Listening or Hearing?

For the last several days there has been much in the media (mostly liberal) that the tide is once again turning and that the Obama team has seemed to have gotten back its "mojo." The liberal media also reports of a more "call them as we see them," understanding of McCain/Palin "misrepresentations," as lies. For example - the infamous Bridge to Nowhere, lobbying, maverick status, etc.

To me, that is definitely good news. I have also had the fleeting thought that once the Obama/McCain and Biden/Palin debates get started, that everything will be out in the open and visible to everyone. I am waiting for that moment when I can say, "see, we were right."

But, as we have learned in the past, listening and hearing are definitely two different things. This was evident during the 2004 Kerry/Bush debates. I remember thinking, "now we have this thing won." "Nobody out there can vote for Bush," after hearing he and Kerry debate. Except for that one instance in which Kerry outted Cheney's daughter, I felt that he was on target. But, as it turned out, a good number of people did not see it (or hear it) in this way. Maybe it is true - that people make their voting decisions based on gut feelings and fear.

I found this description of listening/hearing in a resource regarding hearing loss:

Do you think there is a difference between hearing and listening? You are right, there is! Hearing is simply the act of perceiving sound by the ear. Listening, however, is something you consciously choose to do. Listening requires concentration so that your brain processes meaning from words and sentences. Listening leads to learning.

I do hope that there is hearing and listening during the upcoming debates - and for the next 45 days, 12 hours, 58 minutes, and 20 seconds left until 2008 US Election.