Unfortunately, I dropped the ball on the first two days of blogging. I have saved drafts, but the perfectionist inside me says I shouldn’t publish them now since I rushed to partially complete them. Also, I believe they would pop up above Bobbi’s most recent post and mess everything up.

Today, I was very moved by the elected officials sitting down in one room together and discussing with high schoolers. I think what impressed me the most was the malleability of their political affiliation. Representative Stacey Newman had (if I may so myself) wonderful ideologies on social issues that were forged by experiences in her lifetime. Her story alone was amusing. And, although Newman was democratic, she listened intently to the Republican of the room, Alderman Linda Rallo. Rallo also seemed to amaze me.  Although she was a self-proclaimed ‘fiscal’ conservative, she was pro-choice, and a moderate republican. Rarity and individuality in a career such as hers is career suicide. I find it very admirable that she sticks to her guns on issues that she is passionate about. The other individuals in the room were also moderate and pliable.

That is what blew my mind. The moderate and rational tone was remarkable. Different people with different political parties had a calm conversation. Perhaps this cooperation can be indebted to the shared campaigning experiences (the main topic of discussion), or by the lack of media attention given to small events like a high school program. Regardless, their behavior impressively contrasted the morally undeveloped attitudes at the board of elections. The black and white opinion smearing of politics seemed to be non-existent today. I enjoyed that.