Former United States President Barack Obama on Friday, spoke aboutthe prevailing threatsto democracy and every citizen’s role in fighting these threats.
Here are 11 important quotes on Democracy from hisspeech:
What’s going to change our democracy is you.You’re the antidote. Your participation and your spirit and your determination, not just in this election but every subsequent election. And on the days between election.
The biggest threat to our democracy is indifference.
The best way to protest is to vote.
It should not be a partisan issue to say we do not pressure the attorney general or the FBI to use the criminal justice system as a cudgel to punish our political opponents.
It shouldn’t be Democratic or Republican to say that we don’t threaten the freedom of the press because they say things or publish stories we don’t like.
It shouldn’t be Democratic or Republican to say we don’t target certain groups of people based on what they look like or how they pray.
We’re supposed to stand up to bullies. Not follow them. We’re supposed to stand up to discrimination. And we’re sure as heck supposed to stand up clearly and unequivocally to Nazi sympathizers.
They’ll promise to fight for the little guy, even as they cater to the wealthiest and most powerful. They’ll promise to clean up corruption, and then plunder away.
They start undermining norms that ensure accountability, and try to change the rules to entrench their power further. And they appeal to racial nationalism that’s barely veiled, if veiled at all.
I’m here to tell you should be concerned with our current course, and should still want to see a restoration of honesty and decency and lawfulness in our government.
Sometimes, the backlash (to welfare policies) comes from people who are genuinely and strongly fearful of change. Or more often, it is manufactured by the powerful. Who want to keep us cynical, keep us angry because it helps them keep status quo and keep their power.
Listen to his speech reported by NowThisNews:
President Obama praised the Parkland students for getting people registered and inspired to vote, even though some of them aren't even 18 yet pic.twitter.com/ZgJubKZAU4
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) September 7, 2018
President Obama finally got his chance to dunk on Trump, and he took it pic.twitter.com/5c6PirYruj
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) September 7, 2018
Read more: Biggest Threat To Democracy Is Indifference: Barack Obama