Tweet

Thankful For The President - Really

Guest post by: Michael Hume

Article Overview: Happy Thanksgiving. And here's to the president. I wouldn't say he's the founder of our feast, but he's a decent fellow, our elected leader, and a person worthy of at least some gratitude from all of us....

Thankful For The President - Really

May The Lord Bless And Keep Him There's a great scene in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" that gave me pause recently. When the Ghost of Christmas Present is dragging Scrooge around to see what's going on beyond his miserly view, they stop by the home of his poor employee, Bob Cratchit. Bob offers a toast for his family: "To Mr. Scrooge, the founder of our feast."

Mrs. Cratchit plops herself down and refuses to drink the health of such a stingy old man as Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge. Finally, Bob convinces his wife to join him and the children in drinking to Scrooge. "I'll drink his health," she finally relents, "for your sake, Bob, and for the day's sake. But not for his."

It made me think: would I drink to Barack Obama's health? I'm completely convinced his policies are ruinously misguided, and that he's the worst president in my lifetime. In fact, I think he's probably the worst president, in terms of what a person in that office can and should do for our country, in the last hundred years (though Woodrow Wilson would give him a run for his money, at the bottom of my list). And, maybe even, the worst president in American history. There's no doubt he's trying hard to take the country in the opposite direction from that intended by its Founders, which, in my view, means taking the country "down."

But yes, I find I'm truly thankful for President Obama. And not just because, since he's so out-there on the far left, he's made himself thoroughly defeatable next year (and driven home a great reminder to the nation about what happens when you dabble too much in collective statism). That's just politics, and it's beneath the sanctity of this day of Thanksgiving - indeed, of the notion of sincere gratitude itself - to dwell on it.

I'm thankful that there's a guy out there in the Oval Office, working for us, dealing with the bazillion things presidents have to do on our behalf, and doing (I believe) his sincere best to try to "help." The fact that I think his view of what helps is completely wrong doesn't mean I don't appreciate his effort. I do.

I'm thankful for the work President Obama did to get himself elected, breaking barriers such as race that'd never been fully tested before. The fact that he had some advantages on the way up doesn't diminish the Herculean effort he had to put forth to get there, just as anyone who seeks the country's highest office must do. He didn't have to do it. He is trying to serve his country the best way he knows how, based on his upbringing, background, and frame-of-reference. I'm thankful to him for that, and to God for inspiring his effort.

I'm thankful for the good things the president has accomplished in office. The fact that most of his policies and acts have been, in my view, disastrous, does not change the fact that he's done some things well. Though I abhor violence as much as anyone, I applaud his removal from the planet of some of its worst bad guys, chief among them Osama Bin Laden (who would still be alive today if Mr. Obama hadn't consented to his elimination). I think his extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, though it probably galled him to do it, was the right move. And I do think he's learned a lot, and continues to learn what it takes to conduct the affairs of his office (and that not all the things he promised on the campaign trail would be practical). I am thankful for his efforts in these areas.

And, above all, I'm thankful that (as far as I know), he's safe-and-sound as I write this. He's put himself way out there, and I've greatly feared attempts on his life since before he was inaugurated. The only thing worse, in my view, than having a misguided man in the White House is having that man assassinated, and therefore posthumously lionized. And as much as I disagree with him, I certainly believe he fully deserves a chance to stand for re-election, and if defeated, hand over the reins to his successor in peace. I pray for the safety and health of President Obama, and I hope you will, too.

Happy Thanksgiving. And here's to the president. I wouldn't say he's the founder of our feast, but he's a decent fellow, our elected leader, and a person worthy of at least some gratitude from all of us.

One more question: If you're a real Obama fan, you might think my prayers for him insincere. They are not. I think it's a good exercise to remind myself that there's a good reason to drink to the health of any decent person.... it's good for me to be grateful for President Obama. So think of whichever president you feel has been the worst in your lifetime. Can you find some sincere reasons to be grateful for that man? Would you liberals, for instance, sincerely be able to drink to the health of George W. Bush on this fine, festive day?

Related Articles
  Thanksgiving Day is a Jewel
  Inspirational Leaders Lead In Giving Thanks
  The Turkeys We Send To D.C.
  15 Beads For Happiness
  Begin the Practice of 'Thanks-Living'!
  Do You have a favorite F word ?
  Negativity can push you to greatness
  Leadership-Its in Everyone of Us!
  A New Year's Observation
  Find Some New Appreciation Today
  Small businesses, science/tech leaders, not the government, will lead us to a better future
  Who Says There Are No Jobs?
  Measuring Success with Happiness
  The Winter Blues Are No Match For Your Optimism
  Do You Wake Up Happy or Anxious?
  Write “Thank You!” on All Your Checks
  Entrepreneurs | Discover How Your Choices Can Impact Your Business Growth
  More Opportunities for Web Writers and What to Charge Your Client for Them
  Slash Your Marketing Budget
  Help for Surviving Current Recession

Article Tags: entrepreneurship, health wealth and happiness, inspirational leadership, personal responsibility



Related Forum Posts
Women's goals - >>>IF YOU HAD ASKED A GLASS full of children 20 or 30 years ago what they wanted to be when they grew up, boys would probably have yelled "President!" while girls might have quietly said "A teacher." That's because 20 years any girl who said she wanted to be President, or a pilot or a scientist, etc., would have been laughed at by boys who would've said, "Girls cant be __________!" Even today that stereotype exists. My own view is that even though women have more opportunities than ever, they are also bombarded by the media that reinforces that more than anything else they are sex objects...showing up they're husbands or boyfriends is bad, etc.
The Value of Mentoring - Successful mentor pairings (in case there was any doubt as to the value of mentoring): 1. André Ouellet (President, Canada Post) mentor to Mark Whalen (Urban Organics and winner, Young Entrepreneur Award) 2. Marc Lefrançois (President, Via Rail Canada) mentor to Jeffrey Campbell (Core Networks, Inc. and winner, Young Entrepreneur Award) 3. Donald Kendall (former CEO of PepsiCo) mentor to John Scully (former CEO of Apple) 4. Harland Sanders (the Colonel) mentor to Dave Thomas (founder of Wendy's) 5. Stuart Friend (KMart manager) mentor to Wayne Sales (CEO of Canadian Tire) 6. Jim Rohn (author, motivational speaker) mentor to Anthony Robbins (author, motivational speaker) 7. Robert Patterson (CEO, National Cash Register) mentor to Thomas Watson (founder of IBM) 8. Henri-Paul Rosseau (President, Laurentian Bank of Canada) mentor to isabel Rodriquez and Yves Besner (i4design and winners, Young Entrepreneur Award)
Job titles - [quote:3shpwvxj]In fact, I've had friends tell me that "Founder" is better than "Owner" since it's less possessive.[/quote:3shpwvxj] For myself, I don't care for the term "Founder" [i:3shpwvxj]because [/i:3shpwvxj]it's not possessive. You can be the founder of a company and have sold it - so it no longer belongs to you. However, if you call yourself "Owner" - people know the company is still in your hands. But I don't like Owner, either. I'd prefer President or Director, because one can be an absentee owner, whereas if one is a President or Director, people assume you're involved in the day to day activities. Manager, on the other hand, wouldn't work if its your business, because (to me, anyway) that implies that you "manage" for someone else - like at a restaurant.
How to Do Great Marketing with (Amost) No Money - I've given this presentation to CEOs many times. Now i can share it with you. But I cannot because I do not yet have 20 posts. Jeff Ogden, President Find New Customers
Re: Just a simple comparison & contrast of our truths in crisis. - I I totally agree you have to be extremely grateful. I am extremely grateful because I have all my body parts complete, look all the people that don't. Look at all those soldiers that honoring their country go to war get killed. Believing in their cause not only now but threw out history that never left no children. We all must be Thankful for those that helped our loved ones the old ancestors that were so wise in been abundant and fruitful that left us a body to live in. Man and how blessed are we can you imagine how many people never had children or couldn’t and we are the lucky descendants of the ones that could. Come on now bless be the Lord Almighty King and Lord of heaven. By just existing you should be humbled and eternally meek for such success. A sacred quote from a very wise woman If that is not enough, look at all the sperms that fought for your place and you’re the winner. I wish I could have reached that Billionaire with this or any person thinking that it is a great shame and people should mourn and be sensitive to that evil that won and prevent it from happening again. A person in that position or any alive would have influence allot more people before going. But unfortunately you do not know what you have until you don’t have it. That’s why it is wise to be close to your creator the founder while you can.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Anger Solutions at Work: Why Customers Get Angry

The Biggest Domain Name Myth

Download a template or see a lawyer?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.