Barack Obama in his farwell speech advised that 'Democracy can buckle when we give in to fear'
New Delhi:
US President Barack Obama said goodbye today after eight years, in a powerful and emotional speech that he ended by recasting his campaign credo - 'Yes we can, yes we did'.
In his 51-minute farewell address in his hometown Chicago, President Obama warned against a weakening of American values and discrimination and defended his vision to Americans facing a dramatic change in leadership.
"Our youth and drive, our diversity and openness, our boundless capacity for risk and reinvention means that the future should be ours," he said.
But he warned, "We need to uphold laws against discrimination. That is what our Constitution and our highest ideals require."
His delivery was forceful for most of his speech, but by the end he was wiping away tears as the crowd embraced him one last time.
He also advised: "Democracy can buckle when we give in to fear. We must guard against a weakening of the values that make us who we are... That's why, I reject discrimination against Muslim Americans".
He made no mention of Republican Donald Trump, who will replace him in just 10 days.
But when he noted the imminence of that change and the crowd began booing, he responded, "No, no, no, no, no." One of the nation's great strengths, he said, "is the peaceful transfer of power from one president to the next."
Earlier, as the crowd of thousands chanted, "Four more years," he simply smiled and said, "I can't do that."
In his 51-minute farewell address in his hometown Chicago, President Obama warned against a weakening of American values and discrimination and defended his vision to Americans facing a dramatic change in leadership.
"Our youth and drive, our diversity and openness, our boundless capacity for risk and reinvention means that the future should be ours," he said.
But he warned, "We need to uphold laws against discrimination. That is what our Constitution and our highest ideals require."
"We need to uphold laws against discrimination", said US President Barack Obama
His delivery was forceful for most of his speech, but by the end he was wiping away tears as the crowd embraced him one last time.
Mr Obama declared that he hadn't abandoned his vision of progressive change.
He also advised: "Democracy can buckle when we give in to fear. We must guard against a weakening of the values that make us who we are... That's why, I reject discrimination against Muslim Americans".
He made no mention of Republican Donald Trump, who will replace him in just 10 days.
But when he noted the imminence of that change and the crowd began booing, he responded, "No, no, no, no, no." One of the nation's great strengths, he said, "is the peaceful transfer of power from one president to the next."
Earlier, as the crowd of thousands chanted, "Four more years," he simply smiled and said, "I can't do that."
