Everything that has transpired in the last few days surrounding the President’s Jobs Plan speech has created quite a buzz in most of the social networks I frequent. I have watched as some of my friends have been berated for voicing their disappointment in way the whole thing was handled.
How in a 24 hour cycle most went from praising our Leader for his show of fortitude and (yeah, I’ll go there) backbone to utter sadness that…the GOP and their pundits seems to be calling the shots…AGAIN! It brings to light that maybe it’s time for even more of us to let the big guy know that we’re getting more than a little frustrated with him.
Understanding that it isn't easy being the one that everyone looks up to and counts on.
I come from a rather large family. My closest sibling was a younger brother, who somehow despite my father’s best efforts became the “golden child”. You know what I mean, the one who could do no wrong and even when he did…still got away with it.
He was the all-star athlete, a high school coach’s dream come true in wrestling, track and his passion…football. He was popular…handsome…most likely to succeed with whatever he tried. Then in the middle of his senior year, right after a wining football season, he got into a car with some friends. Four of them celebrating life and what was ahead of them…
Unfortunately the festivities included being drunk and what was ahead of them was a deadly curve that they took way too fast. The car looked like it had already been put through a crusher when the police got to the scene. All four had been thrown free…by the grace of God…all four survived. My brother was hurt the worse. A broken jaw and a hairline fracture of his neck that for several weeks left him paralyzed. Surgeries…rehabs… My father refused to let him give up.
A year later he was attending college with me. Gone were his dreams of being a star on the football field or in his mind any other field. He did try.Made Dean's List 1st year but after our father died suddenly, pain meds and then alcohol became his fall back position.
No one (including me) raised a voice to him. We loved him…we felt sorry for him…He had already been through so much and come so far. How could we not show overwhelming support? He would find his way. He always had before.Besides there were people who didn't know him...who didn't love him that said and did mean things to him.
Everyone around him, praised him for even the smallest of attempts in his battle against the odds…except (finally) me. I caught the wrath of all in the family as well as those near and dear but the time came when I just couldn’t defend him any longer.
There were days…weeks…. months when I yelled at him, argued with him and refused to let him settle for less than what I knew he could do. Took awhile but as my efforts worked others came over to my way of thinking.
I watched with such pride as his inner strength returned and he pulled up his shoulders ... got that fire in his eyes again that showed a passion for life once more that our father had taught us.
We are all going to have struggles…battles that we will sometimes win and sometimes lose. I think the real trick is to never give up. If you draw a line in the sand…stick by it. Are the people in our lives going to disappoint us? Probably. I have never met any one who was perfect. Have you ?
Being disappointed and yes, perhaps even angry with our President doesn’t put us on opposite sides. Maybe because we have so staunchly defended him for so long against the mud-slinging idiots on the right …maybe because we have heard the willingness to fight in his words, because we know his causes are just and so very needed by this country that we have kept our voices muted.
With as much of the negative crap that he has to put up from those out to bring him down. He must also be willing to hear those who are willing to understand compromise but not willing to give up the entire fight. Good constructive criticism is still part of the foundation of a lasting and fruitful relationship.I'm sure he's been a bit disappointed at times in us as well. I want him as our President but I want even more for him to BE our President.