Democratic Caucus of Nebraska

February 9, 2008 | Filed Under Community, Daily Life 

Heather and I voted today! And my-oh-my was it an experience! Although it felt a little like a high school pep rally, overall it was a positive and exciting event. Out of approximately 1,500 people, 1,100 were for Barack Obama, 350 were for Hillary Clinton and 35 were undecided. When it was time to “realign,” all but one (and several Clinton supporters) pledged for Obama. In the pictures above, you can see a former Clinton supporter peel off his sticker in exchange for an Obama one as he is welcomed with cheers and applause.

On a personal note, I like Obama because he talks about issues in a way that encourages dialogue and discussion as opposed to the traditional way of polarizing debate. Debate stops the conversation in the middle and eliminates the possibility for genuine understanding because the goal is to prove you’re right and the other guy is wrong. Such positioning stops us from truly listening to one another and keeps us in a gridlock of distrust. Dialogue, on the other hand, can actually unify us despite passionate disagreements, and it allows the freedom for discovery, renewed perspective, learning, growth, and dare I say - hope.

And I think hope is what the future needs most.

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