Gif courtesy of Julie Winegard via Giphy.com
President Obama today penned a goodbye letter to the American people. I’m not going to quote the entire letter, but there were a couple of sections I feel compelled to share.
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 of 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.
…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.
Please excuse me. I have to go sob into my pillow now.
By Hook Or By Book 
The tragedy is that millions of people think Trump’s an improvement.
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Sadly, I think they’re about to get a very rude awakening.😕
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To be honest, I think it’ll take a couple of years or more before many of them get that rude awakening. It’ll take something like their mom dying from lack of Medicare before it gets through to them that, yes, indeed, they’ve been shafted — and even then some will blame Obama, or Hillary Clinton, or George Soros, or . . . Denial of reality is a very powerful psychological weapon in defending one’s ideology or one’s actions. Even if they lose jobs, family members, healthcare, social security, whatever, there are still going to be plenty who refuse to recognize their own role in this.
In the online rationalist/scientific communities that I habituate, a vanishingly small number of people voted Trump, but at least a few of those who did are trying, pathetically, to disown the racism, the anti-science, the misogyny, the anti-education, you name it. These are otherwise pretty bright people, but they’re locked into denial of the fact that they voted for a package that contained these elements right up front and center. I even had one of them, pathetically, telling me that the likely gutting of the EPA, with all that this implies for climate collapse, will be a good thing because the agency has “become too powerful”!
Huh? Like “Doctor, please weaken the dose for fear I get cured.”
Sorry: ranting. I am so angry about all the stupidity, the vote suppression and the gerrymandering that I can hardly think straight. We deserved another Obama and an entirely corrupt political machine served us up with, instead, this.
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Please don’t apologize. You are welcome to rant away anytime here! You should hear me at my house. My husband’s been threatening to get earmuffs! Having a person like Trump as president is so unprecedented that to be honest, I’m not sure how quickly things are going to go downhill. Just that they will. I think there’s certain things that we’ll see sooner rather than later like the changes in healthcare, and treatment of Muslims and minorities. I fear for education if Betsy is approved. I fear for departments like the EPA. I fear for women’s rights and important institutions like Planned Parenthood. You know, I could keep going, but let’s just say I’m absolutely terrified for not only our country, but the damage he can do in the rest of the world.
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That’s so awesome. What a man…
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Inspirational class act to the end!
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I don’t want him to leave!!
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WHYYYYY can’t a president serve more than two terms?😕😞😥
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So sad 😦 Obama and his family will be sorely missed I think.
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They will indeed.😞
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Many of us around the world weep with you. Obama was very respected.
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Thank you. This is just so horrible.😥
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I didn’t even vote for Obama, in ’08 or ’12, and I’m still getting a bit misty eyed.
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Now that’s really saying something! *Sniffle*😭
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But you know what, I voted my conscience in this past election. Until the next one rolls around, I’m just gonna hang in there. Not much else I can do. 😦
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I think that’s all anyone can do besides making their voices heard in a peaceful and respectful manner and voting even at local levels.💁🏻
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I think that’s all anyone can do besides making their voices heard in a peaceful and respectful manner
The trouble is that, while the liberals and the moderates follow that rule, as ordinary civilized human beings do, the right does exactly the opposite. I think we’re in dangers of saying, “With all due respect, please do not hit me, Mr. Bully,” and getting a fist in the face as reward, time and time and time again.
It’s perhaps time that we responded in kind. I dunno. Maybe it’d be a mistake, there’d be a ginormous backlash, all that kind of thing. But I do know that we can’t keep on politely ceding the field to the bullies.
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I understand what you’re saying. There is that temptation. But I do think there’s a backlash that forms against us when we act like they do. People call us hypocrites and ask how are we any better.🤷🏻♀️
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But I do think there’s a backlash that forms against us when we act like they do. People call us hypocrites and ask how are we any better.
Yes, but is there actually any concrete historical evidence that this actually happens, or is it simply a matter of ourselves persuading each other that sweet, polite reason will inevitably triumph over boneheaded viciousness?
I have a small grandson whom I love very dearly. As things currently are, the chances are far higher that his life will end early and horribly because of, just for starters, the Trump administration’s denial of climate science. In such circumstances, it’s difficult for me to accept that the genteel option is necessarily the best one.
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To be honest, I don’t think there’s an easy answer to this. We’ll have to see how events play out. I do feel horribly for the younger generation who had no choice in this election. Even just four years of Trump will have an untold impact on many things.😕
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That mic drop gif is GOLD. Brilliantly selected for this post. 🙂
– Lashaan
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Thanks Lashaan! It’s so quintessential Obama!😊
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I’m waiting for the day when Trump (and hopefully his racist vice president) get impeached. I can’t believe this is happening! I feel sick to my stomach.
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I know how you feel Lisa.😞
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I’m definitely not watching. I didn’t watch the concert yesterday but I saw that hardly anybody went. They said about 10,000 showed up whereas 400,000 went to Obama’s in 2009. Ha ha!
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I think I’m going to binge-watch A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix instead. This’ll be the first inauguration I’m missing since before the Clintons.
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That sounds like a good idea! 🙂
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😊
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He can certainly deliver a telling quote!
Let’s not forget though, even the ‘best’ politicians have speechwriters.
Perhaps Trump should find one this good!
Best wishes, Pete.
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I believe in this case Pete, this was directly from him. 😊
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I am not suggesting otherwise, as I have no way of knowing. I just recall reading about some very good speechwriters. I know that it is a very sad day for you personally, and I do understand why. x
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Oh no. No worries Pete. I just know from the reports that this letter as well as the one he left for Trump were written by him personally. I know that many of his actual speeches were in part written by professional speech writers. Gosh. That must be one of the most under appreciated jobs ever! This is a really sad day for millions of us in this country, so thanks for being so understanding.💁🏻
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What a guy, such a great letter. And that mic drop gif is everything!
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Class act all the way!
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Definitely, he sure knows how to deliver a powerful speech.
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What I loved about this letter was that he wrote it completely on his own. No speech writers. It just makes it that more personal.
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Yes, I could sense that it came from the heart. You can’t fake something like that. It only ever comes through if full of conviction.
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😊
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I don’t even live in the US, but I feel your pain. I’m just frightened about what this world has become, I mean, he shouldn’t even have been close to winning the election. It’s truly messed up.
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To be honest I think it was a perfect storm of events. Many people in this country are frightened, angry and fed up with established politicians. The timing was perfect for an outsider. Unfortunately he’s one who’s a dangerous demagogue and pathological liar.😕
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I agree, and I’m sure that’s why he got so many votes. He’s like a breath of fresh air to many, but unfortunately has some very extreme and damaging opinions.
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Given his cabinet picks I have a feeling it won’t be long before they discover that he’s basically a huckster. A racist, bigoted huckster.
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Yeah…Let’s hope he won’t stay the entire 4 years.
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The problem is that even if he’s impeached, we’ll have Pence.😕
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Yeah…
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😕
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Dear Kim, What a difference a day makes…Hugs, Gronda
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Oh Gronda.😕 I swore I wasn’t going to watch any of the inauguration, but I caved and did see Trumps swearing in and listen to his isolationist and frankly frightening speech, capped by his anti-Semitic “America First”. I know I keep saying this, but God Help Us All! Stay safe tomorrow!
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I’m really going to miss him, his family and Joe Biden. Wonderful President and a class act through and through.
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Agreed.
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He is a class act for sure. Going to miss that guy.
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Especially after listening to Mr. Trump’s inaugural speech yesterday and seeing that the pages for climate change, civil rights, and LGBTs have already been taken off the White House’s website.😑
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How I miss this man. 😦 (And the spectacular woman he married.)
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Sigh. They’re both class acts!
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