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I HAD FORGOTTEN what it was like to hear an articulate, knowledgeable US president speak. While current President Trump was in Helsinki making secret deals and confounding the world and his press conference with Mr. Putin, former President Barack Obama was in South Africa speaking at the 100thbirthday celebration honoring Nelson Mandella.
He reminded us that democracy has been through some rough times before and … survived. He reminded us of what democracy has accomplished in a hundred years and why there is hope for the future.
We’ve been listening to Trump’s ‘lock her up’, ‘immigrants are animals’, ‘my poll numbers are better than Lincoln’s’ speeches for so long we’ve lost track of what normal or good is. I had almost forgotten how good Obama is. And, I don’t mean ‘good’ only as a description of his speaking skills.
In case you missed them, I invite you to click on the links below and make your own comparison. I found it refreshing and energizing. Your thoughts are welcome.
Former President Barack Obama speaking at Mandella celebration.
President Donald Trump Helsinki press conference
(Ken Draper is the editor of CityWatch. [email protected])
-cw
