Hi, my name is ryan and i am a 28 year old University of Michigan employee. I have a BS degree in journalism from Eastern Michigan University which is located in nearby Ypsilanti, MI.

I am a staunch moderate, which means my political base is a amalgation of traditional and progressive viewpoints. I am a meateater, who is against hunting, A patriotic american, who detests mindless jingoism, a pro choice person who detests abortion. I don't hate George Bush, but nor do I support the war in Iraq or his views on the environment, abortion, gay marriage, and a plethora of other subjects. I believe that ideologues are the biggest threat to the world--religious, secular, left, right, what have you. Extremism can, has, and always will be fuel for violent conflict. Hence, my utter contempt for ideologues of all stripes.

I am a proud american, who really hates the american bashing which goes on. Sure, we have done alot of stupid and immoral things, but so has every "civilized" nation.

I am not a person who believes in American Exceptionalism. My belief is that while we are a powerful nation that has done many great things, we are still the equal of the least powerful country in the world. I do not believe in supremacy in any fashion. I believe that we are all equal.

My heroes are Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and my father and grandfather. My family becomes before everything else. I ama partisan when it comes to my family, so I suppose my handle isn't accurate in that regard.