Obama
US President Barack Obama on Tuesday night gave an emotional farewell speech to Americans. His speech reviewed his legacy as he encouraged supporters demoralized by the election of Republican Donald Trump to be optimistic about the future of the country. Here are some top quotes from the farewell speech:
1. I will be there beside you as a citizen for all my remaining days.
2.The work of democracy has always been hard, contentious and sometimes bloody. For every two steps forward, it often feels we take one step back. But the long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, a constant widening of our founding creed to embrace all, and not just some.
3.Russia or China cannot match our(American) influence around the world unless we give up what we stand for.
4.I reject discrimination against Muslim Americans. America wasn’t weakened by the presence of newcomers; they embraced this nation’s creed and it was strengthened
5.No foreign terrorist organization has managed to carry out an attack on US soil in the last eight years.
Infographics from TimesofIndia.com
6. Change only happens when ordinary people become engaged and come together.
7.Yes we can, Yes we did, Yes we can
8.I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring change, but in yours.
9. You were the change. You answered people’s hopes, and because of you, by almost every measure, America is a better, stronger place than it was when we started.
10. Democracy does not require uniformity. Our founders quarrelled and compromised, and expected us to do the same. But they knew that democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity – the idea that for all our outward differences, we are all in this together; that we rise or fall as one.
Watch the video on C-Span:
President Obama: "Yes we can. Yes we did. Yes we can." #ObamaFarewell pic.twitter.com/4c7e7JB7lu
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 11, 2017
Read the Full Speech here:
It’s good to be home. My fellow Americans, Michelle and I have been so touched by all the well-wishes we’ve received over the past few weeks. But tonight it’s my turn to say thanks. Whether we’ve 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 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.