A Night to Unite

I went to a few Night to Unite gatherings earlier this week and had some good conversations with neighbors here in Ramsey and Andover. But it's the conversation I didn't get to have that's stuck with me since.

Night to Unite is supposed to bring people together. A chance to sit with folks who might see things differently than you do, and just talk. I went to one party, told people who I was, handed out some literature, and started asking neighbors what's on their minds. City issues. County issues. State issues.

That's really the whole job for me. I want to hear what people are worried about, what they need. I'll be honest, the talking part isn't really what I'm there for. It's the listening.

There was one couple that evening. They took a piece of literature, read it, and walked away without a word. Maybe they saw "DFL" and figured there wasn't much point. Fair enough. That's their call to make. But if they're reading this: I'd still like to hear what's on your mind sometime. No pitch, no pressure. Just two neighbors talking, with room for both of us to be wrong about something and figure it out.

I don't need people to agree with me. Honestly, I'd rather they didn't, all the time. Those conversations are how I learn where I've got it wrong, or where my thinking needs to catch up with the people I want to represent. And maybe they show the other person that what I believe isn't as far from what they believe as it looks from the outside.

So if I can ask one thing of anyone reading this: stay in the conversation. Even the uncomfortable ones. Especially those. Most of what divides us comes down to not talking to each other. I'd rather be part of fixing that than part of the problem.

Let’s talk.

Brian Walker