Out With the New, In With the Old

Inauguration day is approaching fast and it seems like the old saying, �Out with the old, in with the new� does not apply to this most unusual of transitions. Going from one of the most progressive Presidents to ever hold office in modern history to someone who wants to repeal and revert the country back to the way it was before he stepped foot in the White House makes it seem like we are going backwards.

            Before I continue on and get criticized for being biased or some anti-Trump tyrant, I will admit that I am biased towards Barack Obama. I grew up with him as our leader and I followed his presidency as I grew up. I learned much of what I know about politics today observing him and his progression. In my opinion, he is the personification of class and professionalism needed in The White House, and I support policies like the Affordable Care Act, Iran Deal, and the Paris Climate Agreement. So as I go into this assessment of the future of our country, I will have a slightly biased perspective. I am not going to pretend that I am �fair and balanced� like some news organizations claim to be. Because I am not.

            As we transition between two very different administrations, I think we would have to define America as a whole if we were to determine if this new president is a good or bad thing. We have to ask ourselves, are we going to be a progressive country that is willing to change as the world changes? Or are we going to be a country that is conservative, strictly adhering to the values that make us better than other countries? Both perspectives have their flaws, and as we slowly go from the Obama administration to the Trump administration, we will see those flaws.

However, we cannot simply define our country as conservative or progressive because we are a democracy. Democracy allows for there to be different opinions. We cannot define ourselves as a country while we are a democracy, because democracy encourages individual opinions. If we are willing to give up our individuality and instead become a part of the state, then we can begin to define our nation in a concrete manner. I would not be willing to do that and I know that almost every American would agree with me.

So is Trump a good or bad thing for this country? Well, yes and no. For some people yes and for others no. That is the beauty of democracy. It allows you to draw conclusions and make your own opinions rather than being told what to think.

            In my opinion, as I watched our current President�s farewell address last Tuesday night and then the incoming President�s first press conference the next day there was a major difference in attitude. Obama was looking towards the future with hope and was inspiring his audience with authenticity and grace. Trump was arguing with reporters and insulting people he did not like.

            Maybe this is the change our country needs. But when Obama has to struggle to keep his audience from applauding him and cheering versus Trump, who pays people to laugh at his jokes and clap, it says a lot about the character of these two men. I think we will begin to miss the eloquent and heartfelt speeches of President Obama in a few months when we instead have to listen to incomplete sentences from President-elect Trump.