Yes, it is time for my first ever political book review. The book in question is Schlepper! by Iris Burnett. My first thing to say is: This is an AMAZING BOOK!!! You have to read it. This is a fictional book that is based on the author’s own experience with little twists and turns. It is about a Jewish woman named Saide who has a huge family that is with her every step of the way. She leaves her failing marriage to join the rollercoaster political campaign for a new president and then comes the fun. With absolutely no experience whatsoever, Sadie rises from the position of lowest schlepper to a VERY high ranking official. This book is hilarious and not only that but gives a new impression about what really goes into a presidental campaign. I had no idea actually, how much work did go into it. Let me tell you… it is enormous. With funny phrases, interesting facts and great characters, Iris Burnett has not only carved herself a place in politics but a place in literature. It made me want to go into politics because it seemed fun and rewarding, although if you are someone involved in politics and are reading this, you are probably laughing at how wrong I am. Perhaps. Bottom line… GET THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iris Burnett also has another recently published book out… It is called ” So You Think You Can Be President”. As you can tell from the title, it is a question and answer book that should help you decide if you, in fact, could be president.
Did you know that by humans continuing to eat beef, we contribute so much more to the current state of the environment? This is because when the cows that are raised for beef fart, they emit almost as much carbon dioxide as a CAR!! That is pretty hilarious but also shocking when you think about it. Beef, which so many people love (although I could live without it) contributes a ton to how horrible the environment is right now. I think that is pretty weird. Just by cutting down on beef consumption, we could help protect our environment. I think it is a crazy funny fact.
Did you know that Brazil is the only country where they don’t have to import oil? Years ago, when there was a gas scare, their government planted ACRES AND ACRES AND ACRES of sugarcane. They then figured out how to make oil from the sugarcane and used in daily life, like at gas stations. Now all their gas stations have the sugarcane oil and gas. Chrysler makes cars where it can switch from this sugarcane oil to the gas. This was a very smart way of Brazil to solve their gas problem, and I think that it would be well for the rest of the world to follow suit, especially America, who is one of the largest villan in destroying the environment. And it seems dumb that we haven’t tried to find other ways to create energy/gas/oil (the three biggest argument starting words in politics, besides the war). I wish that I could make people do something about it, people that run our country now, or will in the near future.
I have one more INTERESTING fact… Did you know that China has begun expanding into Africa and taking over some places to use the natural resources that Africa contains? No one else has used their natural resources yet, and they are positively overflowing with them. They have numerous forests, tons of minerals and much more. And the Africans say that the Chinese treat them as equals, unlike the Westerners who still treat them like slaves. I find this very intriguing… What does that say about our world today? And is China going to dominate the economic world soon? If that’s true, I probably should have listened to my mother and taken Chinese in high school.
As you probably know, I was recently in Washington DC on a school trip. The only important people that we saw were Ted Kennedy and Lance Armstrong. Mr. Kennedy was just getting out of his dark blue minivan with an assistant, when we saw him, but we did not say hello because we were farther down the street. In reference to the question I asked in my title, I have no idea. Because the experience we had with Lance Armstrong at the Capitol building made him seem exceedingly rude.
Here is what happened: My group of four boys, four girls and a chaperone had just come through security when a police man told us to wait because Lance Armstrong was about to come through the door as he had an appointment somewhere in the building. And so, all of us being somewhat dazzled by Armstrong’s success as a biker, we waited. Finally Lance Armstrong came through the door and passed through security when the police man told him to wait and say hello to this eighth grade class. Now all of us had our cameras out, ready to snap photos and brag to our friends of who we had met. But then Lance Armstrong turned around, stared at us coldly and barked out a hello. And the best part was, he turned around and left without waiting for a response. If you don’t think that is rude, please say something, because I think that it is rude, especially to a bunch of kids. He probably didn’t care at all, but I hope that all slightly famous people aren’t incredibly rude like that. Hopefully not people who run our country (even though Mr. Armstrong doesn’t).
First of all I would like to apologize for not blogging lately… I was on an amazing trip to Washington DC with my school. We saw many things, but one that I remember the most was the tour we had of the Capitol. It was fabulous in all aspects imaginable. The architecture was lovely and with the unfinished murals upon the walls for the future of America, it was fun to imagine what might actually fill them. I was actually very lucky because a chaperone of mine chose a group of four boys (all of whom were very politically with it) and my room, a group of four girls for a Q and A with the other Illinois senator, Dick Durbin. It was quite interesting and informative, with questions about gas prices, humble thanks for support from this senator and an offering by a UK organization for a visit to England to observe their healthcare system once our president was chosen. I actually couldn’t figure out if that was a snub or an actual offering of kindness. After that my tiny group got a private tour from two of Barack Obama’s aides. We even got to go underground from one building to the next. I think that the most wondrous thing about the Capitol is the atmosphere. It is charged with importance and even the most lowly of assistants have an air of importance as they walk, no march, around in suits as if they always have somewhere to go. You never know who you might see striding from place to place. The Capitol seems quite imposing, but once inside, you can tell it is just a HUGE office building where some of the highest officials happen to work. Everyone is trying to get something done. I would absolutely love to be there when something important is happening, or just on a regular day. It would be a lifetime opportunity to work there. I hope I can return there to see the Inauguration of the 44th president in January.