Gabrielle WitCraft
Mrs. Mandviwalla
ENG 101-24
13 November 2012
HISTORY IN THE MAKING In 2009 he made history by becoming American’s first black President, his name is Barack Obama. Loved by many and hated by others, some only see the color of his skin, but I see the great things he has and will do now that he has been reelected. People criticize him because our country is still in a recession, but they fail to understand that we are so deep into debt it will take years to recover. Obama is blamed for our country being in such debt, but the debt was already there before he entered office. Rather than blame Obama for something he is not responsible for, Americans should recognize all the changes he brings and will continue to bring to the table. Those changes most important to me include his support of gay marriage, the end to the war in Afghanistan, and health care reform. Obama does not just support heterosexuals, but homosexuals as well. In a 2008, interview with Pastor Rick Warren then Senator Obama was asked for his definition of marriage. Obama replied that marriage is between one man and one woman and noted that it was also a sacred union in which God was a factor. Despite his religious take on marriage, Obama also stated that he would not support an amendment to the Constitution to define marriage because it was not something the Constitution should define. Obama’s belief is that it should be left up to the states to determine if they will allow gay marriage (Barack Obama on Gay Marriage).
Obama has his own personal view on what marriage is, as everyone does, but is accepting enough to say that he will not allow the Constitution to define the meaning of marriage for all American citizens. I support Obama because of this. Everyone deserves the right to get married whether it is a man and a woman, two woman, or two men. Like in the story we read in class, Why The M Word Matters To Me, Andrew Sullivan says, “When people talk about gay marriage, they miss the point. This isn’t about gay marriage. It’s about marriage. It’s about family. It’s about love. It isn’t about religion” (Clouse 429). In an interview with CBN, Obama said, “On the issue of gay marriage, my belief is that as a public official, my role is to make sure that everybody is treated fairly and everybody has equal rights” (Barack Obama on Gay Marriage). Many people do not treat homosexuals equally. America has come a long way, from giving women the right to vote to equal rights for African Americans. So why can’t this country accept gay and lesbian marriage? Having a president who gives his support among the gay community is a positive effect. By having President Obama in office this country is another step forward towards equal rights for every U.S. citizen. Gay marriage is not the only area where opinions among U.S. citizens vary drastically. For myself, I do not support the war that we have been in. Back in 2007, Obama gave his views on the war in Afghanistan. He outlined his five point strategy in which he wanted to get our troops out of Iraq and into Afghanistan, to develop the capabilities and partnerships we need to take out the terrorists and the world’s most deadly weapons, engage the world to dry up support for terror and extremism, restore our values, and secure a more resilient homeland. Obama said, “The first step must be getting off the wrong battlefield in Iraq, and taking the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan” (War in Afghanistan). At the time everyone was for his plan. Obama’s steps forward also led our men and women to locate and kill one of our most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden.
Some Americans believe Obama did not kill Osama bin Laden, our troops did, but our troops carried out that mission because of our President, Barack Obama. The way I see things, is that the whole reason as to why we were at war with Afghanistan in the first place was because of Osama bin Laden, and now that he