The press never gave the president much credit for these achievements--90% of the media coverage in the first year of the Trump presidency was negative. The American people ended 2017 much better with Trump than his predecessor, but you certainly wouldn't know it from the media coverage.
Most parents wouldn't like their teenage daughter playing basketball with convicted murderers. But the men selected for this program had already served decades of their life sentences and consistently showed good behavior. Besides, there were always plenty of state troopers around.
It would have been much easier for my parents to play it safe and stay away from the trustees, but I'm glad they didn't. They wanted us to understand that God unconditionally loves and forgives us and that nobody is unworthy of our compassion or beyond the redemptive power of God's grace.
Growing up around the trustees taught me a life changing lesson about grace. I have since made a point to focus on people's good qualities & not dwell too much on their flaws; we all have them.
Our student body president, an African American girl, also spoke in front of the world and speak out for civil rights. It was a reminder to all of us that day and around the world how far America and Arkansas had come.
The Little Rock Nine bravely advanced equality in America, and today Central High is one of the most racially diverse and high-achieving schools in the state. I loved my experience there. My time at Central exposed me to all different backgrounds, lifestyles, and viewpoints. I am very proud to have graduated from Little Rock Central High.
[In my own post-partum case], I hated admitting I was failing as a new mom and instead tried to hide my sadness. I felt even more guilty knowing how hard some of my friends were struggling to get pregnant and have children but couldn't. I knew this was supposed to be a blissful time in my life and seeing all the happy, successful moms around me made it even harder.
I later had two perfect and adorable baby boys--Huck and George--and experienced postpartum depression again with Huck, but this time I was more prepared and able to talk about it with my family and friends, which made all the difference. Being a mom is not easy, but the best things in life aren't easy, and there is nothing in my life that brings me more joy than my three wild, crazy, beautiful kids.
He initially opposed Pres. Trump's China travel ban that saved many American lives. Biden just didn't get it. China was our adversary, not our friend. Either America would lead the world in the 21st century, or China would. Under Pres. Trump it would always be America first. Could the same be said for a President Biden?
Until the pandemic hit America had never been stronger. African American and Hispanic unemployment was at an all-time low thanks to Pres. Trump, who had done far more to empower minorities with better jobs, higher wages, and a better hope for the future than Biden ever had. President Trump rebuilt our economy before. He could be trusted to do it again.
I talked to President Trump on the phone the day he declared a national emergency. "The American people want you to lead and be strong on this," I said. "Your decision today was a good one. Keep it up."
Despite criticism from Democrats and the media, the president made the right call with the travel ban. He was also right to declare a national emergency and implement social distancing guidelines--not forever, but until we flattened the curve--which likely prevented the failure of hospitals and prevented many American deaths.
A member of the US Army silently reached up, tore the Brave Rifles patch representing the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment from this arm, and handed it to me. "We're in this together. It's an honor to meet you."
Overwhelmed with emotion and speechless, I hugged him. I probably held on longer than I should have, and walked away with tears in my eyes more grateful than ever for the brave men and women of our armed forces. Their selfless sacrifice represents the best of America. I keep the patch on my desk in my office to remind me of their sacrifice.
Like every other human being on the planet, I had no illusion that Mr. Trump was a perfect person--far from it--but in a race against Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump was clearly the better choice. Even when the polls showed him down and the media and political establishment--including many Republican leaders-counted him out, I believed Trump would win. I believed his message was resonating with states like PA and MI that hadn't gone Republican in a long time. I also believed, having grown up in the Clinton's shadows in Arkansas--that a Hilary Clinton presidency might be a disaster this country may never recover from.
We are allowed to disagree, but we should be able to do so freely and without fear of harm. A member of Congress called for people to "push back' and make clear to those serving their country in this administration that they are not welcome anywhere, anytime, for anything.
Healthy ideas and political philosophy is important, but the calls for harassment and push for any Trump supporter to avoid the public is unacceptable. America is a great country, and our ability to find solutions despite those disagreements is what makes us unique.
We wanted the leadership of North Korea to know that America would not be bullied. They were threatening the strongest military on the face of the earth, and if they started a war with the United States, it would end in their deaths. General Jim Mattis delivered the statement, which included a line I wrote: "We are not looking for the total annihilation of a country, namely North Korea. But we have many options to do so." Afterward General Mattis turned to me and said, "You're tough. The only job I'd want less in the administration than mine is yours."
"Why didn't somebody do something?" The little girl understood. All it takes for evil to win is for good people to do nothing. The reason I know that story is because I was that little girl.
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The above quotations are from Speaking for Myself by Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Click here for other excerpts from Speaking for Myself by Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Click here for other excerpts by Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Click here for a profile of Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
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