An ode to the Obamas

I’ll start this post by sharing my Facebook status from 5.07pm yesterday, as that abominable man came to power.

trump-inauguration-status

But this post isn’t about him. It’s about the departing First Family. Because that’s what they are. Barack’s reign wasn’t just about him. It was about a bigger picture. His wife. His kids. He truly was a President to be revered and respected.

Yes there are statistics around how much he increased national debt, and how many bombs he dropped (uncertified, BTW). But we have to remember that we’re not comparing like with like. Every Presidency is different and faces different challenges than the one before it.

Besides, the measure of a man is not just his leadership skills. It’s his emotions, connections with people, and grace. Barack was the first President to have access to Twitter (which should, by the way, be repealed now the orange moron is in charge. Someone put parental locks on and change his password, please!) He came across as likable, intelligent and real. His “bromance” with VP Joe Biden was heartwarming; and the fact that he referred to it in the latter days of his presidency, as he  awarded him the Medal of Freedom, was fantastic.

I love this video. I truly believe he’s a husband first, and doing a job second.

Barack and Michelle ooze love and respect.

I said it earlier in this post, but he’s real. A real person, with a real sense of humour, real wife and kids, and real emotions. He cares. Being President wasn’t a personal victory for him. It wasn’t a popularity contest. Can we assume the same about the new guy?

(sorry, I forgot, it’s not about him)

So here’s to you, lovely Obamas. And your children. And your legacy. You’ve done good. So good.

barack-and-michelle-obama

And now it’s time to go backwards again (dammit! I can’t help myself!)

Thanks, as always, for reading! x

Marriage equality in America – the best bits

Common sense has prevailed in America. Brilliant.

Brilliant for the couples who can now cement their love for each other when they’ve previously been forbidden.

Brilliant for the couples who will now enjoy equal rights around insurance, welfare and health in relation to their partners.

Brilliant that a few rogue states with delusions of power have been firmly put in their place and over ruled.

Brilliant that the Whitehouse was bathed in multi-coloured lights to celebrate such a momentous decision.

Rainbow Whitehouse marriage equality

Rainbow Whitehouse marriage equality

Rainbow Whitehouse marriage equality

Brilliant that Niagra Falls followed suit.

Niagra Falls same sex marriage

Brilliant that President Obama tweeted about it.

President Obama Twitter

Brilliant that Twitter had a hashtag with a rainbow heart.

Twitter rainbow heart

Brilliant that Facebook had an app to change your profile picture to a rainbow version.

Facebook rainbow profile picture

Some great stories about bigoted pastors who vowed to set themselves on fire if same sex marriage became legal…

…who then furiously backpeddled because he didn’t really mean it (roll eyes).

Americans who planned to move to Canada if the law changed (Canada legalised same sex marriage in 2005)

But this story here, with pictures, sums up what it’s all about – marriages that took place immediately after the ruling that would have previously been impossible.

Who can deny love like this?

Jack Evans, 84, left, and George Harris, 82, right, show their marriage license after being the first couple to receive it from the Dallas County Clerk Friday, June 26, 2015, in Dallas. Evans and Harris, who have been together for 54 years were the first couple married after having their license issued. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Jack Evans, 84, left, and George Harris, 82, right, show their marriage license after being the first couple to receive it from the Dallas County Clerk Friday, June 26, 2015, in Dallas. Evans and Harris, who have been together for 54 years were the first couple married after having their license issued. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Jaque Roberts,  left, and her partner of 31 years, Carmelita Cabello, right,  show off their marriage license at the Travis County building after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that  same-sex couples have the right to marry nationwide, Friday, June 26, 2015, in Austin, Texas. The court's 5-4 ruling means the remaining 14 states, in the South and Midwest, will have to stop enforcing their bans on same-sex marriage.(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Jaque Roberts, left, and her partner of 31 years, Carmelita Cabello, right, show off their marriage license at the Travis County building after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry nationwide, Friday, June 26, 2015, in Austin, Texas. The court’s 5-4 ruling means the remaining 14 states, in the South and Midwest, will have to stop enforcing their bans on same-sex marriage.(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Of course the fact that a decision got made by 9 individuals in the Supreme Court is ridiculous. But that’s a whole other story. Had the decision gone the other way then I’d have been more vocal about the process.

All that matters is that love wins.