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| Hillary Rodham Clinton Picture: MISES INSTITUTE |
The first
time I really took note of Hillary Rodham Clinton was when she was propelled to
national (and international) ridicule by Bill Clinton’s affair in 1998. I was
nine years old then and didn’t really understand politics. I was however very
sad that Hillary Clinton had been publicly embarrassed by the scandal. I didn’t
have access to the internet then but I followed every article that mentioned
Hillary Clinton on the dailies. And even though I didn’t completely understand
a lot of what I was reading, I grew fascinated with her.
I learned
that she wasn’t the typical woman of the 90s. She had a mind of her own, a
drive that could rival most men and a desire that was as infectious as it was
surprising. She was a lawyer, held strong political views that she was willing
to work for and was actively fighting for children’s rights in her country.
What was most impressive was that she was all of these before she even met Bill
Clinton.
The
results of my research on Hillary and what I knew about Oprah Winfrey made me
sit down – all 9 years old of me – to write out my life plans, the things I
wanted to do and achieve and the person I wanted to be remembered for. I wrote
these plans knowing that it wasn’t wrong for women to be intelligent,
passionate or driven; things I was already displaying at that age.
As I grew
older, the strides Hillary made – in her law practice, humanitarian work and on
the board of many committees – cemented my views about who I was meant to be.
She was shattering glass ceilings way before it was a fitting catchphrase. What
was most inspiring was her drive. She couldn’t be stopped for anything! Yes,
she was less prominent during the time leading to the 1996 elections, but she
didn’t stop pushing for the causes she was passionate about.
From a
driven lawyer, she became the first ‘First Lady’ to share her desire for
elective post, campaign for that and win. But that was not the end for her.
After serving for eight years in the US Senate, she announced that she was
going to run for Presidency in 2008. I was so excited when I read this and even
though I was a total fan of Barack Obama, I was happy that she dared to aspire for the highest post in one of
the world’s greatest nations. And even though she didn’t get the Democratic
Party nomination, she didn’t remain bitter. She joined forced with President
Barack Obama as his Secretary of State.
When she
expressed her desire again for office in 2015, I was again inspired. She
couldn’t be put down! And best of all, she wouldn’t
be put down. Never in my life have I prayed to be American more than at that
time so I could vote for her; vote for a woman who refused to toe the line
society tried to force down her throat.
Hillary was
more qualified than her husband when he ran for presidency but she waited. She
was probably more experienced than President Barack Obama when he ran but
again, she waited. You can imagine my pain when the time finally came and she
had to face a racist, sexist, homophobic, misogynist, unintelligent, vile and
inexperienced man! I honestly thought she had it in the bun. But alas, racism,
James Comey, sexism, homophobia, Julian Assange, WikiLeaks, white supremacy and
blatant tomfoolery would have none of that.
In spite
of her loss at the US Elections, I have never been more proud of a person like
I am of Hillary.
Hillary
Clinton is a woman who has pushed for the things she believes in, giving her
all – and then some – to her dreams, even when everything seemed against her.
Many people wanted her to stand behind her husband, aspire for garden parties
in the white house and be a beautiful potted plant. Most people couldn't
understand a woman who dared to have her own mind, her own dreams, her own
vision and even her own sense of style. I mean, how dare Hillary think she can
wear those pantsuits and three-inch heels and be president? Well, those people
won! For now, anyway.
Why was
it so important for Hillary to win? Would she have been the first female
president? No! We have African female presidents. Plus, I am Nigerian. How does
it affect me?
Well, it
does!
Many
people have accused me of supporting Hillary Clinton only because she is a woman and I laugh because the reaction
is typical. I wanted her to win because she was the most qualified person for the position as a result of her
extensive work in government and because she worked hard; even harder than most
men have to. Nut more than that, and she dared
to. I wanted her to win because I saw her policy plans and agreed with them. I
wanted her to win because she had demonstrated better character for humanity
and basic human rights than Trump has or will ever. Beyond that, I wanted her
to win because she had her failings too and has learned from them. But no; she
is a woman, so that was my only reason for supporting her (*shaking my head).
It is worrisome however that most people would rather vote a bumbling
unqualified man than a woman.
We get
it; society has its tethering rope.
Hillary
may have lost this election but she has inspired me, and many people globally,
to fight for what we believe in, to push for what we want and to stay the
course, even if it takes forever. She may not get to be the first female
president of the United States of America but her drive would make some woman
the first. Many of the suffragettes didn’t get to see Hillary Clinton contest
but their work got her to be the first female presidential nominee of the major
parties in her country. She broke that ceiling. Another woman will break
the next.
To every
woman who understands how disheartening it is to work harder, be better and
more qualified and who is still being ignored or voted down, we have to keep
fighting! We may have lost this one, but we will win eventually! It may take a
long time but we aren’t going anywhere!
Thank you
Hillary Rodham Clinton for being a superb inspiration to us! We love you
always!
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