Dear Editor, Thank you for recieving my piece, I’ve pasted it below and expanded it to be almost 800 words. Please let me know if this piece might be published so that I can easily spot it. Feel free to reply with any suggested edits, I always appreciate feedback. Here is my contact info:Wassim Subie1590 Wynkoop St. #618Denver, CO 80202 Phone/Fax: 303-825-7471Email: wassim@seewassim.com Warm Regards, Wassim ========BEGIN========== Divided Denverites: Beware that partisan politics divides us at the local level too.

By Wassim Subie

I was thrilled to take an active role in democracy last Saturday as a precinct delegate at the Denver County Democratic Party assembly. It was my first time to attend such an event and although it seemed somewhat unorganized, the overall process was a valuable experience for me. This was an all day event that required a lot of patience because there was so much to cover while volunteers tried to grasp the process.

With all that I’ve experienced and learned at the assembly last Saturday, I felt that there was something missing, something important…like our fellow Denverites labeled Republicans. I realized that those who attended represented only about half of the political spectrum. The absence of dissent at the assembly not only reminded me of how limited my understanding is, but it raised my interest in the election process at the local, state, and federal levels. An inclusive alliance that encourages open discussions between both, party members and non affiliated members regarding issues that we mutually care about is a crucial necessity in a democratic society.

I am not trying to spark a political debate, rather try to get us to take a critical look at ourselves. Our social situation seems to be very hostile when it comes to politics and sometimes I wonder why. We are so quick to label someone based on a position they take without even attempting to learn about their background, experiences, or values. Why are we so quick to judge a person’s character based on one or two expressed viewpoints?

I don’t believe that it’s a healthy thing to do because we are humans and if there’s anything I learned in life, it’s that we are dynamic and ambiguous creatures. Our stance on issues is as diverse as we are and we should learn to appreciate this diversity, for diversity is what makes us strong. I’ve recently heard this sentiment in a couple of instances, the first on HBO when it aired comedian Chris Rock’s Never Scared standup show. In it, Chris makes the point that we should all listen before we form our opinions on a particular issue. Chris stated that there are some things he’s conservative about and other things he’s liberal about, and that “no normal decent person is one thing!”

Amy Goodman, journalist and host of the national, daily, award-winning independent news program ‘Democracy Now!’ recently visited Denver on her “Exception to the Rulers” book tour. She gave an insightful lecture and stressed that dialogue is vital to a healthy democracy and dissent is what makes this country healthy. With that being said, think about current events and how we as Americans have unquestioningly accepted policies of preemption and unilaterally invading Iraq. Where are the community discussions and debates on these issues? How can we break free of this homogeneous and dangerous cycle of following without questioning?

Let me give you an example of what I did last year when I found a major division among us Denverites regarding the war in Iraq. I should first tell you that I oppose the war because I believe that peace is not a remedy, but a means of living, and as the only remaining superpower, the US should strive to serve as a model in our fragile global village.

Anyhow, when the issue of war reached a critical point, there were demonstrations in cities around the world, including Denver. I attended the anti-war rallies, but to gain a full perspective of the issue, I also attended some pro-war rallies. Even though I disagreed with the fundamental beliefs of pro-war attendees, I believed that it was very important to keep a channel open for clearing any misconceptions that arise on either side. However, until we create a forum and open channels that foster civil communication on issues that affect us as a community, regardless of party affiliation, I am going to have to do my homework by attending Democratic, Republican, and other party events while making new friends across the board.

In closing, I’d like to share some quotes I came across:

“Evolution of democracy is not possible if we are not prepared to hear the other side.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Democracy feeds on argument, on the discussion as to the right way forward. This is the reason why respecting the opinion of others belongs to democracy.” – Richard von Weizsacker

—————————————–Wassim, a well traveled Denver native and graduate of New Mexico Military Institute, received his Bachelor’s degree with Magna Cum Laude honors and Master’s in Information and Learning Technologies from the University of Colorado at Denver. Wassim speaks 2B= languages and has worked in different environments including education, healthcare, and the military. He is currently engaged in political activism, virtual instructional design, and performance consulting. ========END==========