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The Washington Post recently had a lengthy article about the background to the speech President Obama gave in March at the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march.

That article sent me to read the entire transcript of his speech and then to watch the video of that speech. I was reminded why I thought the election of Obama was so important.

While we must wait for historians to judge what kind of president he has been, it can be said that his words and his oratory have been powerful.

As the presidential election ‘season’ is emerging, we are and will hear much about patriotism, about what it means to love America, to believe in America, to say America is exceptional.

If you want to understand what Pres. Obama has learned and believes about our country, take some time to click on one (or more) of the three links below. The first is to the WaPo article. The second is to the written transcript of the Selma speech. The third is the video of the Selma speech.

How Obama has used his presidency to redefine ‘American Exceptionalism’ (Washington Post article, June 4, 2015)

Remarks by the President at the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery Marches (the transcript)

The Complete Selma Speech (the video – 32:43)

 

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