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Friday marked the last day of Obama’s eight year presidency. The final chopper ride from Capital Hill to St. Andrews airbase with a last lap around Washington airspace thrust the former first family into the life of an ordinary citizen – but will it be that ordinary?
Barrack and Michelle Obama have spent a lot of their time in service to the public. They were both great grassroots mobilizers in Chicago before venturing into politics. It is in Chicago that Obama will be starting his new foundation when he comes back from holiday.
“The work of perfecting our union is never finished, and we look forward to joining you in that effort as fellow citizens,” said Obama in a video posted in the foundation’s website.
The Obama Foundation is laying the groundwork for a presidential center based on the South Side of Chicago, where it will team up with projects throughout the city and around the country.
The foundation’s mission centers around the concept of citizenship and contributions to society that bring on social change.
But before they embark of their charity work, the Obama’s will be taking time off on holiday in Palm Springs, California.
“First, we’re going to take a little break. We’re finally going to get some sleep and take time to be with our family. And just be still for a little bit,” said Michelle in the video.
The charity once completely setup will work in Chicago, other states of the US and probably have a few international projects.
Obama also promised to challenge Donald Trumps Policies when he feels that they will claw back on the gains that the previous administrations have made towards uniting the country.
“If I saw systematic discrimination being ratified in some fashion — I’d put in that category explicit or functional obstacles to people being able to vote, to exercise their franchise. I’d put in that category institutional efforts to silence dissent or the press. And for me, at least, I would put in that category efforts to round up kids who have grown up here and for all practical purposes are American kids and send them someplace else when they love this country. The notion that we would just arbitrarily, or because of politics, punish those kids when they didn’t do anything wrong themselves, I think would be something that would merit me speaking out,” said Obama in his final address to the press.
That is probably the most direct indication that he will not be taking a low profile like his predecessors when it comes to national politics.
“I’ll be right there with you every step of the way.”
For now we hope that he will find time to visit and spend more time in Kenya as he enjoys retirement and charity work. As to what President Trumps’ government will look like, it remains something for us to see.
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