Characteristically charismatic Obama says goodbye.
He is a born orator, his rhetoric that of a Shakespearean King and his timing as tuned as a comedian. Over the years we have watched clips of Obama addressing the American public and we have come to feel emboldened by his words, buoyed across the Atlantic by a man by a man who preaches hope and community.
Whether we have embraced too much his ability with inspiring speech rather than looking critically at his policies and practices is something that will become apparent as the new administration moves in and the reviews of Obama’s eight years in the West Wing are compiled.
For now Obama urges compassion and togetherness and ideologically applicable to Ireland he asks for people to enact a change if they don’t like what they see around them.
“If you are tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try to talk with one in real life. If something needs fixing, lace-up your shoes and do some organising. If you are disappointed with your elected officials then grab a clipboard, get some signatures and run for office yourself. Our success depends on participation.
“Regardless of which way the pendulum of power swings, It falls on each of us to be guardians of our democracy”.
This week is seminal in global politics, on Monday it is expected Northern Ireland will call a general election, on Tuesday Theresa May will deliver a speech setting out the UK’s plan for Brexit and on Friday President-Elect Donald Trump will take office.
Obama’s words are a momentary salve of hope as we face into a week that will be dominated by uncertainty and the politics of the unpleasant.
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