barack obama

President Obama, Thank You

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Graphic from Michael Pop WestBrook on Facebook. 1/17/17

I’m not sure I can express how much I have enjoyed President Obama’s two terms as President. I don’t think I could have been prouder of my country in electing the first African-American President.

His positivity of yes, we can is a mantra we can all get behind and use in our daily lives as we putter along. Our small things add up to big things, especially for the people we are doing the small things for. Our small act of kindness and compassion is equally important to us as the givers, if not more so.

The example Mr. Obama’s given us in temperment, thoughtfulness, intelligence, kindness, compassion, and dedication to his family and by extension, this country is something that we haven’t recognized enough, and something we should all try to emulate.

If our children are a mirror we hold up to ourselves, he and Michelle have every reason to be proud of themselves as parents and as people.

I look forward to continuing to follow his (their) example and help to grow the Democratic party and continue to promote and support equal rights, freedom of speech, religion, and the press. As we move forward, for me, it’s not about resisting, it’s about enduring; standing up and speaking out.

Encouraging.

Helping.

Volunteering.

Being the solution.

I will stand with them as they embark on the next chapter of their lives, and in addition to wishing them the best of luck and my continued prayers for their well-being, I would also like to say – 

Thank you, Mr. Obama.

Thank you.

Thank you, President Obama

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Watching the President’s Farewell Address last night was like turning the page at the end of a chapter. I happily and gratefully and proudly voted for Barack Obama in 2008, knowing that not only was I getting a good and decent man who would be a great President, I was also making history, and I treated it as such.

As late as his election night speech was in 2008, we woke up our then-eleven year old to watch him live. We recorded it if I recall correctly. People would be talking about this for the rest of history. He will stand alongside George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and others who withstand the test of time.

When the Farewell Address began, I took the ear phones and tablets away from my younger kids, and made the television louder. We sat and ignored everyhting else around us for the near hour that he spoke, reminding us of the never ending (hopefully) and the ever constant responsibility we have to continue this American experiment. It is bigger than any one man (or woman).

Thank you.

Yes, We Can. And Yes, We Did.

We did on so many things, and it would be redundant to list them in my less polished way. Please watch the video and read the transcript. Remember what we accomplished together, through discourse and decency.

For the future, beginning in a little more than a week, I say: Fired up. Ready to go.

Full Transcript