8/17/08

The reality of this whole thing is still setting in. I am sitting in my room (in the amazing apartment where all of the ONU girls are staying) at the desk that earlier this morning (or afternoon, I really have no idea of the time with this time change) gave me a bump that could very easily turn into a black eye, writing the first entry for my blog because I have nothing better to do for the next three hours. Coming out of a summer as a camp counselor, having this much down time is an adjustment, but considering that I doubt I'll have this much down time later on in the weeks to follow, I don't think I will make that adjustment. I've started to reflect on why I decided to come to Denver for this program. I'm not exactly the most partisan person, so it wasn't out of some sort of Democratic pride (I will openly admit to this), and I'm studying political thought, so this experience isn't a preview of what my future will hold, as it is for a good number of the other attendees. Why then did I decide, over nine months ago, to come to Denver for the Washington Center's DNC program. I suppose I could give the textbook answer about belief our political system and some sort of greater good, or I could just say irreverently that I wanted to see Hare Krishnas at the airport (anyone who knows me will tell you that the latter answer is the one I'm more likely to give. Don't worry I will probably mention the Krishnas several times throughout the course of my stay here. There weren't any at the airport, for those of you who wondering.), but I think that if I were to do that  then I would be cheating myself out of the introspective self-examination that, as someone who tries to lead an informed existence, I feel I should partake in. So why, then, did I decide that this would be a necessary experience? I think the answer has something to do with this feeling I've had since the summer of 2006 that  something was going to happen in 2008, and it would be history. I don't know that I even really expect to witness history, as much as I want some sort of framework, so that fifty years from now, when they talk about the Denver convention of 2008, the pictures in my head will be of my own memories, not some scene created from the combination of old photographs and ignorance. Is that the wrong reason for being here? I'm not sure, but I don't think so. I think that this is the reason why many people feel the need to witness "history-in-the-making-moments". I intend to record my experiences here, as they happen. I make no promises as far as interesting content is concerned, but I have a feeling that this will be a blog worth reading. 

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