Opinion of Obama's farewell address?

[Blue3]

Link to video and transcript:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/10/us/politics/obama-farewell-address-speech.html



The "4 Threats to Democracy" that President Obama outlined tonight are:
 * people feeling left out from economic opportunity
 * racial and political divisions
 * no shared baseline of facts
 * people taking democracy for granted and not being active citizens



The end was my favorite part:

"Because you did change the world.

You did.

And that’s why I leave this stage tonight even more optimistic about this country than when we started. Because I know our work has not only helped so many Americans; it has inspired so many Americans — especially so many young people out there — to believe that you can make a difference; to hitch your wagon to something bigger than yourselves.

Let me tell you, this generation coming up — unselfish, altruistic, creative, patriotic — I’ve seen you in every corner of the country. You believe in a fair, and just, and inclusive America; you know that constant change has been America’s hallmark, that it’s not something to fear but something to embrace, you are willing to carry this hard work of democracy forward. You’ll soon outnumber any of us, and I believe as a result the future is in good hands.

I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change — but in yours.

I am asking you to hold fast to that faith written into our founding documents; that idea whispered by slaves and abolitionists; that spirit sung by immigrants and homesteaders and those who marched for justice; that creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon; a creed at the core of every American whose story is not yet written:

Yes, we can.

Yes, we did."






Other good parts:


On his optimism

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On his record

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On the goodness of others

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On American exceptionalism

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[Blue3]

Lastly:


On economics and race

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Veiled criticism of Trump

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[DavidB.]

Terrible, just like his presidency.

[Fight for Trump]

It started off fine, but became unnecessarily divisive complete with references to "foreign" fascism and nationalist aggression.

[RFayette 🇻🇦]

A decent address.  He's a good and honorable man, even if I disagree with most of his policies.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Definitely some good stuff, particularly the stuff about understanding how different people feeling left out and the risk of letting ourselves succumb to social division.  But he could have cut out a lot of the platitudes and vagueries and listing his accomplishments, and made it shorter and more memorable.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I find the optimism refrain a bit inappropriate in the current context, honestly. I know what Obama's intent in doing that is, and I respect it, but I think there are time when we need to reflect soberly on what is happening rather than fool ourselves into thinking "it's gonna be all right". Right now, we need to tell ourselves that we face a serious, potentially existential threat, and that we need to muster all our energies to forestall it.

[Xing]

A very strong speech, although I somewhat agree with Antonio that optimism might not be the best thing right now. Not to say pessimism is, but those on the left might just need a dose of realism, and to come to terms with what we're going to be up against for the next 4-8 years.

[Mr. Smith]

Decent enough by itself, but ultimately just another pretty speech with much vaguery and feel-good stuff when put into context.

But then, there hasn't been a truly honest speech since 1979 anyway.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

I didn't watch it. I'm too angry with him, and probably will be for a long time.

Whether it's a fair judgment or not, I feel incredibly betrayed and let down by a president who couldn't prevent what will happen to this country in just a few days.