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http://johnpavlovitz.com/2016/06/23/thanks-obama/Thanks, Obama
June 23, 2016 / John Pavlovitz
History usually has a way of revealing the truth.
Like the sun gradually coming up and burning away the morning dew covering everything, the unfolding years chase away the noisy bombast of social media rhetoric and knee-jerk, in-the-moment emotion, leaving us with the unvarnished reality of people and their lives.
This will be true of your service too, and of the mark you have left upon the world. Your body of work will testify loudly on your behalf far beyond these days, and in this way your legacy is secure.
But what may be less apparent looking back from the distance of time, will be something that is less easily quantifiable anyway: Character.
Over the past eight years, Ive watched you.
Ive watched the way youve absorbed a billion body blows from your critics; brutal words that run far deeper than policy or platform, words composed within poisoned hearts long before you served a single day in office.
Ive watched you bombarded with a daily molotov cocktail of white privilege and hidden or overt racism disguised as objective opposition.
Ive watched your wife and children attacked with a ferocity and malevolence that defy any sense of decency and that have no precedence.
Ive watched your birthplace called into question, your personal faith ridiculed, your very humanity discounted.
Ive watched you endure the incessant, bitter venom of those for whom the color of your skin was always going to be a problem.
And through all of it, Ive watched you be the better man.
In the face of a sustained, spitting, violent, raw-throated hatred youve never responded in kind.
You never allowed yourself to be defined by the bigotry of your critics and you never disrespected them by becoming them.
This, Mr. President, is perhaps your greatest legacy: the way you retained your dignity in the midst of the most undignified behavior of your adversaries.
The truth is, many of us understand that the Evangelical Right, the NRA, FoxNews, and far too many ordinary folks living here were simply never going to be okay with a man of color leading them and succeedingand yet you have done both.
Eight years later, those same people still strain to bait you into reciprocating violence and in fulfilling their toxic prophecies of you, while you simply continue to do what you do with nobility, compassion, good humor, and steadfast, unapologetic conviction.
You live the grace so many Christians evoke but rarely model.
As a father, I realize that my children are always watching me, always taking cues from the way I treat people, from how I respond to adversity, from how I care for those in pain, from how I face mistreatment. I know that for them, my words will always be secondary to my conduct; that how I live will always trump what I say.
This is where I find my deepest gratitude for you in these days.
For eight years you have worked for those who have been marginalized, even while so many have sought to marginalize you. I and so many others notice, and it is spurring us on to speak and move and work for the inherent value of all people regardless of the cost or the wounds or the attacks from those who would deny it.
We are chasing equality and justice together, unfettered by the words of our detractors.
We are trying to live passionately yet with integrity.
We are committed to standing upon principles and never upon people.
We are seeing the way youve done it and are moved to move similarly together.
So youll forgive me if I speak informally right now, and if I use words used often brandished by your critics to undermine the work youve done and the life youve lived and the character youve shown.
Without a trace of irony or sarcasm, let me simply say:
Thanks, Obama.
PJMcK
(21,916 posts)As I've posted before, Ike was my first.
GREAT post, babylonsister.
bjobotts
(9,141 posts)Standing against a back drop of obstructive jealous republicans acting like petulant children insulting our President at every turn at a level of disrespect that rivals how we treat enemies. Using a microscope they just could not come up with even one scandal. It will be a long time before we again have a president of his stature. Agree with his policies or not his character and integrity are flawless. I, like everyone here, say thanks President Obama, you're the best.
lamp_shade
(14,796 posts)Control-Z
(15,681 posts)Every last word could have been mine if only I were able to express myself as eloquently.
Lovely post.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)TPP. Three little letters that call into question a lot of what the President has said.
Is his true legacy his personal example, or his actions? And if the latter, how heavily does the TPP issue weigh in the scales?
puffy socks
(1,473 posts)I'm happy HRC is our current nominee and most likely our next president too.
I wish Obama would accept a SCOTUS appointment. Then Hillary could appoint Warren SCOTUS to replace Thomas who will hopefully retire now that he cant just say "yeah, what Scalia said" for every case brought before them.
oswaldactedalone
(3,489 posts)A great man and great president. Unfortunately, the clowns in the opposition party were determined not to work with him and hurt all Americans in the process.
betsuni
(25,122 posts)Lisa0825
(14,487 posts)I am an atheist, but he is such a shining example of what Christians are supposed to be, in contrast to the fundie nutjobs who worship hate.
babylonsister
(170,960 posts)too! Thank you, Lisa!
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Getting a little teary eyed here...
63splitwindow
(2,657 posts)annabanana
(52,791 posts)3catwoman3
(23,812 posts)The Obamas are a remarkable family, in so many ways.
lamp_shade
(14,796 posts)gademocrat7
(10,623 posts)3catwoman3
(23,812 posts)The writer speaks for me, 100%.
Grassy Knoll
(10,118 posts)ismnotwasm
(41,917 posts)allan01
(1,950 posts)Buzz505
(92 posts)I hope that someday people will stop the racist attacks and acknowledge this president as one of the greatest we have ever had.
TwilightZone
(25,342 posts)sheshe2
(83,319 posts)That was beautiful.
lordsummerisle
(4,649 posts)xfundy
(5,105 posts)Wish I could be as eloquent. Perfectly stated.
Tracyjo
(729 posts)That was simply beautiful. I'm so gonna miss that guy.
AgadorSparticus
(7,963 posts)UMTerp01
(1,048 posts)After I voted for Barack Obama on November 4, 2008 I got in my car and wept. I mean I sobbed like a baby for 15 minutes before I could even leave. It wasn't for him, but rather all of the older people I thought of who fought and died for my right to vote, and for those who never thought in their lifetime they'd see the first Black President of the United States. I wasn't even certain of the outcome because I still, in my heart, did not think this country was ready. But just the opportunity to participate in something so historic that would have so much meaning was just very emotionally overwhelming.
I will miss this man dearly and Mr. Pavlovitz' words are very appreciated and very meaningful to those of us who feel the exact same way.
K&R
world wide wally
(21,718 posts)Thanks, Obama
Egnever
(21,506 posts)Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)Chasstev365
(5,191 posts)But I actually wish Barack could run for a third term!
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)We will not see his like again, at least not for a generation or two.
We all owe him a debt of gratitude.
Bigredhunk
(1,346 posts)sarge43
(28,939 posts)AikenYankee
(135 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)the commitments I've made and the optimism and joy I've tried to share, I can say that President Obama has helped transform my life - and much more importantly, our country - in a positive way!
Silver_Witch
(1,820 posts)Imagine what it will say!
I believe President Obama will viewed most kindly!!
spooky3
(34,300 posts)He is exudes dignity and empathy, which we sorely needed after the embarrassing and terrifying Cheney Bush years.
davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)K & R. Also... to add my own:
Thank you, Mr. President.