The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago was dedicated on June 18, 2026. President and Mrs. Barack Obama were the featured speakers:
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all
— Emily Dickinson
When I
Techo problems – mine, Colorado, not yours.
When I watched and listened to both those speeches on YouTube, yesterday, I was struck again how astoundingly intelligent are these two … how thoughtful, how clear-eyed, and – following your theme – how hopeful. How COOL.
There might never again be a POTUS and FLOTUS like the Obamas: how lucky and we to have lived in their time ?!
I haven’t words to describe how much I admire and respect these two. He can’t run for president again and she has said very firmly that she will not consider it. Still, their words, their mere appearance on the political stage today, could remind voters of what we have been and could be again. They could be consultants, organizers, campaign directors, speakers … but I can’t blame them for wanting to leave far behind the fetid swamp that is Washington today.
this is a beautiful post and those speeches were so incredible and inspiring!
Thank you.
I miss these two, more than I can say.
I love Michelle’s speech almost more than his.
I don’t know, they both have such dignity, such effortless class … I’d have to listen to both of them again with a really critical ear if I were to choose a favorite.
I watched the speeches live, and it was so WONDERFUL to hear intelligent, rational speeches that were meant to light a path forward for the nation. I miss them sooooo much. Hope, indeed.
I was in tears remembering what we’d had
I know. I will never understand how we came to have a name calling, bulling, arrogant, ignorant man in the oval office, demeaning the office he holds and our nation every single day.
He’s a disgusting, vengeful, and utterly unqualified individual. Perhaps worse are the “good Americans” in Congress and the rest of the government supporting him.