| Since I am an advocate for diversity and equality | | | | for McCain. If McCain is the candidate who represents |
| everywhere, the USA presidential election had huge | | | | his important issues, then he would be foolish to vote |
| implications for our country and the rest of the world. I | | | | for anyone else. I respect his right to cast his ballot. I |
| love this country today. Today, the United States has | | | | want him to vote. And, I want to listen to his concerns |
| a different energy. People are energized. There is | | | | and attempt to understand where he is coming from in |
| hope in the air. | | | | his thinking. |
| The hope is for a healing, a unity to develop in this | | | | I know he is intelligent. I know he is passionate about |
| country that hasn't existed up until this point. | | | | the issues. And I love him. I want to see things from his |
| President-elect Obama didn't get voted into office | | | | point of view. As a person advocating diversity |
| solely by the black vote in this country. It took many | | | | appreciation, this is what's needed. In the workforce, |
| Whites, Latinos and others to cast enough of the | | | | we need to listen to those who are different from us |
| popular vote to influence the electoral vote. And it was | | | | and attempt to see things from where they come |
| that working together for the common good that | | | | from, recognizing they have had different life |
| caused this historic day to occur. | | | | experiences, exposure to different things and different |
| Obama is right when he says he didn't do it alone. It | | | | cultural values. |
| took all of us, collectively, to get a man in office whose | | | | While I don't think it's possible to totally understand |
| platform is unity and equality and basic human rights | | | | where another is coming from because you aren't him |
| for all. Today I am proud of the American people. | | | | or her, you can do your best to understand things from |
| I come from a largely Republican family and | | | | his or her point of view. This doesn't mean you have |
| Republican part of the country. That influence on my | | | | to agree. You can still understand why he or she is of |
| development cannot be ignored. I can see value to the | | | | the opinion he or she has and maintain your own |
| Republican platform. However, when it comes to the | | | | position. |
| issues that have special importance and significance to | | | | It doesn't mean one of you is right and one is wrong. It |
| me, this year it was Obama who addressed my | | | | simply means you see the situation differently. That is |
| concerns. | | | | the beauty of this country. Everyone has a voice. |
| My brother, a very conservative Republican, called me | | | | Everyone has the right to their opinion. Every citizen |
| Tuesday, encouraging me to stay home and not vote. | | | | over the age of 21 has the right to cast their vote for |
| He knew I planned to vote for Obama, just as I knew | | | | the candidate of his or her choice. |
| he cast he ballot for McCain. When he knew he | | | | The voice of the American people in 2008 has been |
| couldn't talk me out of voting, he attempted to | | | | heard. I hope we can unite in this choice and help |
| convince me that my liberal way of thinking was | | | | move our nation and its people forward. I hope that |
| wrong. I needed to "wake up" and see things from the | | | | we can put petty differences aside and work together |
| "right" position. | | | | for the greater good. This is my sincere hope for our |
| This is what I am talking about when I talk about issues | | | | country, our companies and our communities. Are you |
| of diversity. I wholly support my brother's right to vote | | | | willing to do your part? |