Weekly Address: The Honor of Serving You as President
Source: White House
This week, President Obama delivered his final weekly address thanking the American people for making him a better President and a better man. Over the past eight years, we have seen the goodness, resilience, and hope of the American people.
Weve seen whats possible when we come together in the hard, but vital work of self-government but we cant take our democracy for granted. Our success as a Nation depends on our participation. Its up to all of us to be guardians of our democracy, and to embrace the task of continually trying to improve our Nation. Despite our differences, we all share the same title: Citizen. And that is why President Obama looks forward to working by your side, as a citizen, for all of his remaining days.
Read more: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/14/weekly-address-honor-serving-you-president
This week, I traveled to Chicago to deliver my final farewell address to the nation, following in the tradition of Presidents before me. It was an opportunity to say thank you. Whether weve seen eye-to-eye or rarely agreed at all, my conversations with you, the American people in living rooms and schools; at farms and on factory floors; at diners and on distant military outposts are what have kept me honest, kept me inspired, and kept me going. Every day, I learned from you. You made me a better President, and you made me a better man.
Over the course of these eight years, I have seen the goodness, the resilience, and the hope of the American people. Ive seen neighbors looking out for each other as we rescued our economy from the worst crisis of our lifetimes. Ive hugged cancer survivors who finally know the security of affordable health care. Ive seen communities like Joplin rebuild from disaster, and cities like Boston show the world that no terrorist will ever break the American spirit.
Ive seen the hopeful faces of young graduates and our newest military officers. Ive mourned with grieving families searching for answers, and found grace in a Charleston church. Ive seen our scientists help a paralyzed man regain his sense of touch, and our wounded warriors walk again. Ive seen our doctors and volunteers rebuild after earthquakes and stop pandemics in their tracks. Ive learned from students who are building robots and curing diseases and who will change the world in ways we cant even imagine. Ive seen the youngest of children remind us of our obligations to care for our refugees, to work in peace, and above all to look out for each other.
Thats whats possible when we come together in the hard, slow, sometimes frustrating, but always vital work of self-government. But we cant take our democracy for granted. All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into the work of citizenship. Not just when theres an election, not just when our own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime. If youre tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try to talk with one in real life. If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If youre disappointed by your elected officials, then grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself.
Our success depends on our participation, regardless of which way the pendulum of power swings. It falls on each of us to be guardians of our democracy; to embrace the joyous task weve been given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours. Because for all our outward differences, we all share the same proud title: Citizen.
It has been the honor of my life to serve you as President. Eight years later, I am even more optimistic about our countrys promise. And I look forward to working along your side, as a citizen, for all my days that remain.
Thanks, everybody. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/14/weekly-address-honor-serving-you-president
BumRushDaShow
(128,852 posts)and the radio station that airs it here actually just did a news story on this last address.
I will sorely miss this man and his family. I refuse to listen to his successor's version, if he even bothers to do them.
Thank you cal04 for your dedicated posting of these weekly addresses for DUers!
gademocrat7
(10,654 posts)He has served our country with grace and dignity. He will be sorely missed.
longship
(40,416 posts)My God! What have we all done?
dalton99a
(81,451 posts)24/7.