Hats off to Hillary

I don’t remember the first time I ever heard the name Hillary Clinton used in a sentence that contained even an ounce of positive feedback. From my overtly Republican family condemning her as the source of all feminine evil to South Park’s parody at the expense of her vagina, Hillary Clinton is — like all other political figures — a joke waiting to happen. With perceived pitfalls like the Monica Lewinsky scandal and a failed run for the presidency, Ms. Clinton has been hit below the belt many a time. I’m not saying I haven’t had my fair share of negative Hilary Clinton comments but I realized today — I don’t even really know who Hillary Clinton is. My past disposition for her has been a successful misogynistic ploy based on false truths I’ve fully overlooked.

After all these years, you might ask, what in the world sparked my curiosity? Her exit from the Obama campaign, I suppose. I became intrigued with this woman who has been at all ranges of roles: married to a president, a presidential candidate, a member of the Senate and Secretary of State for President Obama. A graduate of Yale Law School, founder of charities and social groups, and a well-travelled diplomat, Hillary Clinton has quite an impressive resumé. Her election attempts marked the first time a First Lady ran for public office, and the first time a female Senator ran to represent the state of New York.

With that quick-fire temper I can’t help but adore and that incredibly patient poise, Clinton has navigated through the political spectrum. During the Lewinsky scandal when she remained with Bill Clinton, a massive outpour of sympathy, admiration, and criticism surfaced. But at the end of it all, her approval rates shot up to around 70% — the highest they had ever been. In regards to her campaign for the White House, I give her kudos. She gracefully ended her campaign with 1,640 pledged votes to Obama’s 1,763, endorsing Barack Obama in the process, unselfishly promoting the good of her party over her own self-interest.

Reluctantly and after much hesitation to leave the Senate, Hillary Rodham Clinton was elected to be Secretary of State with a firm 94-2 vote. She resigned from the Senate the same day she was inaugurated in to the cabinet beginning, what she described, a new, “difficult and exciting adventure” . Though she has been criticized harshly for her handling of Syria as well as a fair share of disagreements between herself and Obama, they both have the highest prize in mind. “The president and I care deeply about what’s going to happen for our country in the future,” Clinton said. “And I don’t think, you know, either he or I can make predictions about what’s going to happen tomorrow or the next year.”

Whether or not I’d vote her in or agree with her political views, as a woman, I respect Hillary Clinton immensely if not solely for her involvement, but for her character under pressure and constant ridicule from the undereducated American public. So hats off to you, Hillary! I hope to be seeing a lot more of you in the future, and thank you for being the first at so many things and leaving us with a legacy that will last forever.

There cannot be true democracy unless women’s voices are heard. There cannot be true democracy unless women are given the opportunity to take responsibility for their own lives. There cannot be true democracy unless all citizens are able to participate fully in the lives of their country.”