with the election coming up. He is so biased and it isn't fair, because no one can say anything about politics especially the other party without him getting really offensive. I will be watching TV and he will come in and see that they are not being fair to both parties and he gets so mad and says that I can't watch that show anymore. I hate it. People are so opinionated which is a good thing but they are overly offensive about their opinions. While I was watching the vice presidential debate, Icouldn't make up my own opinions, because my Dad has brainwashed me to think what he thinks. He keeps saying that he wants me to make my own opinions on which candidate that I like, but if I chose his opponent then I would be wrong and he would tell me all the bad stuff about that candidate. Secretly he wants me to just chose the opponent that he likes. I am just sick of everything involving politics, I understand that politics are important, but why do people have to get so offensive. I like freedom of speech, but that doesn't mean that you have to be so biased that you cant even listen to the other side.