By Matthew Kent
For the Daily Journal
Columbus
Twins are often a mirror image of each other — in how they look and how they think.
Unlike identical twins, it’s easier to tell the difference between fraternal twins such as Julia and Rachel Deak, Columbus North sophomores.
The Deak sisters’ differences don’t end with physical appearance, however.
One twin sister went to Washington, D.C., this week with the 149-member Sound of North marching band. The other, also a member of the band, stayed home.
Julia Deak has been in Columbus this week, attending classes as usual, although keeping in touch with twin sister Rachel Deak, a member of the North band that marched in Friday’s inaugural parade.
The band had been invited to participate at the urging of Mike Pence, the former Indiana governor and 1977 North High School graduate who became the nation’s 48th vice president Friday.
Julia said she has differences with Pence, although declining to describe her personal or political opinions about him.
“Not going is the right thing for me,” Julia said during a telephone interview Thursday afternoon. “Marching in the parade, to me, is like taking pride in his leadership.”
Pence, a Republican who served 12 years in Congress and four years as governor, has consistently supported a conservative political platform during his 16 years of government service — including matters that became controversial statewide and nationally.
So when the North band received its invitation to perform in the inaugural parade, Julia said she weighed her own decision carefully.
“I was considering going. But then I really started to think about why I would want to go and why I wouldn’t want to go,” she said.
Besides the unspecified political differences she felt she had with Pence, personal safety also came into play in deciding not to make the trip, Julia said.
“The inaugural parade is a really big event and lots of things could happen,” Julia said.
Julia said she discussed her decision at length with members of her family.
Rachel, who said she supports her sister’s decision and did not try to convince Julia otherwise, felt the opportunity to go on the trip was something she did not want to personally miss, however.
“To be part of it is really big, and it’s not like we’re just doing it for the parade. We’re doing a lot of sightseeing, too,” Rachel also said Thursday in a phone interview. “It’s really fun, and I’m glad I came.”
With all but 12 of the 161 North band members making the Washington trip, some of them having schedule conflicts, Julia said her stand was a minority opinion among her peers, but one that was not difficult for her to make, and one in which she has no regrets.
“I’m actually pretty confident that I made the right decision,” Julia said.
Rachel said she doesn’t agree with all of Pence’s policies, either.
“It’s a little weird because we’re always together, but I think she made her choice, and I made mine, and it’s OK,” Rachel said.
