Obama Re-Elected: 4 MORE YEARS!

It's late, and I have to teach tomorrow, but this is too monumental a night to not blog and get my thoughts down! I have such a happy heart and such a heavy heart all at the same time! Let me explain...

I've been the kind of person who has despised politics my whole life. In my opinion, politicians are always sleezeballs who make empty promises and just rub me the wrong way! I never cared for anything political...that is until I turned 18. When I voted for the first time in 2008, I was the black sheep of my family, submitting a different vote than everyone else. I will admit, I didn't really know the issues at hand or what I was voting for, but I cast my vote because Barack Obama was different than any other politician I'd encountered...EVER. I can't tell you what it is about him, but he is GENUINE. He is someone I would WANT to spend time with, and I absolutely adore his family. Many reading this right now are probably thinking, "Wow...she picked her candidate based on THOSE qualifications?" But yes...when I was 18, I did. Character says a LOT about someone, more so than their political agendas. When you get a feeling about someone, it speaks to whether or not you can trust them and truly stand behind them. Obama gave me that feeling, and I voted with confidence.

I will be the first to admit, Obama's 1st term hasn't been AMAZING. He hasn't done things perfectly, and there have been mistakes. We still have a LONG, LONG way to go to improve our country, but for everyone out there saying that Obama is the worst thing that has happened to this country, I am so brokenhearted to hear such negative remarks. I can only imagine how horrendously difficult the job of President truly is. Think about all of the pieces you have to put together, all while facing a public that is so tremendously divided. You have to be diplomatic and reach out to other countries, dealing with global issues in addition to the crap pile you inherited at home. You have to deal with the ridiculousness of bipartisanship in the House of Representatives and the harsh dichotomy of public opinion. To everyone out there saying President Obama accomplished nothing in four years...let me first point you to the HoR and the fact that so many great ideas were shut down because of bipartisanship. One party simply votes against another to see who can "win" rather than reaching across party lines to work together. So much for the "united" part of the United States of America.

I also don't think people realize that CHANGE TAKES TIME. I charge anyone to step into the President's shoes and try to fix every single one of the country's problems in four years (with the division in the HoR). RIGHT! No one can do it! No matter what party is in office, people are going to point fingers and say, "They've done nothing to fix our problems! Get them out of here!" rather than looking to the good that HAS happened. For all the negativity pointed towards the President these past four years, I ask that you acknowledge all the good he has done. Equal pay. The end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Ending the war in Iraq and creating a plan to get troops out of Afghanistan. Work for higher education and Pell grants. Creating new jobs. Reviving the auto industry and investing in new energy sources. He has CHANGED this country, and I am SO excited to see what Obama accomplishes in his next term. I support the President as he moves our nation forward. 

What hurts my heart the most, however, on this exciting night, is all of the negative commentary I've been seeing on Facebook. I KNOW there are two very opinionated parties involved in this election, and we all knew that today would bring disappointment for one of those parties. My heart truly does go out to Romney supporters because I know if the shoe was on the other foot, I would be devastated tonight. But I so wish everyone could appreciate what Obama has done for this country and stand behind him, not tear him to pieces! Some friends have been completely melodramatic saying that our nation as we know it is over now that Obama has a second term. That everyone who voted for Obama is an idiot who can't think for him/herself and has had the wool pulled over our eyes. That our nation is DOOMED.

Such remarks truly break my heart and have tainted the victory of this night. Yes, we are suffering economically. Yes, there are issues overseas that need attending to. Yes, our schools are in crisis (this is especially important to me as a future educator!). Yes, THERE ARE PROBLEMS! But Obama is working to fix them. Many won't agree with me, but in my opinion, the most important issues are the humanitarian issues we're facing here at home. I am so excited about our President because he has publicly announced his support of same-sex marriages, one of the most important issues to me. I am in tears I am so happy because I look at so many friends that I love dearly and I see a future of equality for them under President Obama. I was so fiercely afraid of their potential future if Romney had been the winning candidate tonight, not because I don't think he could have had success as President, but because he would step forward and deny the RIGHT OF EQUALITY TO EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN. I don't care what your personal and religious views are, the words of our forefathers teach us that every person is created equal. Under President Obama, that can actually happen! AND I AM ECSTATIC!

Regardless of your vote in this election, PLEASE be respectful of those who earned a tremendous victory tonight, and be grateful that you will be given a chance at equality, regardless of your race, gender, religious views, or sexual preferences. Just as we've made enormous strides concerning women and African Americans in our nation's history, this new era under President Obama will certainly bring about more historical victories. With Obama as president, equality can actually happen. Embrace change...because like it or not, it can and will happen. We are a nation that is moving FORWARD!!!