"The mind, once enlightened, cannot again become dark."
Thomas Paine
A sensible, pragmatic, intelligent President, that has been my realized hope. Despite all justifiable reason to sink to the despair of cynicism, that through some fluke of fortune, he desires to continue to put himself through the vitriolic and uninformed hate directed at him, and asks us for another four years to dedicate himself to this nation during an era of uncertainty, at a time of universal upheaval, it would be at our own peril would America deny him this opportunity.
"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."
President Obama
The President has struggled to live up to the hopes so many had for his presidency. There are many good reasons to be dismayed in our President, ideals not realized, aspirations left unfulfilled. The realization of Peace, Prosperity, and Freedom are not simply achieved, and often have daunting residual effects. Reviewing his words does show his tempered mindset of the promising path of reaching a brighter day, though we - the America people - have a tendency to assume a leader will achieve goals, when the real work is done by ourselves over the course of time. He can only help direct us toward a better future. It is our decision to take the path forward.
"It is time for our generation to answer that call."
President Obama
Those fixated on the old and skeptical of the new hold strong to their shelter. This must not hold us back. We cannot let the system of old continue to leave many behind, at such times when the system to come shows the promising hope of a new world. This transition has only just begun. There is no stopping this change. We can only influence how it is directed forward.
"Out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come."
President Obama
People from all political perspectives have a lot to offer our nation. When we move past our adherence to strict ideology and submit to reason, we are capable of nearly anything. It is only our own steadfast attachment to our own belief of superiority and self-interest that keeps us from finding common ground. When the great ideological debates of our time can be civilly conducted in open on the floors of our capitals, we will know we are on a decent course forward.
"There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America."
President Obama
President Obama has strived for unity. Despite his strong humanist beliefs, he has not imposed his view on others, only directing a course for their fufillment in time. This is a sign of a great leader, who, despite the delayed realization of envisioned change, is able to put their own ideology behind them and find the best, pragmatic solutions to move a peoples forward.
"Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or do we participate in a politics of hope?"
President Obama
In our age, when unreasonableness has become known as reason to many, it should be no surprise that even embarking with the best intentions, the pursuit for equanimity is brought to disarray by irrational parties pursuing rigid ideology and self-interest. Despite the continuous absurdity that has become commonplace in our political discourse, the President has not let it alter his judgement. Winds change and unexpected currents take hold, but by keeping a clear sight on the horizon of a better day, knowing the righteous wind remains at our back, we will continue on, if we refrain from letting the rough water induce us to question the course and turn back, and keep us moving forward.
"I am well aware that the moment of any great change […] is unavoidably the moment of terror and confusion. The mind, highly agitated by hope, suspicion and apprehension, continues without rest till the change be accomplished. But let us now look calmly and confidently forward, and success is certain. It is no longer the paltry cause of kings, or of this, or of that individual, that calls [us] into action. It is the great cause of all. It is the establishment of a new era, that shall blot despotism from the earth, and fix, on the lasting principles of peace and citizenship, the great Republic of [Humanity]."
Thomas Paine
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