We're waiting longer than I'd expected. I had read the site to say that it was an 11:00 event but it's past 11:30 now and people are still piling in. The good thing is that by showing up early I've managed to get in the first few rows. They have music playing... Jack Johnson, newer U2, a little top 40 stuff, a lot of upbeat stuff that I've got on my iPod. So certainly targeting certain demographics - but varied just enough to make it obvious that they're being inclusive. It's a little bit older crowd than I'd expected, especially for an event on campus. That might have to do with the way it's been publicized. Seems like it's all been set up pretty last minute, so I guess publicity has been channeled through more traditional Nebraska Democrat channels.
The main level of the Lied is pretty much full now. They've brought a number of people on stage (possibly volunteers or members if Lincoln for Obama), and I saw other folks like Ben Nelson hanging around the stage before many of the audience had arrived. It's 11:45 now and it looks like they're getting ready. It doesn't look like they're going to open up the upper balcony so it looks like we're close to capacity.
The regular UNL ASL interpreter is working the event. The host/MC is asking about the caucus and emphasizing the importance of the caucus. She is explaining how to find caucus location (via pushing the Obama website http://nebraska.barakobama.com) and she's talking about the process of choosing a group, convincing others during the caucus, and selecting delegates - also outlining volunteer opportunities for the campaign like phone banking.
Now, Senator Ben Nelson introducing Ms. Obama. He is presenting a rather rural and homey side. About half the group stood for him... the whole group stood when Obama entered. Very strong positive energy in the room.
Ms. Obama is a very personable and engaging speaker. Lots of back-channeling from some in the crowd (the "amen," "allright," "yes, sister" kind of thing if you're not familiar)... pleasantly uncharacteristic of a Lincoln, Nebraska audience. She is spending a lot of time talking about the divided nature of the country currently, and the cynicism. The lack of engagement, and the impact that fear and isolation have on us all. The ideas around the lack of engagement, the divisiveness, and the hopelessness of so many Americans seems to be a strong theme of this campaign and it is very welcome. She's talking about her children and our children, and the values that are being pushed on them by the current culture. When did being mean or stubborn become synonymous with being strong? Something I've asked for a long time.
Offers herself an a positive example of what public schooling can and should be. Nothing miraculous about her childhood beside the love and the work ethic of her parents. People want to know that if they get sick they won't to bankrupt. If their kids go to public schools they'll be ok & have a future. If they retire they'll be able to do so with a little comfort and dignity. Spending a lot of time relating to the audience and demonstrating that she and her husband really understand what it's like to struggle. Mr. Obama grew up with a white single mother in the 1960's, and spent time on food stamps. She also mentioned how she's 44, and finally only a couple years out of having paid off their educations, and trying to save enough to ensure a future for their children. She couldn't be here today if it weren't for her 70-something year old mother who is at home and watching the kids for her.
She's talking a lot about the exact same things that we all complain about every day. Listening to this, I do have strong confidence that they understand what is needed and that they will help us all to work toward fixing things together. This country is suffering from a deficit of empathy and we've lost a sense of ourselves and of compromise and connection. She talks about her experience of traveling and campaigning and meeting with people & how beautiful it's been to see how willing and hungry people really are to fix it.
We're at war, but the only ones who are asked to sacrifice are the soldiers and their families. The vast majority of us are only asked to keep shopping & spending money. When soldiers finally return home, they do so without the resources they need to rebuild their lives, and it's wrong.
These notes here can't possibly do justice to what she's said, but it's clear to me that one of these candidates is not like the others. It's clear to me that one of these candidates has a strong work ethic and understands sacrifice and compromise. It's clear to me that one of these candidates truly understands how to listen to the needs of Americans and the ravages of poverty, because he's lived them himself.
I may be tasting the Kool-aid, but ever since I first listened to Barak Obama speak during the last Democratic National Convention, he's given me a sense of hope that I don't think I've ever felt around a representative (or anything political). To me, "hope" is the operative word... it's what seems to be missing more than anything else. I hope that people can come to rediscover the strength of respect and compromise, and that people can dream about what we can achieve together. I think that because of his background, and because of his youth, his passion, and because of the obvious passion of the people surrounding him, Barak Obama is the right choice.
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