Mere Words Won’t Suffice — Nor Will Images — You Must See The Energy Of It, For Yourself. The Crowds Are The Whole Story.

I will offer only the below pull-quote, to explain what the words at the top of the building mean.

The crowd provides incredibly positive, joyous energy — but the rest of the wonder… you will have to discover for yourself, if you can score a ticket:

…What Are These Words?

Out these windows, Chicago’s South and West sides unfold.

It’s an image framed by what President Obama has called some of the most important words of his presidency — capturing his idea of what America can, and should, be.

You are America. Unconstrained by habit and convention.

Unencumbered by what is, and ready to seize what ought to be. Everywhere in this country, there are first steps to be taken, there’s new ground to cover, there are more bridges to be crossed.

America is not the project of any one person. The single-most powerful word in our democracy is the word “We.” “We The People.” “We Shall Overcome.” “Yes We Can.” That word is owned by no one. It belongs to everyone.

Oh, what a glorious task we are given, to continually try to improve this great nation of ours.

— President Barack Obama
Selma, Alabama, March 7, 2015….

Onward, grinning… and grinning, widely. But, you’ll likely not depart without shedding at least a few tears — some of joy; some of sorrow, for what’s been lost. But we will “run this back” — that, I vow. Onward.

नमस्ते