Former US President, Barack Obama has delivered an inspiring speech to mark Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday anniversary.
In a speech in Johannesburg, Obama asked the world not to give up hope of the world becoming a better place for all.
In a speech listened to by over 15,000 people, Mr. Obama sort to give a historical account of the world order.
The Old unjust structures
“The average person [100 years ago] saw no possibility of advancing from the circumstances of their life,” he said.
Obama added that “Even in democaracies like the United States… racial segregation and systemic discrimination was the law in almost half the country and the norm in the other half.
“That was the world just 100 years ago.”
He said “We have to start by admitting whatever laws may have existed on the books… the previous structures of privilege and power and injustice and exploitation never completely went away, they were never fully dislodged.
Racism still a problem
Obama says it is a “plain fact” that racial discrimination still exists in the US and South Africa.
There are “yawning disparities” in income and wealth. For many people, the more things change the more things stay the same,” he adds.
According to Mr. Obama the advances in the world have “meant that a few dozen individuals control the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of humanity”.
He spoke of the high levels of corruptions across the world which is depriving people from true development.
Politics of fear
“The politics of fear and resentment and retrenchment began to appeal. And that kind of politics is now on the move,” he said
He adds that “Strongman politics are ascendant suddenly… Those in power seek to undermine every institution or norm that gives democracy meaning”.
But Obama says he believes “we have no choice but to move forward…. I believe it is based on hard evidence. The fact that the world’s most prosperous and successful societies happen to be those which have most closely approximated the liberal progressive ideal that we talk about.”
“We are going to have to work harder and work smarter,” Mr Obama adds.
The rich must support the poor
Obama told the crowd that “Right now I am surprised by how much money I have, and I don’t have half as much as these guys”.
“There is only so much you can eat, only so big a house you can have… I mean, it is enough.
“You don’t have to take a vow of poverty just to say let me help out a few of these folks. I’ll pay a little more in taxes, it is okay, I can afford it,” he adds.
Fight for basic justice
Mr Obama says he is surprised there was still the need for people of all races, religions and sexual orientations to “treat each other with care and respect”.
“It turns out, as we are seeing in this recent drift into reactionary politics, the struggle for basic justice is never truly finished,” he added.
He says “We have got to constantly be on the lookout and fight people who look to elevate themselves by putting somebody else down.”
A dig at Trump
Obama also took time to speak on issues many believe was referring to Donald Trump.
“You have to believe in facts,” he tells the crowd. “Without facts there is no basis for cooperation.
“If I say this is a podium and you say this is an elephant, it is going to be hard for us to cooperate.”
Donald Trump wants to pull the US out of Paris accord which focuses on the treats posed by climate change.
Obama says he will support such a move if it’s based-on facts.
“I can’t find common ground if someone says climate change is not happening when almost all the world’s scientists say it is. If you start saying it is an elaborate hoax, where do we start?”
“It used to be if you caught them lying, they said, oh man. Now they just keep on lying” he adds.
Obama however wants the world to hope again saying “We will have to find way to lessen fears of those who feel threatened,”.
Source: Africafeeds.com
