Audacity of Hope!

 The Audacity of Hope

Yesterday was a glorious day in the United States Of America.

The country, on occasion of the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, saw many things that seemed to have become obsolete in the last few years. 

Firstly it saw a solidarity between four past Presidents and their families. They came together to show their support for the Obama family and celebrate their achievements for what they truly are. There was no partisan politics in this solidarity. Just a shared vision for a better future for the country and its people.

Secondly, we heard speeches from Michelle Obama and Barack Obama. What fiber these two are made of! What power they hold to inspire people from all walks of life.

Thirdly we heard about the details that have gone into the creation of this magnificent center in the heart of Chicago. Each thoughtful aspect of this center tells about the man and woman behind it.

If I have to use a single word to describe the achievements of President Obama, it would be:

Extraordinary! 

If we add the accomplishments of Michelle Obama to that, this team has created a legacy that cannot be described in words.

They were held to different standards. 

And they turned the tables to set standards  that will be nearly impossible to catch up for another millennium. 

The world is buzzing with words like decency, restraint, humility, brilliance, wit, integrity etc etc etc.

For me it is going to take time to take in the whole picture and absorb it to be able to realize I lived to see this side of reality in today’s world. 

A reality that makes you understand the meaning of hope and dignity and goodness.

Hope is deception unless matched with effort. The Obamas are a beacon of hope in times of utter darkness in the country. But if we simply let hope shine in our hearts for one day and don’t make efforts to keep it alive and walk with it passionately to turn the tides on bad times, that hope will mean nothing. And it will be us to take the blame. A single past President and First Lady cannot move the nation unless the nation chooses to move with them. To take a page from their lives. Every single day of our lives.

I hope majority of the citizens of this nation will realize how fortunate we are to have these two towering figures amongst us. If it was me, I would make the Nobel Committee give a separate Peace Prize to Michelle Obama for her own contribution to the world. Imagine to have not one but two equally yet independently worthy role models at a time under one roof? We are beyond lucky here. I believe the darkness is God’s way of highlighting the brightness against it. 

Thank you for the light we saw yesterday. Now let us have the wisdom to carry that light in our hearts for as long as we live. 

God Bless America!

God Bless Mankind!