Opinion: Obama’s farewell speech once again inspired hope

To the editor: The striking sight of the sea of humanity, a mixture of multiple ethnicities and genders, braving the bitter Chicago cold Tuesday night to bid farewell to President Obama — a path-breaking president, good husband, caring father and man of integrity, honesty and decency — was a testament to the people’s admiration for the outgoing president. This is a man who made history eight years ago, whose election exemplified the American values of tolerance and equality.

Even the president’s ardent critics ought to concede that Obama was instrumental in steering the nation out of its terrible recession. His signature accomplishment, the Affordable Care Act, has made health insurance accessible to millions of previously uninsured Americans, for whom basic medical care was a dream.

( “‘Yes, we did. Yes, we can,’” Jan. 11)

The president’s farewell speech was oratory at its best. It came straight from his heart and reached those who watched with mixed emotions over what’s next. After profusely thanking the people who propelled him into the Oval Office, Obama ended with his hopeful message: Not only “yes, we did,” but also “yes, we can.” This hope is what America is all about.

Atul M. Karnik, Woodside, N.Y.

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To the editor: Obama still accuses others of doing the bad things he had done. He takes credit for what others have done. He claims transparency, but has none.

Eight years of Obama has seriously harmed this country. His is a failed presidency in every respect.

Ray Shelton, Glendale

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To the editor: Obama’s farewell speech pointedly revealed the differences in our outgoing and incoming presidents.

Obama is intelligent, articulate, thinking, compassionate and embracing of kindness, hope and the ideals of our democracy, preferring to believe that the “better angels of our nature” will prevail. President-elect Donald Trump is ignorant, inarticulate, impulsive, rude, crude, dismissive and bullying, and embracing of and encouraging hate and divisiveness which threaten our democracy.

Sad.

Margaret Quiett, San Gabriel

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To the editor: I don’t want to say goodbye. Third term, please.

Rob Briner, Anaheim

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