I got home last night about 20 minutes before President Obama’s farewell speech was set to begin. I got settled in as much as I could because I knew that once it started I, like many other Americans would be glued to the screen. I sat on the edge of my bed and watched while he did what he does best. President Obama gave us the inspirational speech that we needed. His speech gave me the kind of feelings you get when you’re graduating and listening to your favorite teacher go on about how far you’ve come over the years, what great things you’ve achieved and what great things you will achieve, but then it hits you that this is the last time you’ll see that teacher in that capacity. No longer will you be able to walk to their class during their planning period if you’re having a bad day. No longer will you be able to turn to them for that little bit of encouragement before a difficult test. This was it. That feeling, those tears were what struck me tonight.
President Obama touched on topics that needed to be discussed. He talked about racial tension and made a few statements that really stuck out to me. He mentioned that the same comments and phrases that are uttered about immigrants in this country now were said about the Irish, Polish and other immigrants who made their way here at the turn of the 1900’s. He said that our country didn’t become weaker with the addition of those new cultures, it became stronger. And he believes that same strength will be the result this time too. He also made a statement about placing yourself in other’s shoes. There was a true “tell it like it is moment” for me when he said that the affects of slavery and Jim Crow didn’t end in the 60’s when the Civil Rights Act was passed and that people need to understand that. He also said that people of color need to put themselves in the shoes of middle-aged white people, people who’s worlds have been turned upside down with economic changes and even technological advances. I might or might not have said “MESSAGE” to the wall after that bit.
He also talked about fear. In fact, he all but preached a “God has not given us a spirit of fear” sermon. I’ve heard so many people say that they’re scared, that they don’t know what Trump and his administration have in store for us. I’ve even caught myself saying that a few times before I corrected myself. We shouldn’t base our actions in fear. Fear isn’t what molded us into the incredible country we are today. Perseverance, unity and love has. Fear isn’t what helped these great minds develop all of the technological advances we have now, innovation and curiosity did. Fear didn’t get a man on the moon, education and drive did. And it wasn’t just the drive of those astronauts, but of their awesome support team.
President Obama encouraged us to continue to be the people he knows we can be. Continue to fight injustice and strive for inclusion for all. Continue to “the people” the constitution speaks about, because we’re the ones who give it life. Without the people, it’s just a piece of paper.
I don’t know about you guys, but I will truly miss President Obama, Vice President Biden and the entire administration. The election of 2008 was the first time I was able to vote in a presidential election and these past 8 years have been a great ride. I believe that President Obama and VP Biden were truly men of the people. Yeah, they did the DC thing and took care of business in Washington, but they also got out and spent time with the American people. The two of them and their wives were able to meet us where we were and made us feel like we mattered.
Now I’m not sure what these next four years hold for us, but I know that my generation is one of change and we have no problem getting out there and demanding what we need. We just need to make sure that we don’t back down and we continue to believe in ourselves and believe that we can change the world.