At the end of the day, can you look yourself in the mirror and be okay with
the person who looks back at you? Can you say every single time, that you’ve
done the right thing…made all correct decisions?
Well, on a daily basis that’s the question President Barack Obama has to
answer with every decision facing him on behalf of America (I’d dare say the
world, since what we do in the United States can and does affect the world).
Can I say I agree with everything that he’s does? No, I can’t. But then, I
don’t agree with every decision I make or have made in my life. Even after
weighing everything and going with what appears to be the best plan, our
best plan can harbor its own set of problems.
I voted for Barack Obama for president. Not because he was black, but
because I was moved by what I believed, as president, he’d do. I was tired
of politics as usual and although a politician, there was something
different about him. So much so, that for the first time in my life, I
volunteered, donated money, and did what I could to help get him elected.
The first time I heard his name, I said, "Why do black men always change
their names to something like this?" I soon learned that Barack and Obama
were his birth names, and I respected him the more. I dare say a less secure
person, with political aspirations, might have changed their name.
Before Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States,
our country faced major challenges, domestically and abroad. Economists said
we were on the brink of a second Great Depression. Abroad, the United States
was viewed mostly unfavorably. Even before taking office, President Obama
began working to stop the excessive bleeding of jobs, collapse of companies
and financial institutions, and afterward, attempted to repair the distrust
and to reset relations with people around the world.
In the black community, we have a saying: "We must do twice as much work
just to get equal credit." Every time I hear a Fox News’ pundit or
Republicans lie about President Obama being Muslim (he’s not; he’s
Christian), a socialist (untrue), not born in America (crazy talk, he was
born in Hawaii), or criticize him when he does anything other than work
24/7 (someone please tell them that slavery has been abolished), that’s what
I think about. And growing up in the South, I know "code words" when I hear
them. When they say, "President Obama doesn’t have a birth certificate"
(it’s been provided and verified) the translation is: "We’re not sure how it
happened because we never thought it would in our lifetime, but we elected a
black president." I’m quite familiar with racism. I just wish we could all
move on and work together to do even greater things for our country.
President Obama has accomplished much since taking office. This after
fighting with those who vigorously oppose almost everything he attempts to
do. Personally, I was excited about the prospect of healthcare reform. Was I
disappointed that there wasn’t a public option? Yes, because I feel
true competition is needed and frankly, I don’t believe the insurance
companies will do that but instead will conspire and rig the system. At
times, I’ve wanted President Obama to fight more, but I’m resolved that he’s
not the same type of fighter we’re used to. Under pressure, somehow he
always manages to remain cool. Who wants a panicking leader? Not me.
I’ve seen how far some will go to cause President Obama to fail. If he says
the sky is blue, they’ll argue it’s pitch-black. No matter what he says,
they’re going to take the opposite view. This was proven yet again recently
when folks like Newt Gingrich said they would immediately enact a no-fly
zone in Libya. But as soon as President Obama did just that, he was slammed
by those same folks for doing it.
It’s sad that people are willing to hurt our country in an attempt to cause
President Obama to fail or to lose the next election. President Obama loves
this country. Anybody else might have walked away from all of this nonsense,
but President Obama isn’t a quitter. And what he’s doing now will impact
generations to come. He’s willing to go the distance, compromising when
necessary, but refusing to kick cans down the road.
Addressing our actions of a no-fly zone in Libya and on Moammar Qadhafi,
President Obama said, "We’ve accomplished the objectives we set at the
outset of our military operations." Many have questioned why Libya? Why not
Yemen…Syria? Why Libya when this wasn’t done for Rwanda and Darfur? The
tragedies in Darfur and Rwanda took place under other presidents. It’s been
said, "Those who don’t learn from history or doomed to repeat it." No,
President Obama isn’t operating under a doctrine (at least not at this
point). He analyzes the situation, hears from all sides, then makes a
decision.
President Obama doesn’t shoot first and ask questions later. Instead, he
measures twice and cuts once.
Early in the Libyan unrest, many said that President Obama needed to say
something against Qadhafi. They accused him of being weak and indecisive
when he didn’t do it strongly enough. But President Obama was working to
ensure American citizens were safely evacuated from Libya before he came out
strong. And he worked to create a coalition with the international community
so this wouldn’t be a unilateral operation. President Obama receives
intelligence others don’t. So I dare hesitate to second-guess decisions made
on things I don’t know.
Many ask should we even be involved; we’re in two wars already (one I
totally disagreed with). But do we turn a blind eye, pretend it’s okay for a
dictator clearly not in touch with reality to massacre people as he declares
his intent to "show no mercy" to those who merely want to be treated fairly
and to know freedom? Should we care? When the holocaust was happening, how
many declared it wasn’t their problem? Are there things the United States
can and should do to help when possible? Honestly, there’s no
one-size-fits-all answer. But I’ve watched President Obama play 3D chess
while others were merely playing checkers.
I’ll continue to pray for our President, for the soldiers who put their
lives on the line to protect and defend our country (one being my son), and
pray for America. No, we can’t be the savior for the world. But I believe
when it comes to some things, we should do what we can, if and when we can.
Otherwise, how do you look yourself in the mirror? But then, maybe it’s just
me, and I can respect that.