Reminds me of the time I finally allowed some Mormon missionary boys into my house because I honestly wanted to know what their deal was. After listening politely (and scoring a Book of Mormon--not easy to do) I asked them if they could come back when my partner got home so she could hear all this wonderful stuff. "Sorry, ma'am, but we can't invite you to our church". Shoot. I wasted my favorite cookies on 'em, too....
Boy, do I relate to this! Same boat, went to music school after a passionate love affair with music growing up and ended up hating it. I still drag my instrument collection with me wherever I go but after having that raw desire for the simple joy of playing music drained out of me, I can hardly bring myself to play a single note anymore. I will probably never graduate from college either and every attempt to go back makes me feel hollow. Thanks for posting this. It's good to know there are others out there who feel the same way.
I took the references to himself as taking responsibility for his decisions, not credit. I guess we do all hear what we want to hear.
Exactly, Sarah! We're so used to pass-the-buck leadership that we don't even recognize the real thing when we see it anymore. No leader is going to do everything right all the time, but the one who is humble enough to take the brunt of the blame is the one I want in charge of my country.
What I heard was Obama, as leader, taking RESPONSIBILITY for the operation, not credit. That's what a president should do, imho. I'm not sure I understand how people are filtering his words through a screen of self-aggrandizement.
I'm not interested in further bashing the President. The fact that he was able to oversee this operation, imperfect as the outcome was, without needing to stand up in the midst of all the shouting about his background and character and put our loved ones in further danger is testament to his restraint. The psychological toll the last 10 years have taken on our country can only be relieved by possibly inappropriate jubilation. Whatever any of us would have had him do differently pales against the fact that a madman is gone from our radar. There will always be more, but we need to find some good in knowing that the sacrifices of so many have not been in vain.
I am middle-aged now, but am haunted periodically by the memories of times I did nothing when I saw someone else being bullied. In particular, I remember a girl in high school. She wasn't pretty, wore thick glasses and had frizzy hair. One day I watched and laughed as a group of boys, normally good kids, took on a pack mentality and began to torment her by shooting spitballs in her hair. She just sat there silently. I had never talked to her and still never have. She was the #1 student in our class. I still wonder what ever happened to her...
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Ellen 
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