PinkKorset.com – Today, the United States of America is inaugurating new president. While the president of (well, most of) their heart, Barack Obama, penned a goodbye letter. Try not to cry while reading this.
While the Obamas is looking forward to their first day as a citizen, many Americans are getting sad each day closer to the inauguration. There’s that, also the fact that Hillary Clinton is actually won the election by popular vote. That means, she has more people voted for her instead of Donald Trump.
On the last full day in the office, Thursday (19/1/2017), Obama sat and wrote an eloquent thank you to the American public. He reflects on the people he’s met during his eight year of presidency by humbly saying that all that he learnt during his time in the office, “I’ve learned from you.”
He remains positive of the future. Obama wrote that he’s seen the decency, determination, good humor, and kindness of Americans. Also, he seems to catch some ‘fear’ about Trump’s presidency and offering some words of assurance. America, he wrote, is not the project of any one person.
“The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We’. ‘We the People’. ‘We shall overcome’,” the man wrote in his letter. Below is his letter in full, as quoted from the Mashable.
My fellow Americans,
It’s a long-standing tradition for the sitting president of the United States to leave a parting letter in the Oval Office for the American elected to take his or her place. It’s a letter meant to share what we know, what we’ve learned, and what small wisdom may help our successor bear the great responsibility that comes with the highest office in our land, and the leadership of the free world.
But before I leave my note for our 45th president, I wanted to say one final thank you for the honor of serving as your 44th. Because all that I’ve learned in my time in office, I’ve learned from you.
You made me a better President, and you made me a better man. Throughout these eight years, you have been the source of goodness, resilience, and hope from which I’ve pulled strength.
I’ve seen neighbors and communities take care of each other during the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. I have mourned with grieving families searching for answers — and found grace in a Charleston church.I’ve taken heart from the hope of young graduates and our newest military officers.
I’ve seen our scientists help a paralyzed man regain his sense of touch, and wounded warriors once given up for dead walk again. I’ve seen Americans whose lives have been saved because they finally have access to medical care, and families whose lives have been changed because their marriages are recognized as equal to our own.
I’ve seen the youngest of children remind us through their actions and through their generosity of our obligations to care for refugees, or work for peace, and, above all, to look out for each other.
I’ve seen you, the American people, in all your decency, determination, good humor, and kindness. And in your daily acts of citizenship, I’ve seen our future unfolding.
All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into that work — the joyous work of citizenship. Not just when there’s an election, not just when our own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime.
I’ll be right there with you every step of the way.
And when the arc of progress seems slow, remember: America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We the People.’ ‘We shall overcome.’
Yes, we can.
