The earliest political memory I have is watching the 2008 presidential election results roll in live on CNN with my family. We were in our living room, waiting, and no one was really nervous. It felt like we had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Everyone literally jumped around giving each other high fives when the final projection came across the screen. Looking back, I can attribute my deep political interest to this moment. Realizing that something that people disagreed so widely about could control emotions this way intrigued me.
Ever since then, my politics have changed. With that, my feelings toward The Great First have also changed. I’ve grown to realize that people almost never live up to our idea of them. President Obama being the first black president was an accomplishment in itself. It seems like even more of an accomplishment knowing that this same country elected Donald Trump eight years later. However, my love for President Obama is not politically driven. It is hard to admit that, for a long time, my emotional connection to him as our first black president blinded me and that, in fact, he has done much politically I do not agree with.
Palestine is in a fight for basic human rights. On a daily basis, they have to fight for their very existence. President Obama has condemned Israel for making this harder for Palestine, but still aids them both directly and indirectly in doing this. Palestine and Israel are not at war; Israel is wrongfully taking and exploiting what is not theirs, Palestinians just want their land back. They just want to live. I can’t, in good conscience, align my political views with a politician, or anyone for that matter, who does not agree that Palestine needs to be freed immediately. The United States reached a 38 billion dollar deal for military aid to Israel. President Obama, our lord and savior, had a hand in this. If President Obama is going to actively make the lives of my Palestinian brothers and sisters more difficult, with no remorse, I will actively speak out against it. There is no reason that we should ignore him shaking hands with Prime Minister Netanyahu just because he can move his hips with a little rhythm.
While we are idolizing this man because his family is beautiful and radiant, there are children dying because of the bombs he approves of. His irresponsible droning of places like Yemen and Pakistan can not be excused.
I also can’t say that the past 8 years have been all bad. Despite the obvious problems with Obamacare, it has saved lives. There are people who are getting insured and getting medicine that they could not have otherwise been able to get.
I know the ACA isn’t affordable for everyone, but because I’m under 26 and low-income all my meds are FREE and it’s really great (piece TK)
— eve peyser (@evepeyser) November 10, 2016
History will remember President Obama as the first black president who never got his fair shot. I wish history would remember him as the first black president who, sadly, blew his shot. We can acknowledge President Obama’s role in breaking barriers, while simultaneously critiquing the wrongs he has done. We can feel inspired by the doors he opened, but acknowledge that behind some of those doors some ugly truths are hidden.
President Obama finally did what Democrats have been trying to do for years. Affordable healthcare still has a long way to go, but it is here and it wasn’t before. That is something to celebrate.
Hey, but here’s to the next four years, which pretty much every decent human being can agree will be pretty bad!
