Barack Obama’s last day didn’t feel real until I saw a photo of President Donald Trump coming up the White House. Most especially when #ThankYouObama started to trend and his POTUS Twitter account became archived.
It’s clear that many people don’t want Pres. Trump to take office. He’s had a rocky track record laden with misogyny and overall inexperience. He also has the lowest approval rating in modern history and his inaugural crowd wasn’t that many. But since he formally starts work on Monday (FYI, weekends don’t exist when you’re president), we’d like to pay tribute to his predecessor.
Obama achieved a lot of things for the American people in the past eight years. He started Obamacare to make healthcare easier and more affordable; supported the legalization of same-sex marriage in the US; lifted the US economy out of a recession that was close to The Great Depression, among many others. He did what he thought was best for the citizens, as every leader should.
He also showed how approachable he was with his funny lighthearted speeches. Remember when he literally did a mic drop at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner? And don’t forget those photos of him playing with kids.
But what I would always admire Obama for is that he’s a proponent of change. He didn’t just use “Change We Can Believe In” as a slogan, he acted on it and encouraged people to do the same. “One voice can change a room,” Obama says in one of his speeches. “If one voice can change a room, then it can change a city, and if it can change a city, it can change a state, and if it change a state, it can change a nation, and if it can change a nation, it can change the world. Your voice can change the world.”
Sure, the Obama administration wasn’t perfect in every way. But you can’t deny this fact.
Likewise, his wife Michelle also spoke of this, especially when speaking to young girls. She gave them hope that they too can make a difference.
Even as he left the White House, Obama still ensured that he won’t stop fighting for change as a regular citizen. Seriously, what would everyone do without him?
As a new administration starts, let’s not forget what he’s done for the nation and even the world. Trump may be planning drastic changes like repealing Obamacare, possibly building a wall, and removing or altering the records on climate data. But we’re still hopeful that he will come around and continue what Obama fought for as president of the free world.
That said, thank you for your service, Mr. Obama. And congratulations on your inauguration, Pres. Trump.
Photo courtesy of Inquisitr
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