George H. W. Bush: a silent hero

On Nov. 30, George H.W. Bush passed away. Let us remember the accountability with which he exercised dignified leadership in hopes that our future leaders may follow his legacy.

Often, we as teenagers do not think about events that happened before we were born. Some of the time, we fall into this trap of thinking, “if it happened before I existed, why should it matter? Why should I care about the turn of the century or World War II when it already happened? Why do I need to be so aware of history and my surroundings?”

Last August, I kept these questions in mind when beginning to write this column. Observing the world around me, I aimed to be more historically and politically aware, and I wanted to learn from the mistakes and disasters of the past to create a better future for myself and my community.

Throughout history, mankind has endured many fallbacks. History is a series of mistakes, and I strive to learn and ensure they do not happen again. However,  I learn the most through the silent heroes that stayed true throughout their mistakes — the ones who acknowledged their many faults without deviating from strong, kind leadership.

President George H. W. Bush was one of those heroes.

As I reflect back on Bush’s presidency, I cannot help but notice how his stands out against the presidential terms that I myself have lived through. How did he establish himself as one of the most likable and successful modern American presidents? Could it have been his charismatic and generous disposition when he wrote a personal note to Bill Clinton — his opponent in the 1993 election — in which he wrote that he was rooting for him in the upcoming years? Or was it his forward-thinking concern for the environmental damage in the United States? Was it his bravery in foreign policy as he diplomatically responded to the conflicts of the Gulf War, or could it have been because he accepted his loss in his second presidential election race with the grace and dignity of a true American leader?

I wish I could have been alive to see President Bush raise minimum wage all the while establishing facilities for drug abuse rehabilitation that are still being used today. Or when he assisted in the downfall of a dictatorship in Panama. I will forever remember President Bush, not because he was a role model for me as I grew up, but because he represents an ideal that I strive for our nation to uphold in the future. He took his victories with pride and his downfalls with dignity, caring for his own beloved nation all the while watching the backs of our allies. Keeping President Bush and his values in mind, I believe America has a bright future ahead of us.