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Wheels turn

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By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Sep 24, 2007 - 11:50:49 am CDT

Alex Wheeler will graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in a few years, and then he will leave this state.

He will always root for the Huskers, and he might even come back one day to raise a family. But that will be 10 years at least, and it might be never.

He is 20, an independent, tired of the two-party system, George W. Bush and “blue-hair laws” in a state he thinks pays little worry to its youth.

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Alex Wheeler
Special: The good life?

“I would definitely say people here are more friendly than anywhere else in the country,” he says. “The quality of life is good. … But when it comes to the age group I’m in, there’s not really much being advertised or offered for us.”

Although he leans left, it is not the simple fact that Nebraska usually leans right in its politics that is bothersome to him. He enjoys a good debate.

“It’s just that it’s such an unwavering red state,” he says. “What drives me up a wall is that there’s no room for that open discussion about things.”

Of his peers, he says, it splits about 50/50 on those who say they will stay and those who can’t wait to leave. “It’s a wide variation,” Wheeler says of why friends are leaving. “It’s the job market, the political views, entertainment’s sake, accessibility to an ocean. It kind of sucks being landlocked all the time.”

The Nebraska job market is as worrisome to Wheeler as anything. “I would consider coming back to Lincoln to raise a family, but to get out and establish my career, I need to get out of state to do that,” he says. He plans to join the Peace Corps, then get his master’s degree — “God willing, out of state.”

He wants to get out there and compare and contrast. Maybe Nebraska will turn out to be better than he thought. Only leaving can reveal the answer.

His wish for his home state: “It’s never going to happen, but I wish there could be an eye-opening experience for all the people who live in this little box. Maybe then they’d realize there’s more than Lincoln, Nebraska, more than just this white Anglo-Saxon point of view, that it’s important to take other people into account.”


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whatever wrote on July 29, 2007 4:54 am:
" He and another person profiled are a poster child for the political indoctrination going on in our schools. "White Anglo-Saxon point of view?" I'm white, not Anglo-Saxon and probably lean left of center too, bet I'm more tolerant of "diversity" as well. It's interesting how some of these kids espouse things and have absolutely no frame of reference in which to have developed the opinions they think they have or to support what they think is reality. It will do them good to get out in the world, and with an open mind they will begin to see things beyond the narrow confines of what they believe is real. He will find out Nebraskans have some points of view that are unique to themselves, or I guess the word is diverse. Remember, just because someone is of a certain color doesn't mean they necessarily offer a point of view or idea that is particularly interesting, novel, profound or even unique. The "diverse" folks are just as stuck in their ways too. If you are smart you will figure that out real quick and read through the BS. Read up on early Nebraska thinking and politics, you will be astounded at what this state produced. "

 Halmer wrote on July 29, 2007 8:42 am:
" to "whatever". "you will be astounded at what this state PRODUCED." That's past tense, but the right tense. Our pioneer forbearer did produce remarkable progress, but now their great grandchildren are showing that same pioneer spirit and MOVING to where new opportunities are availalbe. Wake up Nebrasaka! Either embrace change or sit here alone in your old age. "

 whatever whatever wrote on July 29, 2007 12:55 pm:
" What this state ONCE produced. I have lived in 5 states, including Nebraska. It is only in Nebraska that I felt conformity was valued above all else. I lived in South Dakota too, and while SD is conservative, there is some ability for other points of view to be heard. nebraska is wonderful, for a lot of reasons, but I think this Alex is right. Too many people here, have never been anywhere else - and feel comfortable passing judgement on people who's experiences they could never comprehend. "

 Bob wrote on July 29, 2007 5:57 pm:
" Oh yeah. Been there, done that. I thought about the Peace Corps, but never having had money, fortunately I opted for actual work. That turned out to be the best decision I ever made. If you want another point-of-view, move to California. High taxes (for citizens only of course), welfare for anyone that doesn't want to work, and a debt rating that will soon be going down the tubes. Maybe Nebraskans can send some moola west to support diversity? "

 Doug wrote on February 5, 2008 9:39 am:
" Some one please tell me the advantages ofd having a diverse enviroment. I grew up on a farm and most work and progress is accomplished when all the horses are pulling together. Our current state of paralized politics is a fine example of diversity in action, or inaction. Fortunately, someday California will slide into the ocean and the resulting tip of the scales will dip Florida beneath 50 feet of water, I hope. I don't want or need the type of society that exists in teh diverse world. I am perfectly happy in my little backwards non-diverese town in Nebraska where I know ALL my neighbors and don't lock my house or take the keys from my vehicles. "

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