It is hard right now in Iowa. We have had tornados and floods that have destroyed lives and homes. But during this tough time, Obama is present in a wonderful way. I live in a town right along the Mississippi.Everyone has heard about Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines because those are very large areas and it is hard to imagine such destruction. But tell that to the small communities along the river's edge, and some times not so edge when levees break. These lives also saw destruction. But believe it or not Obama was there.....
Obama was there not in person but his presence was felt. I was a Red Cross Volunteer for a shelter on Saturday night. We housed families and some National Guardsmen that were there to help the communities, as well as keep families from going back to their homes until it is safe. I had the night shift which after 10:00 was pretty quiet. One of the volunteers, I could tell from earlier conversation had somewhat a chip on his shoulders. I mentioned that I should not have been able to volunteer because I was suppose to be in Des Moines at the Democratic Convention as an Obama Delegate. He perked up right away. He made sure he told me that he was an Independent and he had not made up his mind because he didn't like any of the choices. He was especially hard on Obama in his comments.
I remembered how I read that Obama listens and sometimes keeps listening, letting the speaker really get a chance to say what they feel they need to say. Alot of times, that is all they want, to be heard. So I listened and kept a calm face (good that I am an actress in community theatre) as he used different "ideas" to explain why he does not believe in him.
Finally, he just looked at me, almost in disbelief that I had not interupted him ten times or anything, and said, what makes him so special to you? I smiled and said I can tell you a true story about Obama, and how I met him. I told him how I had went to all the candidates when they came to town and was able to wiggle my way up to them and hand them my business card. You see, I work for HUD. I help families get housing and keep housing. I am the long term fix for them, not the short term such as Red Cross. I said I would love to talk to you or someone from your staff more about housing issues. Clinton just smiled and went on. Edwards said, "thank you for doing what you do." That sounded rehearsed and not like he really meant it? He could have, just didn't come across that way. (I actually liked Edwards in the last election).
But when I went up to Obama, he actually stopped and asked me a couple of questions,then gave my card to someone else. That person asked me a couple of questions and I just figured that was it. I was impressed because he stopped, and he listened. That was important to me. A couple of weeks later someone from the campaign called my office, and asked me some more questions. I got off the phone thinking that was nice and he now has me curious about him and his issues. Another week went by and I receive another phone call from someone higher up in the staff, who asked if I would like to volunteer to be on a Housing Policy Group. This would be with some wonderful folks throughout the US that have diverse backgrounds in all the housing issues. It meant of course I had to sign privacy papers etc but heck, I work for HUD, I KNOW privacy. I was SOLD.
Obama could have went to HUD and asked for his answers but he knew that through the grass roots efforts he would be able to put together the right type of expertise to help him with the issues. WOW, he wanted me on his team in a policy capacity. The volunteer just starred at me for the longest time. He finally said that if that was really true then he needs to take a closer look at Obama. He thought he was all talk. I told him with a wide grin that it was 100% true and that I am living proof that he does listen. We were interupted for awhile, and later I brought out the book "Audacity of Hope" and started to read. Later, I took time to take a couple of quotes out of the book and read to him. But then I said that i was not doing the quotes justice....why don't you read a little bit of this. He was reading and reading and it was fun to see that he would stop and read aloud something. Then talk about it. I mostly listened, because that is what he needed. I let Obama's words do the rest.
Then when my shift was over, I was talking to a young National Guardsman, when the volunteer was leaving. He stopped me and thanked me for talking to him so honest. I told him to go to the Obama's website. He shook my hand, and I could tell he would be doing his own exploring. I mentioned to the Guardsman about Obama. Welllll, that started another conversation about war etc - he had been to Iraq. I got a mouthfule. Again, I mostly listened. He opened up about it all and some personal family things, because I listened and they were on his mind. I told him the same Obama story. He listened. By the time, I left he indicated that he too would be looking into what Obama had to offer.
Thank you Obama, for teaching me how to listen with calmness and assurance. We may not have much corn this year but Obama seeds were sown during a time of turmoil and I could see that change does matter in Iowa.
Thank you Obama.