So the Democratic presidential debate is scheduled to be at UT today. I have to say, it’s one of the first times that I wish I could be at a debate. I learned of the debate being hosted at UT just the other day when talking with a friend. I have to be honest, I haven’t been keeping up with everything going on as much I would like to. Here is the article that was posted on KVUE about the event.

The University of Texas announced on its website Wednesday that the Democratic presidential candidate debate between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will take place at the Recreational Sports Center, but officials told KVUE News the event would be by invitation only.

The debate is scheduled for Thursday February 21 from 7-8:30 p.m. The Recreational Sports Center is located between the School of Social Work and Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletics Center.

UT officials say admission for students and the public will be by invitation only because of security restrictions.

Clinton and Obama are each wooing Texas voters ahead of the March 4 primary.

The University Democrats are hosting the event, presented by the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the LBJ Library, CNN and Univision.

My friend Dan and I have been friends for almost 10 years and through those years I have met many of his family members along the way. His cousin Christy and her husband Brandon were in town visiting family and enjoying Texas again after recently returning from Iraq. Christy and Brandon have both completed their time with the Army and are moving to Australia in a few months for work.

While at Dan’s, I had the opportunity to speak with Brandon extensively about his time in Iraq and what it was like to be an officer in the Army and have the control and decision making responsibilities that could potentially save or cost the lives of many of the men and women under him. Brandon worked as a pilot while serving in the Army and some of the stories that he shared were amazing, all of them interesting and intriguing, and some of them flat out unbelievable. Story after story, Brandon shared about his time in Iraq, he shared about what made him upset, what gave him the will and determination to go on and what scared the living hell out of him to do things differently because he was given the chance.

Brandon made a difference in me the other night. I haven’t stoped thinking about our conversation around that small table outside on the porch. It was the first time that I have sat down with someone that has served in Iraq. It was the first time to hear the stories of the men and women that serve there that haven’t been censored or simply not story worthy for any news affiliates here in the US. Between conversations and countless questions I had for Brandon, I saw a man that didn’t regret being overseas. I saw a man that was changed forever and experienced things I will never in my life begin to know about or understand. But one thing I do know is that I am so much more thankful for the men and women that serve our country than I ever have been in my entire life.

I believe it’s our right and our duty to vote. If you haven’t voted yet, you should. But, I have to admit, the clutter and mirage of posters and yard signs is little sicking when you get anywhere close to a voting location. Is it simply a reminder to vote, to vote here, or is it just a little bit over the top?