(Newswire.net — January 12, 2017) –On Thuesday night, the country’s first African American president, Barack Obama, held his farewell speech in front of about 18,000 people in Chicago.
Eight years ago, at that same place, he celebrated after he had won the election. Then, he used the slogan: “Yes, we can”. This time, he ended his farewell speech with “Yes, we did”.
When hearing the audience’s disapproval because Donald Tramp will be the next U.S. president, Obama replied: “No, no, no, no, no,” and added that one of the nation’s great strengths is “the peaceful transfer of power from one president to the next.”
However, Obama warned that there are things that threaten American democracy, including economic inequality and racial division. He said that democracy is threatened every time when people in the U.S. take it for granted, and that all together, regardless of affiliation to a party, need to work on building democratic institutions.
Obama urged people to be careful, but not to be afraid from ISIS because they cannot defeat the U.S. unless the American people abandon their Constitution and principles in the fight.
“Rivals like Russia or China cannot match our influence around the world — unless we give up what we stand for, and turn ourselves into just another big country that bullies smaller neighbors”, Obama stated on Tuesday.
He pointed out that the he has a final request for the Americans as their President, and that is to believe.
“Thank you for everything. My last ask is the same as my first. I’m asking you to believe— not in my ability to create change, but in yours.”
Brushing away his tears with a handkerchief, he mentioned his family and thanked his daughters and his wife Michelle, which he referred to as “my best friend”.
“Michelle Lavon Robinson, the girl from the South side. Over the last 25 years you were not just my wife and the mother of my children. You were my best friend”, Obama said to his wife, who sat in the front row, as well as the couple’s daughter Malia. White House officials stated that Sasha stayed in Washington because she had an exam at school on Wednesday.
“Of all that I have done … I’m most proud to be your dad,” Obama said to his daughters, while Malia was welled up with tears.
He thanked American citizens by saying that every day he learned something from them, and that they have made him a better president, a better man.
Obama concluded by saying he remained hopeful about the work that a younger generation would do. “Yes, we can”, he said one last time. “Yes, we did.”
The new, 45th US President, Donald Trump, who won the election on November 8th, will officially assume office on January 20.