Dear President Obama #17- Has It Really Been A Year?

When President Obama took office in January, he asked that Americans write into the White House to give advice about the country. So I recently decided to write a letter to the president with advice or thoughts that I wanted to share with him, in hopes that one day I would hear back and just maybe my thoughts may influence him…

Dear President Obama,

You know, I was just asking someone the other day where the year had gone. It seems like it was just yesterday that I watched on TV President Bush and Laura Bush take off from the South Lawn on Marine One (which was not designated that at the time since he was no longer president). It seems like it was just yesterday that Beyonce was singing At Last at the Inaugural Ball while you and Michelle danced. It seemed like it was just yesterday that you were busy appointing new Cabinet members including Hilary Clinton as your new Secretary of State and Tim Geithner as Treasury Secretary. It seems like it was just yesterday that just about 3/4 of the country supported you and were excited. It seems like it was just yesterday that we all had hope and change on our minds.

It has been an interesting first year though. You’ve had to tackle various issues including the economy, war, healthcare, race, critics, Republicans, Democrats, and the like. You’ve given great speeches such as the one in Cairo, Nobel Peace Prize, and the address to fathers. The White House has played host to amazing cultural forums and performances, of which it has not done before. So much in only a years time.

Ive been reading commentary on your first year in office and listening to them nitpick everything all day. Im not going to do that. Instead, I want to encourage you. Everyone needs encouragement sometimes. Why should you be any different?

The first year was rough Barack. It really was. Its not going to get any easier. However, the one thing that I trust during this second year, is your ability to take what you have learned and apply it to whats coming and push forward. America elected you. We elected you obviously for various reasons but most importantly because we felt at the time that you were what this country needed. We felt that you were bringing fresh ideas to an otherwise stalemate of monotony. And though many have wavered in support for you, and I will admit certain things you have done I have not been a fan of, there are those of us who do not regret that decision to vote you into office. I know that I did not vote to see you change everything around in a year. I voted for you because I believe in your tenacity and strength and skills. I believe in your ability to set the tone, set the pace, lead by example and discover and apologize when you are wrong. Politics will be politics and Im not interested in it at all. What i am interested in is making my beloved country Safe, free, and prosperous. Im interested in making it attainable. Im interested in doing whatever it takes to see us back on top. There are those of us who trust your ability to lead. So lead. But be sure to listen to us along the way. The citizens know what they want and sometimes even know whats best without a daily national security or economic briefing. We are writing you. We are speaking on the television shows. We are showing up to the town hall meetings. We are voicing our desires and we are verbing our needs. So pay attention.

You will fail in many endeavours. But fail brilliantly. I dont expect you to be a perfect President. I expect you to show up. I expect you to do what you feel is best. I expect you to trust yourself, your heart, and those that you have put around you to advise you. I expect your yes to be yes and your no to be no. I expect you to try. Just try…and then…..

…we’ll go from there.

My friends and I are planning a trip up to DC in February. Give me a call this week sometime so that we can schedule a day to meet up and grab drinks.

American Citizen,

Meiko

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