When I was 10 years old, I remember all of the adults around me were making a big fuss about who would be the 44th president of the United States. I hardly understood elections at this point, but I can recall my fascination for president-elect Barack Obama, who was one of the younger presidents to take office and the first African American president in history. I watched a lot of TV that covered his prior life, how he had two girls (one of which is my age), how he was a U.S. Senator in Illinois, and how he was faced with many obstacles in his life, from issues with his parents to blocked legislation in the senate.
I never said that Obama was my favorite president. However, as I continue to study Government and Politics, I will always remember how his presidency lasted almost half of my life. Sure, he wasn't the first president to win a Nobel Peace Prize, appoint a woman to the Supreme Court, or lead a scandal-free presidency. I'm sure many Republicans will disagree with what I have to say next, but I believe that he enacted so much positive change during his administration. Of course, there is still more that can be done to improve our world, but in the 8-year time constraint that he was given, Obama succeeded.
He has continued to advocate for women's rights, created health care reform, ordered the capturing and killing of Osama Bin Laden, changed relations between the U.S. and Cuba, etc. Unlike many other politicians, he is unafraid of calling out his opponents, but does so in a respectful and decent manner. Even if you did not agree with his policies or beliefs, there is a chance that you will miss an administration that had a president with a plethora of hope, energy, and class.
I appreciated many aspects of Obama's Farewell Address on January 10th, but there was one segment that really stuck out to me. He encouraged citizens to run for office themselves if they are disappointed with their elected officials. However, he warned them that "sometimes you'll win, sometimes you'll lose." I thought that this was so important because this is what a democracy should be about. It should not involve complaining about what went wrong, but it should encapsulate the idea that if we are not happy, then we should take an initiative to advocate for change or make a statement.
The energy that the audience had at the Farewell Address in Chicago filled up my heart with warm and relief. There was so much cheering and positive energy during Obama's speech, which made me feel like I am not alone in my opinions. I'd be lying if I said I was not afraid for the future of our country and worried that all of America's previous accomplishments may evade. For those of you who voted for president-elect Trump, I hope you are happy with your decision. Get ready for non-eloquent speeches that do not embody what the presidency is about.
