I admire Barack Obama a lot. He is a phenomenal guy, the type who comes along once in a generation. Given his origins, the odds he was up against and where he is right now, I can only conclude as an avid student of history that he is a man of destiny with an important, if not urgent, mission to fulfill in the world.
I certainly wish we could have someone with Barack's caliber and sense of mission as among the serious contenders for our own Philippine presidential elections come 2010. The country has suffered long enough dwelling in the cellar among the community of nations in Southeast Asia. We were ahead of most developing countries in the region in the 1960s that's why it is unnatural for us to be where we are right now. We badly need to regain our national pride, become relevant and respected again on the regional, if not the global, stage and recover our rightful place in the sun.
Here are ten quotes from BARACK OBAMA that best highlight his character and personal philosophy--alternately inspiring, witty, wise and frank:
Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.
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Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
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I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we've struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions.
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If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost.
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Issues are never simple. One thing I'm proud of is that very rarely will you hear me simplify the issues.
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It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.
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My parents shared not only an improbable love, they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or blessed, believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success.
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The fact that my 15 minutes of fame has extended a little longer than 15 minutes is somewhat surprising to me and completely baffling to my wife.
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We need to internalize this idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent.
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You know, my faith is one that admits some doubt.
