I just finished reading the book The Last Season by Eric Blehm and what a great read it is.The story is about Randy Morgenson, a backcountry ranger for twenty-eight seasons at Kings Canyon National Park, who goes missing in July 1996. The book details the search and events surrounding his disappearance, the life Randy lived until he went missing, and historical perspectives about the National Park Service backcountry/wilderness rangers and mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

I bought the book two years ago while browsing through Border’s here in Eugene. I read the front cover and thought to myself, “That sounds like a search I was on in 1996.” Well, I wasn’t wrong. I worked on the Yosemite National Park Search and Rescue team in summer 1996 as a search and rescue intern and we were called out to this search on July 27. We were flown to the backcountry where we spent five days searching for Randy in some of the most beautiful terrain one could imagine. For me, this book provided clarity and truth to questions that were only speculations at the time I was on the search. Though my book sat on the shelf for almost two years, I highly recommend reading this book today

You can learn more about the book here: http://thelastseason.com/.

Immediately following my completion of The Last Season, I dove into reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. The book captured my attention so well that, despite trying to finish graduate school in the next three weeks, I read the book in three days. I haven’t read a book this quick since the Peace Corps three years ago.

This is truly an inspirational story on how one person can make a difference in a world filled with unnecessary conflict. Though he didn’t start out to be a spokesperson against the war on terror, he sure has found ground in showing that there is another avenue to create peace in this world than through current U.S. foreign policy. His story of perseverance to build one school in Pakistan has flourished into a highly successful NGO called The Central Asia Institute. It is built on an understanding of cultures and empowering women through education.

This book details Greg’s life and how he went to build schools, clinics, and other necessary institutions in rural areas of north Pakistan and Afghanistan. Through his story you learn about the politics, religions, and cultures of Pakistan and Afghanistan, mountaineering history in Central Asia, and U.S. influence, or lack of, in this region. It is a gripping story that truly inspires one to be a catalyst for peace in a world filled with conflict.

You can learn more about the book at http://www.threecupsoftea.com/. You can learn more the Central Asia Institute at http://www.ikat.org/.

For many Americans, it unpatriotic to speak out against the actions of America. It does a disservice to Americans when you criticize the actions of the President. I don’t understand the reasoning behind this logic. America sets itself apart from many countries because we have an opportunity for free speech. All Americans should support free speech, especially when we criticize the people who serve us! The President has to answer to us. This is our form of government. We currently have a President and Administration who say that polls don’t mean much, even when the polls show that a majority of the Americans oppose their policies and actions.

Theodore Roosevelt said it best in 1918.

“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.”

“Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star”, May 7, 1918

We must continue to criticize and speak out against our government when it is deemed necessary. This is not a bipartisan issue.  Let’s take these words and continue the fight to make sure that the government continues to be of the people, by the people and for the people.

This is definitely enticing. We will need to read his books and do some additoinal research, but he sure is a great speaker (unlike our current president) and has made some great votes as a Senator.

http://www.barackobama.com/

BBC reported today…

Ohio Democrat to seek presidency

Mr Kucinich was also a presidential candidate in 2004

Democrat congressman Dennis Kucinich has said he plans to run for the US presidency in 2008. Mr Kucinich, who also made a bid in 2004, said he decided to run because the Democrats were not pushing hard enough to end the Iraq war.

The liberal, anti-war congressman from Ohio said Democrats had not acted on the message of voters in the mid-terms.

He said he disagreed with Democrats’ approval of a proposal to extend $160bn (£121bn, 81bn euros) funds for the war.

“Democrats were swept into power on November 7 because of widespread voter discontent with the war in Iraq,” Mr Kucinich said in a statement.

“Instead of heeding those concerns and responding with a strong and immediate change in policies and direction, the Democratic congressional leadership seems inclined to continue funding the perpetuation of the war.”

Mr Kucinich’s anti-war message was at the centre of his earlier presidential bid in 2004, when he was backed by several Hollywood celebrities.
….I am pretty excited. Though he didn’t stand a chance in 2004, and I’m not sure about 2008, I am excited to hear honest talk from a politician. Dennis holds others to the fire. Let’s see who else roles down the runway for 2008.