Barack Obama
Related: About this forumPhoto of the Day: Fearless
I don't know about you, but I've shed a lot of tears over the last 10 days. Some have been tears of grief and some of joy. It's hard to miss that we're going through a great historical moment in this country.
And so I wanted to mark this occasion with a few important words that have been written about it.
snip/
Ten Days in June by David Remnick
What a series of days in American life, full of savage mayhem, uncommon forgiveness, resistance to forgiveness, furious debate, mourning, and, finally, justice and grace. As President Obama led thousands of mourners in Charleston, South Carolina, in Amazing Grace, I thought about late 2013 and early 2014. Obamas Presidency was surely dwindling, if not finished. His mood was sombre, philosophicalwhich is good if you are a philosopher; if not, not.
Obama described himself to me then in terms of his limitsas a relay swimmer in a river full of rapids, and that river is history. More than a few columnists believed that Obama was now resigned to small victories, at best. But pause to think of what has happened, the scale of recent events.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court (despite an apocalyptic dissent about pure applesauce and interpretive jiggery-pokery by Justice Scalia) put an end to years of court cases and congressional attacks against the Affordable Care Act, which means that millions of Americans will no longer live in a state of perpetual anxiety about health costs.
On Friday, the Supreme Court (despite a curiously ill-informed dissent about Kalahari, Aztec, and Han mating rites by Chief Justice Roberts) legalized same-sex marriage nationallya colossal (and joyous) landmark moment in the liberation of gay men and lesbians.
The theme, of course, is that we have been led both to and through these last 10 days by a great man...one who has been fearless.
Many great links here: http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2015/06/photo-of-day-fearless.html
*****
That image tells the story.
brer cat
(26,164 posts)and filled with grace. It has been an extraordinary week for a very extraordinary man.
sheshe2
(87,272 posts)Bold Angry Determined.
brer cat, one of my favorite posters.
brer cat
(26,164 posts)and probably despair as well. The burning of black churches after the Emmanuel AME massacre is a hard blow to overcome. He is limited in what he can do, but he will never give up or give in on this fight. I can't image a better person to be in charge these days.
Back at you, sheshe.
MBS
(9,688 posts)but I'm not sure that's quite the right interpretation. .
That photo is from the Pinckney funeral-- my guess that he's clapping during the hymn that was being sung when he entered the room. (If you look at the video of the entire service, the Obamas enter at about 2 hours 30/34 minutes, and the President enters while clapping along to the hymn, "Get on Board". My bet is that that photo was taken shortly after he entered, while the hymn was still being sung. (As soon as he walked in, clapping, I thought, how could anyone question this man's religious beliefs??)
Several days later, I'm still in awe of his eulogy. I've watched it three times now, and I'm still stunned every time.
Listening to the Republicans and other right-wingers after Obama's speech, they seemed more than ever like little gnats, mere specks compared to our profound president.
SCantiGOP
(14,203 posts)Aristus
(68,273 posts)"Go on, motherfucker! Say 'destroying the American way of life' one more time!"
sheshe2
(87,272 posts)Thank you Aristus.
Hekate
(94,488 posts)3catwoman3
(25,392 posts)...men I have ever observed. He is inspirational.
The disrespect that he has and still endures and in public have grace and respect for the haters shows that he is the right leader of the free world.
Hats off Mr. President!
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)This man has more grace bestowed upon him than anyone else I can name.
Palin daughters, Obama daughters. Contrast. Compare. Be grateful.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Saving this....
sheshe2
(87,272 posts)You are welcome, Blanche. A moving article and a powerfully moving 10 days.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Who'd have thought, 10 years ago?
This almost makes me want to figure out how to turn on the tv, to watch it all!
But I find out what I need from you and the other good folks here...
sheshe2
(87,272 posts)I have turned on my TV a few times in the last 4 years, ya it takes me a minute to figure out how to do it.
You~
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)❤