By Maddie Miller
staff writer
After 8 years of being the President of the United States, Barack Obama delivered his Farewell Address on January 10 in his political catalyst city of Chicago. It was held at the McCormick Place, which is where he spoke in 2012, after being re-elected. The President arrived to the event well prepared and was greeted by a several minutes of roaring applause from the audience. Throughout the night, he expressed many thoughts and touched on many topics he felt needed to be addressed. Obama began by graciously thanking the people and telling them about his belief he had going into the presidency, and held onto for 8 years.“I learned that change only happens when ordinary people get involved and they get engaged, and they come together to demand it,” President Obama said. This idea of getting ordinary people involved was a recurring theme over the 50 minute speech. While he was full of pride for his country and everything that was accomplished, he did not shy away from highlighting certain flaws and challenging the people of his country.
“The work of democracy has always been hard. It's always been contentious. Sometimes it's been bloody. For every two steps forward, it often feels we take one step back,” said President Obama, acknowledging the fact that progress sometimes seemed uneven. “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,” he said, igniting more applause.
However, the audience made it clear that they weren’t excited to witness what President Obama called the hallmark of democracy, which is the transfer of power from himself, to President-elect
Trump. That subject triggered outright boos and crying out “Nooo,” but President Obama quickly shut down the negativity by explaining that help was needed from everyone to restore the sense of commonality that he said is needed so badly right now.
The President delved deep into very real and sometimes difficult topics to discuss, including racial issues, climate change, immigration stereotypes, economic struggles, terrorism and the threats to the American democracy. After highlighting three specific threats, he made a blunt and broad statement that ties all of them together. “Our democracy is threatened anytime we take it for granted.”
President Obama eventually moved to thanking the people nearest and dearest to his heart including his wife Michelle, his two daughters Malia and Sasha, his Vice president, Joe Biden, and the rest of his staff members. “And to all of you out there … you are the best supporters and organizers anybody could ever hope for, and I will be forever grateful,” said President Obama as he thanked his supporters.
Obama was smiling and optimistic as he approached the end of his speech, and closed it out by expressing his last request of the American people. “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'm asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change — but in yours.”
Eight years is an extremely long period of time to wrap up in a speech that lasts less than an hour, but President Obama stood on that stage and took the time he had to hold nothing back, including how much hope he has for the country after he leaves the office. He marks the end of his era by the words he has used over those long 8 years, “Yes we did, yes we can.”
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
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