"Because no matter our differences, we all share the same title; citizen." Barack Obama, 2017
This past weekend, I was immersed in the Obama presidency surrounded by hundreds of other citizens who alternated between tears and smiles touring the Obama Center in Chicago. On a morning when the president has released a coin with his face on it, the Speaker of the House lies to the American people proclaiming an imminent threat of Communism is within our borders, and two more INNOCENT Americans have been shot by ICE, I close my eyes and imagine I am back inside the Obama Center.
Barack Obama 2015
A video of great moments runs up the length of the Center, so as you rise from floor-to-floor, you hear the words that have stayed within my heart since I heard him speak them in his farewell address spoken in Chicago: “Because for all our outward differences, we, in fact, all share the same proud title, the most important office in a democracy: Citizen. (Applause.) Citizen.” The minute I heard the word, “citizen,” I texted a friend exclaiming, “That’s it. That’s the WORD we need to remember that will anchor us in hope.” He agreed.
At the time, I was organizing a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood as the incoming president loomed ominously, and protecting women’s health was urgent. For that event, we donated 100 shirts with “Citizen” on the front. The entire sale added funds for Planned Parenthood.
Now, “citizen” has been sullied. One more way to divide us. Citizen vs Illegal Alien is as stark a division for a country whose Statue of Liberty proclaims, “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Emma Lazarus
November 2, 1883”
But for the 4+ hours I spent in the Obama Center, I looked around at all the citizens and felt hope. The midterms are coming. We all have a responsibility to protect our democracy, and it is getting harder every day.
We are in this together.
WE the People.
Thank you for caring and restacking.
oh dear honey what a gain for this country having you stand so tirelessly fighting for all we are threatened about losing.... when most of us are so overwhelmed.. i too found so much hope and energy watching everying about the obama center.... it is on my agenda to go when i can.. its a must.. not optional and soon.. it was a treat to read all of this with my coffee.