My Morning with the Vice President

My ticket to see Vice President Joe Biden

Yesterday afternoon, I saw a message on my class's Facebook group saying that free tickets to Vice President Joe Biden's talk on campus would be available in an office below the library.  I knew Biden was coming to my school, but the locations to pick up tickets were on Main Campus or at an Obama campaign office - neither of which I wanted to take the time to go to.  For some reason, I also thought that I had a mandatory class today (I don't normally go to class - I spend my days studying in the library) so I wrote it off and forgot about it.  When I got this message, I double-checked my calendar - no mandatory class!  And tickets were available one floor below where I was sitting...so I decided why not?

I started out this morning by getting my study material set up in the library.  After reading through some  material on histamines, it was 8:35am and I needed to head to the front of the Health Education Building to catch a ride to Main Campus (my school is located on the Health Science Campus).  I didn't know of anyone else who was going, but was relieved to see some friendly faces waiting in the lobby.  It was a good, small group so I didn't feel overwhelmed.  In fact, I really appreciated making some new friends!

Me, Ansha, & Tarshree
Stolen from Ansha

The bus was supposed to pick us up at 8:45am (doors opened at 9am, Biden was supposed to be on at 11am), but it didn't arrive until almost 9:30am.  Very disappointing, especially when considering we are medical students who didn't actually have time to be attending this event in the first place [and we didn't bring study materials with us because we knew we couldn't bring stuff into the venue].  While waiting, we also realized that Biden was most likely saying at the Hilton on our campus.  While waiting for the bus I kept thinking "wouldn't it be cool if Biden just gave us a ride?"  Yeah, that would never happen, but a girl can dream!  Oh, and just so you don't think we're being egotistical in thinking that Biden was staying at our school - there were tons of police, security agents, blocked off areas of the parking lot, etc. and no one else who is that important was in Toledo today.

We finally were on our way and when we arrived on Main Campus, we found the area surrounding the Student Union was blocked off which meant that we had to walk around some buildings.  None of us really knew where we were going (med students don't often venture Main Campus), but we made it.  We then had to stand in line to get in, but then they said that anyone with a yellow ticket could bypass the line.  Whaaa?  Three people in our group of 8 had yellow tickets.  Not fair.  Especially since yesterday, when I went to get my ticket, there were two piles of tickets and the lady decided to give me a blue ticket.  Why did she do that?!  Oh well, it ended up working out ok.  We made it inside the auditorium (which is really just a big room...no seats) and Ansha got us through the crowd to some pretty good spots.  Of course, there was the typical tall person that doesn't really need to be up front, but luckily Biden is pretty tall.  I also spotted Dr. Ali several people in front of us (I don't know why I thought that was cool).

There were some young speakers (students and campaign people) who spoke first, followed by Marcy Kaptur, our Congresswoman [who I actually had the opportunity to meet two years ago at an AMA event on campus].  Then there was a 45 minute gap between her inspiring speech and the Vice President.  It got very warm and my lower back had already started to ache (I don't know how I'm going to get through clinicals next year).

Marcy Kaptur

Finally, Joe Biden came out with his daughter, Ashley.  She gave a really nice intro speech and then he took the spotlight.  For me, it didn't matter who I was voting for - that's not why I wanted to see him speak.  He is the Vice President of the United States and I really appreciate that I had the opportunity to hear him today.  His speech made me laugh and cry.  It spoke to me - an Ohioan.  I feel like I have never identified with this state until recently.  I know he was saying stuff he was supposed to say, and I know that he was purposefully catering to his audience, but he did a really good job of doing so.  Plus, he's very animated and it seems like he genuinely cares.  Yes, I know, he's a politician; he's also a human being, and I felt like I saw more of that today than I did during his debate.  I liked being able to see the Vice President of the United States.  It's something that doesn't matter, it didn't change my life, but I appreciate that I saw someone who helps run our country in person.  It made Washington not seem so far away.  Anyway, here's some pics from the event:

Ashley Biden

Marcy Kaptur & Joe Biden
He pulled her back up on stage.

Vice President Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden at the University of Toledo

After his speech, he came around and shook hands/took pictures with people in the front.  Ansha, Tarshree, and I tried to make our way to get a hand shake of some sort but it was tough.  We got boxed out multiple times, but somehow I found myself shifting sideways and forwards as he made his way along the line.  At some point I saw that they were no longer beside me so I thought "why not?" (for the second time in 24 hours) and joined in with all the excited people around me to try to get a hand shake. He was so close to me!  If I had been one person ahead of where I was, I probably would have had a solid chance.  As his hand came toward mine, I got very excited (imagine there are 3-5 people between us...I have no idea how everyone squishes at just the right moment to get hands in the back to meet his), but this tall guy next to me reached over everyone and Biden's hand met his.  Don't you worry, my pinky touched the back of his hand.  Hollaaa!  haha, I didn't really care either way.  I just think it's cool to say that I touched the Vice President.  Can you say that?  Exactly.  And now I have a story to tell my children some day.  And then they can tell me I was crazy for wasting my time with something so trivial.  And I can agree with them 100%.

A few minutes before I moseyed closer to the front.

All in all, it was a great morning and I don't regret the 4 hours of lost study time.  Ansha, Tarshree, and I grabbed some Starbucks before heading back to the bus (um, why does Main Campus have a Starbucks and we don't?  I'd trade the coffee shop in the hospital for a Starbucks in an instant).

One thing Biden said that really struck me is this quote.  I emailed it to myself right after he said it, but please take it only as a paraphrase since I'm bound to have screwed it up in the time it took me to unlock my phone, open Gmail, hit 'compose' and start typing.

"America is in a better position than anyone in the world to lead the world into the 21st century." -Joe Biden; October 23, 2012 at the University of Toledo

Why did it strike me?  Because `Abdu'l-Bahá has said many times that America's destiny is to lead the world in establishing the oneness of humanity.  He has said that America has advanced materially, but that we need to match our material success with that of spiritual advancement.  Just some food for thought, but I thought it was pretty cool that our government acknowledges that we are global leaders.  I mean, obviously they would because we are the USA, but I try to see things in a nicer light. ;)