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BARACK OBAMA IS GREAT INDEED!
AND HIS COUNTRY IS GREATER STILL!
Barack Obama became the forty-fourth president of America in 2009 at the age of forty eight. He was awarded the Nobel prize for Peace the same year. I did not know of any outstanding work he had done to deserve the high honour. Many in America and elsewhere were also of the same mind.
So I started avidly reading the recently published memoirs of his wife, Michelle Obama, when the book was gifted to me by the youngest of my three sons.
The 440-page closely printed book convinced me that Obama is indeed a great man, forget the question whether he deserved the prestigious prize or not.
Obama emerges from the book as an extraordinary person, a driven idealist consumed by an overwhelming desire to reduce the inequalities and inequities in the American society.
He reminded me of the sixteenth American President (1861-65), Abraham Lincoln, who has come to regarded as the greatest President because of his two achievements: preserving the Union and abolishing slavery.
Both the person's, Lincoln and Obama, appear to me as made of the same clay.
Both had come from economically and socially disadvantaged families. Obama was Black besides, in a predominantly White country riven by deep racial tensions.
Both had troubled childhood.
Lincoln lost his mother when he was nine, was not on good terms with his father, but his stepmother was kind and encouraged him to learn reading and writing side by side with the hardwork he had to do for a living. By dint of hardwork, he qualified himself in time as a lawyer and started legal practice.
Obama was born to Kenyan father (Black) who had come to America for studies and s white mother who fell in love and married him. The marriage was short-lived, the two divorced and the man returned to his native land. The lady married again, this time to a geologist from Indinesia, and went to live with him in Iakarta, taking the five year-old Obama with her. Four years later she sent the child back to America to live with her parents and to study in quality schools. Obama was a bright student and went on to secure degrees from Columbia University and the prestigious Harvard Law School, helped along the way by student loans.
At the age of twenty eight Obama married Michelle, who hailed from a working class Black family of Chicago, also a graduate of Harvard Law School. She was then working in a large firm of lawyers in Chicago, with good prospects of becoming a partner in the firm.
Brilliant and prosperous careers in the legal field awaited them both, but they decided to take up community development work instead, for a fraction of what they could have earned in legal practice. Obama was insistent that what work they do should have an impact on the society.
Very soon Obama came to realise that political power was necessary in order to bring about the changes he thought necessary to render the American society less racial, less violent and more equitable and just. He decided to enter electoral politics.
And achieved incredible success in a short span of time.
This man with a hybrid geneology but considered by the public as Black in a predominantly White nation, with a weird name Barack Hussain Obama,II, with no financial or social strength to boast, blossomed into a popular leader -- not a leader of the Blacks but a leader of all Americans, Blacks, Whites, Latinos and others --and recorded a meteoric rise in American politics.
* He became a Senator in the State of Illinois at the age of thirty five;
* A member of the U.S. Senate at forty three ;
* President of America at forty eight
Apart from being the first Black President in the history of America, he was also only the eleventh American President re-elected for a second consecutive term.
Obams's achievements as Prrsident are nothing as dramatic as those of Abraham Lincoln, but they can be considered substantial, considering the changed times and circumstances. In the area of foreign relations, he eliminated the dreaded Osama Bin Laden, brought down America's overseas military engagements by totally withdrawing troops from Iraq and gradual draw-down of troops from Afghanistan. He re-engaged America in the global fight against climate change. At home he expanded health care cover for all Americans and strengthened the education system. He resusciated the economy and gave years of continuous growth in economy and jobs.
Then, patadoxically Donald Trump came and, with him, the ascendancy of reactionery forces. Referring to his quixotic ways, Michelle Obama has said in a different context, "This is not politics as usual; this is disgraceful; it is intolerable". Many of Trump's actions were indeed so and they took the nation back by several steps in matters of economy, racial relations and global issues.
The Trump era came to an abrupt and inglorious end. The nation is now being led by a person who served as Vice-President in Obama's government.
Such appears to be the Zig-Zag way in which nations and societies grow and develop historically. A sort of dialectical process.
In conclusion I wish to say that Barack Obama is indeed great as a person and as a leader. And Anerica as a nation is still greater for, inspite of its many failings and contradictions, it has raised a person like Obama to its highest office and celebrated the great-granddaughter of a slave named Jim Robinson as its First Lady.
It can happen only in America.
A.Govindan
Tidbit
Fateful seventeen minutes
Barack Obama spoke for just seventeen minutes on the night of 27th July 2004. The occasion was the National Convention of the Republican Party held in Boston, USA. John Kerry, the Republican party's candidate for Presidentship, had invited young Barack Obama to deliver the key-note address.
Obama was then just a legislator in the state of Illinois and, in Michelle Obama's words, "a complete nobody" in the national politics.
That short speech turned Obama overnight into a brilliant star in U.S politics. He would be President of the country in the next five years!
It was a passionate speech and it came from his heart.
He began the speech explaining who he was and where he came from and referred to his mother's faith in what a good education could do. He cast himself as a literal embodiment of the American story. He reminded the audience that the country was United by a common humanity, compelled to care for the whole society. He called for hope over cynicism.
The media response to Obama's speech was hyperbolic. A commentor said on NBC, "I have just seen the first Black President!"
He would not have imagined that Obama would indeed become President after five years!
Such was the man's transparent belief in his ideals and the power of his words.
_________
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A beautiful journey that compels you to rediscover yourself.
Reviewed in India on 23 June 2020
Am I good enough? Yes, I am.Are we good enough? Yes, we are.The journey of an average middle-class young girl from the South Side of Chicago to becoming the First Lady of the United States of America (FLOTUS), Michelle Obama has outlined her story in the most intricate way possible.When we flip through the pages of a book, some stories will inspire you, bring out the best in you, make you feel a part of their journey and, above all, give you hope to live the best version of YOU.‘Becoming’ chronicles the experiences that have shaped her. The readers are welcome into her world with unnerving honesty and animated wit.Michelle - the girlWhat happens when a young South Side Chicago girl battles the odds of being the one of ‘color’ and pushes ahead? The outcome is one of that will lead the reader to be in awe of Michelle Robinson, who later becameMichelle Obama.Right from a young age, Michelle was taught a sense of self-confidence and belief in making her own decisions. This ultimately became the crux of her journey ahead.Michelle - the ambitious girlFrom working in the top firms of Chicago to charting her course through a series of non-profits, Michelle saw the world from a different perspective, her perspective. But she never let her ‘color’ of skin define who she was.Her ways to manage her demanding work schedule coupled with being present for her daughters at all times, she has beautifully showcased the struggles that almost all working women go through.Michelle - the FLOTUSAs the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama created the most comprehensive and welcoming White House in the history of its presidencies. While establishing herself as a powerful advocate of woman’s rights and the girls in the U.S., and around the globe, she dramatically changed the way families lead their lives, making them healthier and more active.Standing with her husband, Barack Obama, as he led the U.S. through the most harrowing moments, she has shown us that there is a silver lining behind every cloud.Their journey together comes as the assimilation of ideas, passion, the grit to do the right thing and just being focused on whatever you believe. From dealing with the nuances of having a public life to politics to being a highly ambitious career-oriented woman to raising two amazing daughters and all the work that goes on, there is something for everyone to take back from this book.‘Becoming’ touches you and helps you to reason your aspirations, drives you to achieve what you thought was impossible and helps you get a perspective of the immense opportunities that lie ahead.My key takeaways-• Every journey has its difficulties. It is up to you to make the best of the situation in front of you.• You can be anything you want to be, only if you have the grit to achieve it.• No journey is complete without the support of your friends, family and close associates. These are the people who get you going even in the toughest times.This memoir showcases all these emotions and much more.Warm, wise and visionary, Becoming is a passionate account of a woman of depth and substance; one who has defied all expectations and deftly risen beyond those expectations.A story that inspires us to do the same.
Reviewed in India on 23 June 2020
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Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on 27 September 2021
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Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on 23 June 2020
Are we good enough? Yes, we are.
The journey of an average middle-class young girl from the South Side of Chicago to becoming the First Lady of the United States of America (FLOTUS), Michelle Obama has outlined her story in the most intricate way possible.
When we flip through the pages of a book, some stories will inspire you, bring out the best in you, make you feel a part of their journey and, above all, give you hope to live the best version of YOU.
‘Becoming’ chronicles the experiences that have shaped her. The readers are welcome into her world with unnerving honesty and animated wit.
Michelle - the girl
What happens when a young South Side Chicago girl battles the odds of being the one of ‘color’ and pushes ahead? The outcome is one of that will lead the reader to be in awe of Michelle Robinson, who later became
Michelle Obama.
Right from a young age, Michelle was taught a sense of self-confidence and belief in making her own decisions. This ultimately became the crux of her journey ahead.
Michelle - the ambitious girl
From working in the top firms of Chicago to charting her course through a series of non-profits, Michelle saw the world from a different perspective, her perspective. But she never let her ‘color’ of skin define who she was.
Her ways to manage her demanding work schedule coupled with being present for her daughters at all times, she has beautifully showcased the struggles that almost all working women go through.
Michelle - the FLOTUS
As the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama created the most comprehensive and welcoming White House in the history of its presidencies. While establishing herself as a powerful advocate of woman’s rights and the girls in the U.S., and around the globe, she dramatically changed the way families lead their lives, making them healthier and more active.
Standing with her husband, Barack Obama, as he led the U.S. through the most harrowing moments, she has shown us that there is a silver lining behind every cloud.
Their journey together comes as the assimilation of ideas, passion, the grit to do the right thing and just being focused on whatever you believe. From dealing with the nuances of having a public life to politics to being a highly ambitious career-oriented woman to raising two amazing daughters and all the work that goes on, there is something for everyone to take back from this book.
‘Becoming’ touches you and helps you to reason your aspirations, drives you to achieve what you thought was impossible and helps you get a perspective of the immense opportunities that lie ahead.
My key takeaways-
• Every journey has its difficulties. It is up to you to make the best of the situation in front of you.
• You can be anything you want to be, only if you have the grit to achieve it.
• No journey is complete without the support of your friends, family and close associates. These are the people who get you going even in the toughest times.
This memoir showcases all these emotions and much more.
Warm, wise and visionary, Becoming is a passionate account of a woman of depth and substance; one who has defied all expectations and deftly risen beyond those expectations.
A story that inspires us to do the same.
Verified Purchase
A beautiful journey that compels you to rediscover yourself.
Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on 23 June 2020
Am I good enough? Yes, I am.Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on 23 June 2020
Are we good enough? Yes, we are.
The journey of an average middle-class young girl from the South Side of Chicago to becoming the First Lady of the United States of America (FLOTUS), Michelle Obama has outlined her story in the most intricate way possible.
When we flip through the pages of a book, some stories will inspire you, bring out the best in you, make you feel a part of their journey and, above all, give you hope to live the best version of YOU.
‘Becoming’ chronicles the experiences that have shaped her. The readers are welcome into her world with unnerving honesty and animated wit.
Michelle - the girl
What happens when a young South Side Chicago girl battles the odds of being the one of ‘color’ and pushes ahead? The outcome is one of that will lead the reader to be in awe of Michelle Robinson, who later became
Michelle Obama.
Right from a young age, Michelle was taught a sense of self-confidence and belief in making her own decisions. This ultimately became the crux of her journey ahead.
Michelle - the ambitious girl
From working in the top firms of Chicago to charting her course through a series of non-profits, Michelle saw the world from a different perspective, her perspective. But she never let her ‘color’ of skin define who she was.
Her ways to manage her demanding work schedule coupled with being present for her daughters at all times, she has beautifully showcased the struggles that almost all working women go through.
Michelle - the FLOTUS
As the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama created the most comprehensive and welcoming White House in the history of its presidencies. While establishing herself as a powerful advocate of woman’s rights and the girls in the U.S., and around the globe, she dramatically changed the way families lead their lives, making them healthier and more active.
Standing with her husband, Barack Obama, as he led the U.S. through the most harrowing moments, she has shown us that there is a silver lining behind every cloud.
Their journey together comes as the assimilation of ideas, passion, the grit to do the right thing and just being focused on whatever you believe. From dealing with the nuances of having a public life to politics to being a highly ambitious career-oriented woman to raising two amazing daughters and all the work that goes on, there is something for everyone to take back from this book.
‘Becoming’ touches you and helps you to reason your aspirations, drives you to achieve what you thought was impossible and helps you get a perspective of the immense opportunities that lie ahead.
My key takeaways-
• Every journey has its difficulties. It is up to you to make the best of the situation in front of you.
• You can be anything you want to be, only if you have the grit to achieve it.
• No journey is complete without the support of your friends, family and close associates. These are the people who get you going even in the toughest times.
This memoir showcases all these emotions and much more.
Warm, wise and visionary, Becoming is a passionate account of a woman of depth and substance; one who has defied all expectations and deftly risen beyond those expectations.
A story that inspires us to do the same.
Images in this review
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