My second diary and a super long entry (sorry) but I wanted to share-
It isn't about the election -
Obama’s message, his view of the world, the change we need. I get it!
Today it happened-
I work in a large downtown office building in Texas. I went downstairs to the smoking area for my mid morning smoke (I really need to quit). A man I exchange pleasantries with but don’t actually know was there when I arrived. I sat down across from him and instead of the usual, we began the following conversation:
Him: I am so glad that election is over.
Me: Yeah I am so super happy.
Him: Me too. I couldn’t take it much longer. I’m surprised by how much he won by. It was a lot more than I imagined.
Me: Yeah it was amazing – Barack is exactly what this country needs!
Him: Well I guess he’s my President and I’ll support him, but I voted for McCain. I really liked Sarah Palin...she’s not a Washington insider ...she’s a maverick.
(At this point I seriously wanted to throw-up, yell, scream, and grab him by the ears and shake the shit out of him – But I DIDN’T) instead
Me: I think it is very cool that even though you are such a strong supporter of McCain you are willing to accept the results of the election.
Him: Well I’ll support my President – at least until he does something to make me change my mind.
I smiled
Him: But I really have a problem with Obama’s redistribution. I support a flat tax. I really don’t like that he is a re-distributor.
(Ugh)
Me: His tax policy will help families with incomes under $200,000 and families between $201,000 and $250,000 will pay what they are paying now. If you make more than that well, you won’t pay anymore that what you did under Clinton.
Him: That’s my problem. You went to school what like 6-7 years, have a great job. Me, I’m a high school drop out, a slacker. How come I get some of what you’ve worked so hard for?
Me: (???huh???) You do realize that people, in fact, many people, who are going to pay more (in a number of cases A LOT MORE) under Barack’s tax plan – support him. Do you know why? Let me explain it this way. My grandmother was loaded – LOADED! She was a life long democrat,because she understood a few things – it is a privilege and an honor to live in this country and nothing is free. If I have a bunch of money and I pay more taxes than you do, does it hurt me, no. Here’s why. You have less taken out of your check, you spend your extra money – shopping. My stock in that company goes up and I’m still happy. Because at the end of the day, the money you spend in that store makes me more money than what is taken out in taxes.
(He was still confused and after reading just now what I said I can understand why)
– so I went with this: Let’s say you buy a Rolls Royce and your neighbor buys a Ford, who is going to pay more taxes? Who should? Can you imagine if the taxes were the same? Do you really think they would lower the taxes on the Rolls or would they raise the rate for the Ford?
(Tax policy is not my forte)
Him: Well I really don’t like this Rev Wright thing. It’s scary. William Ayers I don’t care about. You and I could be on a school board together and I don’t know you, so I don’t care about that. But he sat in the church and listened for over 20 years
Me: Look, I understand why you are scared, but hey, I am from Houston and spent a great deal of my life living in downtown Houston. I know people like Rev. Wright. You haven’t walked in their shoes, nor have I, but I understand. Its how the world has treated them. But it’s not up to us to judge a person whose life we haven’t lived. What needs to be done is – to bring change so that they don’t have to (or feel like they) live in that world anymore.
I honestly saw a light bulb go on above his head
Him: Well he’s pro-abortion and you know everyone who is pro-abortion uses abortion as birth control and thinks its ok
Me: No, I have never met anyone who is pro-choice who believes abortion should be used as birth control. Wait, you are a Republican right?
Him: No, I’m an Independent but I voted Republican and I lean to the Right
(duh)
Me: Ok then explain something to me that I can’t understand. Republicans say they believe in smaller government right? Then why are they on this side of the abortion issue? It seems to me that a true Republican would be pro-choice. Why would Republicans want the government to have a role in determining this issue? Shouldn’t it be up to each individual woman to decide for herself?
Him: Well I wouldn’t want someone telling my wife what to do if she was raped.
(Um ok, what just happened?)
Me: You know what – I want to thank you.
Him: ?
Me: You have listened to me and kept an open mind. I appreciate you giving me the right to express my opinion and for you to actually listen to it.
Him: Well I think we can at least listen to each other.
Me: Yeah and guess what – you lean to the Right and I’m pretty much Left but we can actually meet somewhere in the middle. You have nothing to worry about with President Obama. That’s what we all get (his supporters) – we can meet in the middle and if we listen to each other – we can change this world.
Him: Thanks. I think if what you said is true, he might be a good President.
Me: Well if ya want to check him out or see what he’s up to – don’t get your news from TV. Go to www.change.gov and see for yourself.
He wrote it down and we said good-bye.
I decided to write this long diary for one reason.
During the 15 minutes or so we were talking a few women came out and instead of talking with this man, they rolled their eyes, made ugly faces and walked away.
That’s not going to change the world, that’s not going to heal our divide. That’s just more of the same.
Even though the election is over – we have just started. I get it!