We wrap up our Voter Voices series with a father and son who don’t see eye-to-eye on politics.
Brady Hessbrook is the senior starting quarterback at Ithaca High School, and a first-time voter. His dad Terry Hessbrook is the head football coach.
They spoke with Michigan Radio's Tyler Scott about politics and enjoying one last playoff-run together after football was almost cancelled because of COVID-19.
On football
Terry: "High school sports is so important to communities. You know, not just football. But, life is tough. I think people need that release."
Brady: "Friday night lights, I mean, there’s nothing like it. Going out there and playing in front of your fans and your community. And putting it all on the line for your brother next to you and hoping to get a win."
Terry: "I like to think that we made memories that we'll never, ever forget, you know. And we've shared some special times on the football field, and we've shared some some adversity as well. And I think that, you know, that just makes us stronger and the memories that we're gonna have moving forward. "
On politics
Terry: "We like to not talk about politics in our house. I think we're on opposite sides of the fence, which is OK, because that's what makes the world go round. And, you know, I've shared my views with him, that's for sure. And he shared his views with me. And I can tell you they're different.
"I believe the speech that I gave him a few weeks ago, him and his girlfriend, was: we've worked very, very hard in our lives to have everything that we have, and it's hard for me to see others just given things.
"I think that people have to understand that, you know, you can be successful in life if you're just willing to work. And a lot of people, I think, sometimes in the public, a lot of people aren't willing to work or they're willing to sit back and take a handout. And that's frustrating."
Brady: "I’ve gotta keep myself calm, because I definitely disagree. I mean, I agree that everyone needs to ... work hard to get where you need to go. But equal opportunity is important, too. I mean, some people aren't given the same opportunity to even get, even if they work really hard, to reach the same place as someone that’s given a lot of opportunity right from birth."
Terry: "You know, we're in a very rural community, it's not a real diverse community. So I think it's sometimes hard. We're kind of sheltered, you know, in this small community.
"I don't know how anybody could think right now that we're heading in the right direction. You know, I mean, the division, the constant belittling of each other that goes on in the public, with our presidential candidate. You know, I don't know how anybody could think that we're going in the right direction. How do we get it corrected? I don't know either.
"I don't know that if the Republicans win, it's going to get better [or] if the Democrats win, it's going to get any better. I honestly don't see that... somehow, somehow we've got to come together. And I do agree with that."
Brady: "I mean you can see people coming together and you can see positive change happening. I mean, you can see people are getting together through social media and they’re creating their own,like, reforms, movements, peaceful protests and stuff like that.
"I’d say we all have to come together and try and create positive change, which will be difficult to do in this country, so divided as it is. But I say it can be done."
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