Somewhere today, in the here and now, in the world as it is, a soldier sees he's outgunned, but stands firm to keep the peace. Somewhere today, in this world, a young protestor awaits the brutality of her government, but has the courage to march on. Somewhere today, a mother facing punishing poverty still takes the time to teach her child, scrapes together what few coins she has to send that child to school - because she believes that a cruel world still has a place for that child's dreams.
Let us live by their example. We can acknowledge that oppression will always be with us, and still strive for justice. We can admit the intractability of depravation, and still strive for dignity. Clear-eyed, we can understand that there will be war, and still strive for peace. We can do that - for that is the story of human progress; that's the hope of all the world; and at this moment of challenge, that must be our work here on Earth.
The link above takes you to the full text of his speech today. It may take you a bit to get through it, but I would encourage you to do so. My understanding is it did not go over well with the crowd in Oslo, and I can see why. It is not fluffy. Instead, it is pragmatic, makes no apologies, and refuses to see the world with rose-colored glasses.
This administration has not yet had its year anniversary. For the most part, I feel as if the past year has been about unfulfilled potential. Then again, I do not envy this man or his administration the tasks set before them, daunting no matter what party you ascribe to, circumstances that fall not on the shoulders of any one particular administration or political stripe but years and years of bad or at least inattentive governance. This, though. This has some meat. I don't know how it felt, or sounded, delivered from the man himself. But I'm glad to read it, and I think it's important, and I think it will be one of those speechs for which he is remembered when history has her way and all the rest is dust.
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