In His Farewell Address, President Obama Made a Compelling Case for Optimism

Also, for deleting your Twitter account for a while.
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With the remaining days of his presidency officially down to single digits, a reflective President Obama returned to his adopted hometown on Tuesday night to deliver his farewell address in front of a packed convention center in the South Side of Chicago. Perhaps sensing the immense burden finally about to be lifted from his shoulders, the president appeared mostly relaxed and upbeat, laughingly responding, "I can't do that!" to the occasional chants of "Four more years!" that interrupted his opening remarks. By the end of the speech, it was hard to blame them for trying.

Given President Obama's many accomplishments over the past eight years, these last several months have to feel like a bit of a letdown. For God's sake, he led the country through the Great Recession, shepherded the economy to unprecedented heights, and brought America's healthcare system into the twenty-first century (or at least the twentieth). For all this, the country thanked him by electing a successor whose entire political career stemmed from his tireless perpetuation of a race-baiting lie about President Obama's place of birth. Nonetheless, the president used his platform Tuesday night to issue one final, impassioned plea for optimism.

He began by pointing out the seemingly intractable problems to which America must turn next: updating its badly outdated social compact, grappling with its history of institutionalized racism and unchecked bigotry, and standing united against "violent fanatics" and "autocrats in foreign capitals"—which, hmmm—who seek to undermine democracy. Yet, he argued, America is uniquely primed to overcome these challenges, despite today's uncertainty and rancor, because it gives every one of its citizens the opportunity to shape its future.

It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy; to embrace the joyous task we've 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.

Frustrated with politics? Maybe get the hell off of Twitter.

Ultimately, that’s what our democracy demands. It needs you. Not just when there’s an election, not just when your own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime. If you’re 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 you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself. Show up. Dive in. Persevere. Sometimes you’ll win. Sometimes you’ll lose. Presuming a reservoir of goodness in others can be a risk, and there will be times when the process disappoints you. But for those of us fortunate enough to have been a part of this work, to see it up close, let me tell you, it can energize and inspire. And more often than not, your faith in America—and in Americans—will be confirmed.

Hang on, it's about to get dusty in here.

It has been the honor of my life to serve you. I won’t stop; in fact, I will be right there with you, as a citizen, for all my days that remain. For now, whether you’re young or young at heart, I do have one final ask of you as your president—the same thing I asked when you took a chance on me eight years ago. I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change—but in yours.

This country didn't deserve President Obama, but he gave it everything he had anyway, inspiring millions of Americans to see democracy not just as a form of government, but as a way of life. Tuesday's speech was a fitting exclamation point to this proud legacy.


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