Ordinary citizens – connection through a common belief

I visited a new dentist yesterday (thank goodness for health care) and an interesting moment developed.  No, it didn’t have to do with teeth, flossing or cavities, it had to do with Senator Barack Obama and the belief of change in America…

My dental hygienist who was cleaning my teeth mentioned that she was flossing and watching the debate.  (This was her wonderful way of saying you don’t just have to floss your teeth when you brush your teeth, do it when you’re watching TV, it’s not such an inconvenience then!)  Well, that started us down the road of discussing politics.

Now, let me give you some background about this lady.  She’s around 50 years old, she has a daughter in college, and she and her husband are working hard to pay the tuition of their daughter.  She has never been involved in politics, but Senator Barack Obama inspires her and makes her believe that change will occur. 

Well, as we discussed the caucus, we both shared the same story.  It was both of our first caucus, both of us are excited and motivated by this year’s election, and both have a deep and dedicated belief in the change that can happen in America with Barack Obama as our President. 

As she said, “I can just feel it, I can feel the change in my heart.  It’s just so exciting to see all these young people motivated.”

Yes, it is exciting to see young people motivated and being involved in their local government, but it’s not just young people that Senator Barack Obama motivates, it’s all generations of people that have felt like something has to change.  We finally have a voice that can win not only the presidential Democratic nomination, but can actually become the President of the United States. 

For such a long time this lady didn’t involve herself in politics, and finally someone has come along and given her a voice, given her belief and hope for our future as a nation — and yes, I agree.  A 27 year old male and a woman in her 50s could see eye to eye – could see that our nation does have hope to become compassionate, caring and fair for all of its citizens.  And as I got up to leave she smiled at me and said, “Ryan, it seems like we have known each other for such a long time.”  Yes, yes it does.  When people believe in the common good for others, and believe that the future can be bright and prosperous for all people, then they can unite around a common goal and can establish a trust and belief in one another that cannot be broken and can make each other believe that ‘I have known you for a long time.”