Those who know me are well aware of the, shall we say, distaste I hold for my former Senator-turned-President. Often, in a joking manner, individuals will compare me to the current commander-in-chief just to raise my blood pressure.
That being said, this past Easter break while I was at home, I drew a stunning correlation between the two of us. I was partaking in a discussion I was not very happy to be in. I was upset with the individual I was talking to and I simply wanted to see them to the door. However, I was polite, I listen, I shared my feelings and concerns, and we ended the conversation on a civil note. Let me lay the ground work for this post: I adore my family. I have loving parents, two siblings who I know I can always count on, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins who I deeply care about, and two living grandparents who I cherish more than ever after losing my mom's parents. My family has done a lot for me, but they certainly are not perfect. Dysfunctional does not fully capture how strange my family can be at times.
Keeping this in mind, during the previous mentioned conversation I had, the comment was made about how an event may "reflect poorly" on my future political career. I have made it very clear to my family that I hope to one day pursue a career in politics. I'm not entirely sure if that means as an elected official, working in a government office, for a think-tank, or what, but I definitely want to devote my life to American Politics.
This conversation was made because of some of the less pleasant choices that have been made by some of my family members. I do not always agree or condone the choices made by members of my family--immediate or extended--but I am not one to condemn them. It is not my place to judge.
After this comment was made, I had to respond. My immediate response was "I don't care how bad they've messed-up, it wasn't my mistake." In essence, regardless of what others in my family did, those actions do not define who I am. I am free to rise above these situations and move forward. They help shape who I am, but do not define me. I am not simply a product of a situation, I am in control of my own life.
In the same conversation, this person mentioned how they felt bad for President Obama. The remark was something along the lines of, "He isn't perfect, but he's trying. Look at where he came from...I know lots of people don't like him, but he's not that bad. At least he's trying."
Now, at first I scoffed at this. I cannot think of a single issue that President Obama and I could agree on via the same course of action. I do not approve of how he handled the economy, I do not like his agenda, I simply do not care for the man. So to hear this, during a conversation I was already unhappy with, was almost too much. Thankfully, I didn't have a chance to provide a rebuttle.
After some thought, I had to give some credit to the rambling words of this individual. Specifically one phrase, "look at where he came from." There has been extreme controversy concerning the Obama family. The legality of President Obama's birth, his family in Kenya, and numerous other issues have surrounded this man and his family in the past 4 years. I am not saying I condone or condemn either side, but I have to give credit to the man, he has risen above a lot of controversy. I may not agree with his means, but he does deserve some credit.
As I think about all he has conquered, especially the family slurs, I can't help but think that one day I very well may need to draw upon that strength. My situation is not quite as extreme as President Obama's, but there are some similarities. In the end, President Obama has made it clear that his family is not him. There is a disconnect, just as there is with every family. While your family has considerable influence on how you turn out, it does not determine the final product--that is up to you. And since the final product is only reached on the last day of our life, that gives us a lot of control. I certainly have to agree with the argument that you cannot judge an individual solely based on their family.
Our society tries to peg people into holes, but the ex-Senator makes it well known that his family is part of who he is, but not the end. I know, if I ever run for an office, I would not want people to judge me based on my family members' actions. After all, I have no control over them. Former Senator Obama has made it clear that he has no control over his family. You can try to influence your siblings, your parents, or anyone else in your family, but at the end of the day, it is still their decision. And, as I've said before, I have to respect the man--at least in this aspect--for rising above that situation.
It's not your family that matters when it comes down to your character. Well, that is to say, it is not your family that ultimately matters. As previously stated, they influence, but do not define. They are a source of inspiration or destruction. They provide a chance to help elevate or tear down. Family can have a positive or negative influence on you, but they certainly do not have the final influence. You cannot chose your family. You cannot control your family's action's, however, you can control your reactions. You can control what you become from your family.
So, President Obama, thank you for showing me that while family matters, it is not the only thing that matters. What I make of my matter, how I shape it, is up to me.
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