I just have to write a few thoughts after having watched President Obama's State of the Union address.
1. I feel very honored having voted for this man.
When Obama ran for his first term, I was a senior in high school. While I was on the debate team that argued the election between Obama and McCain, I could not actually vote for who I thought would be the next president. Though, there is some footage somewhere of me arguing at that debate, which I'm sure is very embarrassing. However, what struck me this morning, is that I remembered that my boyfriend at the time, was also on debate team, arguing for McCain. Although there were many things I liked about this boy, and at one point I even thought I loved him, I have to feel as though part of the reason we did not last was his view on politics. Despite being 17, when the whole world revolves around who likes you, I didn't give a shit because I stood by a man who would do right by my country. I'm not saying I am some kind of hero, or that I am selfless and put country before self, because there have been times when I have been rude, or selfish, or ignorant, as any person can be. But, when I really thought about it, I was surprised that I stood by something I believed in, even though it meant that other people wouldn't like me, just because I thought it's what was best for the nation.
Though, when I was a senior in college, I was actually old enough to vote, and was over the moon to vote for Obama, and it was something that I will never forget. Been there, done that, and literally got a t-shirt. (It's college, they give you free t-shirts for everything). But, my roommates and I watched every debate, every speech, read every article and yes, made up drinking games for the election. All three of us stayed up the night of the election, and with bated breath watch Obama beat Romney in the 2012 election, then we got rip-roaring drunk, and fell asleep feeling safe.
Watching the State of the Union last night, alone in my tiny apartment, knowing I had to get up the next morning to come to a job, that I am salaried, despite the fact that I average 70 hours, and feel under appreciated, I felt the responsibility to try harder. Work harder. I felt the responsibility to show this man, that I could do. That he does not have misplaced hope in me, that I am worth his time. I wanted to show him, that I was worth every gray hair that he grew fighting for me to have a safer home. Because he is 100% worth that to me.
2. Speaking of feeling responsible.
If you got through that entire speech last night, and did not once feel like you needed to step up your game as a citizen, then you were either not paying attention, or you just don't care.
I understand that people in this country are all over the place. This was brought to my attention watching a clip from the daily show, in which Trevor Noah points out the dichotomy of having a Trump vs. Sanders election. The country is a torn place. We have people from all walks of life, playing red rover with each other over the simplest things that can be handled with a conversation. It's the fact that people are not willing to have the conversation. Recently, I experienced an argument with a loved one, where we were at odds and he was so frustrated, he said, I'm done having this conversation, and I'm going to bed. Maybe there are many people who will argue and say that because I am a woman, I pushed the subject. I'm not offended by that, and I don't balk at your slightly sexist comment, because yeah, maybe we do do that. But this is the point, I said, you're not going to go to bed, we are going to work this out, because I'm not spending another night where we argue, wake up, and pretend nothing ever happened and then these pent up issues get worse and explode into something else. Which they inevitably will, due to the toxic human mind. He agreed, we worked it. But it takes two sides of a conversation to come to a resolution. That's what we need now, it's not a revolution, it's a resolution. It's people, willing to sit across from their so called enemies and hash out all this confusion and rhetoric that we have started pinning on each other. Yes, it's going to be uncomfortable, yes, people's feelings will be hurt, yes, we will have to compromise on quite a few issues, yes, it's going to take a long time. But if we are all going to take responsibility for this country, which I feel as though we all do, we all need to start holding ourselves accountable for solving the problems.
3. How I plan to change myself moving forward.
I have stated before that I have certainly been guilty of being stubborn and ignorant. Sure. Again, I'm not offended by facts. However, I plan to take ownership of having been this way and want to be different in the future. I want a better country for my kids, for my grand kids, for their kids. I will not be playing this game of he said she said anymore with anyone. If you would like to have a conversation about how we can both bring something to the table, how we can all bring something to the table, then I would love to speak with you. One piece of string in all it's many varieties is not as strong as the whole bolt, and we will all need to come together in order to fix this. It can only be fixed with strong, healthy, intelligent conversation. Backed by facts, emotions, and thoughts all rolled together. Why do we have a strong arsenal? Because some of us like to feel safe at home. That's an emotion, and they cannot be discredited in this conversation. Is the Earth heating up and causing many issues for the environment? Yes, that's a fact. Just as important. We all need to stop yelling at each other and calling each other names, and just have a conversation. This is something that I will be doing with myself moving forward. I'm sick of the bullying and the lack of integrity. No more with the belittling of other people just because they don't see the world the same way you do. We were supposed to be a nation that respects each other, and I plan on respecting each one of you as I respect myself.
All in all, I was absolutely moved by last night's speech. Succinct and poignant and overall, exactly what we all needed to hear. Thank you Mr. President for making me proud of my home, and continuing to ask me to be better. I'm more than happy to continue to try to rise to the occasion.
