Eugene: You Were Amazing
When you live to the right of center Eugene is not always the easiest place to be. We as a community tend to think we’re more open than we really are especially if we are the majority.
We tend to tolerate people’s different perspectives politically unless of course you are a Republican. (Very Large Smile)
But yesterday, walking in the Eugene Celebration with the Look Me In The Eye Float Eugene amazed me.
Look Me In The Eye is a campaign to draw awareness to the importance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We had dozens of our clients show up to walk in the parade. Also joining us were many of our staff, the people who work with our clients.
As we walked the streets of Eugene, you the audience, clapped, cheered and made our clients feel their importance to this community. My wife was pushing her brother in his wheelchair and had tears in her eyes several times during the parade.
Our staff also had tears streaming down their faces as they realized what they do really is appreciated and matters to the community.
Eugene, you made our day. You are so good at letting our clients just be who they are and it is so appreciated.
As I walked through the parade I thought to myself “what if we could do this with everyone?” “What if we could truly erase the dark imaginary lines that we draw to separate us from each other?”
After what I saw yesterday I think it’s possible. We are the only obstacles to real tolerance
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One note of clarification, people were very good to me during the last campaign (most). People voted for me even though I was a Republican and they were not. But I still see comments about my party affiliation from folks who don’t even know me. They make assumptions that I have to laugh over. I guess the point of my comments is I wish we could all take the time to assume the best rather than go to the lowest point first. What I saw yesterday at the parade was amazing, heartwarming and actually gave me a little bit of hope.