Sleep deprivation would be one thing, if I had not exacerbated the problem by deciding to do the dog on the native beers in the one pub we could find after wandering the streets around out hotel for a good 5 minutes. We saw bakeries that look like pubs, restaurants that look like pubs and bizarrely a church that looked oddly, from the distance like a pub. We had started to believe that the prohibition had been introduced before we finally we did the unmasculine thing and asked a passing stranger who directed us to an appropriate venue. We engaged in all ways with native culture by watching the ball game, and swigging beer. The latter was the more enjoyable for me I must admit.
In any case, here I am - in dread of what I will feel tomorrow morning when I get up (in 6 hours) for our first of 3 briefings from Boston College about American politics. I must have read the Declaration of Independence (which I've never seen much of before) and the U.S. Constitution (which thankfully I had read before I came out) to prepare for the meetings. The first is from
Professor Marc Landy, Assistant Chairperson of Boston College Political Science Department and Faculty Chair of the Irish Institute who will talk about the complexities of American government at its various levels (it is for this we have had to read the Declaration and Constitution - I've decided to plead the fifth if I'm asked any questions!) . After that we meet with Tom Keady who is Vice President of Governmental and community affairs at Boston College who will speak on Presidential politics and the forthcoming Presidential election. This will be fascinating for me as I want to explore not only the personalities of this contest but also the structures - including the increased use of the internet by some campaigns. Lastly, and perhaps most interestingly is the seminar on Religion in American public life by Alan Woulfe - founding director f the Boisi centre for Religion and public life. I've just listened to an article in the recorded version of the Economist about this very subject, and about how the lone democrat in the White House in 2001 - John DiIulio, as White House Director of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives which handled funding religious institutions to provide certain benefits may be the most cost-efficient way of reducing poverty, and that Democrats and Republicans are coming around to this point of view.
All went well generally today, until the last 2 hours of drinking, flights went fairly predictably - not especially tired but am sure I will be in the morning. Went to a lovely Italian restaurant to get to know the other participants and our hosts a little better. It was very enjoyable, too much perhaps - which is why I will suffer so tomorrow.
Just found out today that we will be visiting the Republican and Democratic Headquarters while we are in Washingon DC. We will also get a chance to meet with the Director of External affairs for the Young Republican national federation.
Lastly, a quote from a book I have just finished and to which I shall be returning later in this blog:
"A little rebellion is a good thing" - Thomas Jefferson, quoted from Joe Trippi (campaign manager for Howard Dead) in 'The revolution will not be televised'.
"God forbid that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion...what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time that people preserve the spirit of resistance".
In other words, from the father of American democracy himself - STIR IT UP!!
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