Posts Tagged "obama"

Barack Obama’s letter to his daughters

Posted by Dad on Jan 15, 2009 in The Blog | 2 comments

There are many reasons why I am so glad and hopeful that Barack Obama will be our next president.  I now add to them the fact that he is a devoted father and gets it.

Barack wrote a letter to his daughters and shared it with Parade Magazine.  Here are a couple of snippets that I’d love to share with you.

This one is about being a dad:

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I’d make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn’t seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn’t count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that’s why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

This one is about the United States of America:

[My grandmother] helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It’s a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

President Obama, you have my respect.

All the best

Thoughts on Obama’s speech

Posted by Dad on Nov 5, 2008 in The Blog | 0 comments

I’m an America dad.  Born and raised. And, like many of you, I love my country. But, I also love this world we live in. It’s our world. It’s our children’s world.  Therefore, it makes sense that I feel a strong urge to do what I can to help make it better.  Our election has made this urge more pressing. It’s given me hope that we can make the world better.

Honestly, I don’t care if you’re blue or red, Republican or Democrat or, even, Independent.  I respect your right to choose you affiliation and for your voice to be heard. No matter what you think of Obama’s win last night, some parts of his speech resonated with me. And, I think, should resonate all Americans.

“There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can’t solve every problem.

But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”

These words encapsulate what it means to be an American. We are a free people who came together from all parts of the world and forged one of the greatest nations this world has ever seen. And, we did it, block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.  No, we are hardly perfect and we have tons to learn, but we can make things better. We can. It’s our duty and our legacy!

“To those — to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

That’s the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we’ve already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.”

Ideals, my fello dads. These ideals have carried American people through many trials, ups and downs. The Americans that came before us never gave up, they never lost hope. They believed in these ideals and passed the responsibility to live up to those ideals and pass them on to our children.

My fellow dads, we must take up that responsibility honorably and work in our own way to carry it out. We are only caretakers of this nation and world for our children and their children. Lets take care of each other because we’re all in this together.

We can make this a better place for all. Yes we can!

All the best