As a woman of color, a minority, and an immigrant, some of my political stances may surprise you. There are times where I struggle between what I believe in, and what I’m expected by my peers to believe in. Politics is not my forte. I don’t follow it as much as I should or would like to, and my emotions get in the way of me being able to properly articulate my thoughts. Still, I made sure to utilize my right to vote for the very first time in support of Barack Obama. I watched in bewilderment when he made his first inaugural speech and last night along with many Americans, I cried when he gave his farewell speech.
Depending on who you are, how much money you make and possibly, the color of your skin, you may or may not be relieved that the Obama administration has come to an end. But this post isn’t going to be a reflection of his policies, it’s just an ode to my favorite President.
What I’m going to miss the most about Barack Obama is the way he maintained, managed, and honored the relationships he had. Whether it be professional, political, personal, or superficial. Whether with an ambassador, enemy, best friend, child, or janitor, Obama interacted with you just the same and treated you with the respect you deserved.
Perhaps this is most apparent with his relationship with the most important women in his life, and especially with his wife Michelle. Naysayers may say that the President’s personal relationships have nothing to do with the way he runs a nation, but I believe it does. I believe your beliefs and values start at home, and it’s safe to say that Obama, “The best Vice President America’s ever had,” and FLOTUS have all found a home in our hearts.
Personally, this isn’t because unemployment is at a record low. It’s not because he ended the “war” in Iraq. Nor is it because he’s arguably the coolest President we’ve ever had (irrelevant). It’s because his integrity is unrivaled. To put it simply, you can just tell he’s a good fucking guy. While there are so many things wrong with our country today, for me, Obama represents everything good about America.
As I write this, I’m watching a video of Obama surprising Joe Biden with the Medal of Freedom and am losing my shit all over again. I am overwhelmed with sadness and discouragement, but never anger or fear. We may have lost the election, but we can still WIN. And the only way to continue Obama’s legacy is to live it.
“I do have one final ask of you as your President — the same thing I asked when you took a chance on me eight years ago. I’m asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change — but in yours.
I am asking you to hold fast to that faith written into our founding documents; that idea whispered by slaves and abolitionists; that spirit sung by immigrants and homesteaders and those who marched for justice; that creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon; a creed at the core of every American whose story is not yet written: Yes, we can.”
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