It’s a well-known fact (or it should be) that some people will complain simply for the sake of complaining – they’ll moan, carry-on, whimper and whine even when they know nobody is listening. Nothing I say here is going to change that, I realize, but I’d still like to take a moment to share my thoughts.
Then again, I’m probably going to be accused of hypocrisy just by writing this, considering I’m sitting here griping myself, aren’t I?
There’s a big difference though, at least in my mind. It’s not that I think I’m better than your typical naysayer, considering we all have a tendency to sound-off on whatever happens to be bothering us throughout the course of the day, week, month or year every once in a while. Sometimes, however, the never-ending lack of civility and intelligent discussion really gets me riled-up.
I’ve spent a significant amount of time during my tenure as an Evening Sun reporter defending our current president, not because I look at him as some kind of savior, the next coming or anything like that (had to make sure I covered my back on that one). I just have a hard time dealing with the continued ignorance and racism I was sure would accompany his first term as commander-in-chief (definitely one of those instances I wish I’d been wrong).
It’s not that I agree 100 percent with every decision Obama has made while in office – something that would be impossible for any president, no matter his or her party, political beliefs, religion, race, favorite breakfast food, football team or late night sitcom – I simply think he’s a good, honest, caring American father and husband. He’s also a natural leader who’s well-spoken, intelligent and – in my opinion – sincere in his efforts to turn this country around (now I’ve gone and said it, let the backlash begin).
And now that he and his team have managed to decapitate al-Qaida, what with the successful (and completely justified) killing of Osama bin Laden, let’s just say the man has earned some long-deserved praise and maybe a little respect, no matter what one’s personal opinion might be.
I’m not going to hold my breath, however, as I’m fairly certain that will never happen. You know what I mean – the Obama-haters out there actually biting the bullet and giving the man some props for a job well done. Never happen.
I’ll admit I wasn’t surprised in the least when the news of bin Laden’s death immediately kicked off a whole new round of absolutely pointless controversy (or drivel). Put it this way, the bellyachers out there who refuse to give Obama any kind of credit for last week’s successful raid will be the first to tell you bin Laden was behind the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Yet they clam-up the moment you ask them to admit our president – after nearly a decade – got the job done. And that’s not to say Obama’s team of advisors had nothing to do with planning and implementing the plan to finally take down bin Laden. In fact, our commander-in-chief would’ve been a fool to ignore their advice, as I’m sure he himself would tell you.
The fact-of-the-matter is this – some people simply can not set aside their petty, partisan viewpoint long enough to realize that this is a victory – not only for the Obama administration – but America as a whole.
This is a victory for the thousands of victims murdered by bin Laden and his fellow cowards on September 11, 2001 and their families. This is a victory for every living, breathing person out there – no matter their religion or race – who believes in freedom.
And for those of you using bin Laden’s death as an excuse to attack our president politically, you should truly be ashamed.
I, for one, certainly don’t give a damn if last week’s raid – and the subsequent killing of Osama bin Laden – was illegal or not. Was what al-Qaida did ten years ago legal? As our president so eloquently stated, “Justice is done.”
I couldn’t have put it any better myself, Mr. President.

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