The Country They Love

Ten years ago today, we repealed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ Today our military is stronger and our country is safer because patriotic Americans no longer have to live a lie in order to defend the country they love. pic.twitter.com/uXKSnsflMk

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 20, 2021

The repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ allowed these two Marines to be true to themselves while serving in our military. Listen to their story: https://t.co/A7jxXTG1G1

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 20, 2021

President Obama In Greenbelt

The other day I had a chance to visit a COVID-19 vaccination site in Greenbelt, MD. It was great to see so many folks getting their shot. If you need one, sign up today at https://t.co/k4jKpPT5qo — and then spread the word so we can keep our families and communities safe. pic.twitter.com/iyR2IqCTD4

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 14, 2021

Forever Grateful

While working on Joining Forces, @DrBiden and I were honored to meet with our extraordinary troops, veterans and military families. This Veterans Day, take a moment to thank a military service member or veteran for their service and sacrifice to our country. pic.twitter.com/KU4QKx7r4U

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) November 11, 2020

Today, we’re reminded of our solemn obligation: to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. To all of our veterans and service members, we’re forever grateful for your commitment to our country—and your willingness to put it all on the line for us. Thank you.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 11, 2020

white People Refuse To Handle The Truth

This narrative that black people who want an accurate reflection of history are "angry and resentful" leaves us with one logical takeaway:

White people don't want to know history because they can't handle the truth.

A thread. pic.twitter.com/YXDoUQReRU

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

First, let's be clear: The Founders were racists.

They weren't "products of their time." They KNEW slavery was wrong. They KNEW it was inhumane.

Gouverneur Morris, who literally wrote the Preamble said this during the Constitutional debates pic.twitter.com/CoOODu5BQQ

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

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James Madison, who wrote the Constitution, "thought it wrong to admit in the Constitution the idea that there could be property in men."

Even Lincoln was a white supremacist. That's not my opinion. He said it himself when asked about freeing slaves: pic.twitter.com/Rz1T3RfxRw

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

In the only book Thomas Jefferson ever wrote, "Notes on the State of Virginia," he dedicated pages to explaining why black people were inferior.

Washington knew slavery was wrong but wouldn't manumit his slaves. He stalked Ona Judge, a runaway, until the day he died.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

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BUT here is the thing:

When these truths are pointed out by black people or actual historians, it doesn't mean we want to erase everything they did. It doesn't mean we don't think the founding fathers' legacy should be deleted.

We just want y'all to tell the truth.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

The problem is that many white people believe that being a racist is an all-encompassing trait that stains everything else a person does. They believe it is an evil feeling that lives inside the heart.

I do not.

I think racism is a noun.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

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For instance:

The fact that police disproportionately shoot black people is racist. It does not mean that individual officers go to work hoping to kill black people. It means they work for a system that disproportionately target black Americans.

That is racism.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington and others did not explicitly say they hated black people.

They just created a system that dehumanized black people and treated black people as property. And, while we often focus on slavery, it was not just about slavery.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

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White supremacy is the reason there is an electoral college There were more enslaved people in the south, which would give the South a political advantage if they counted slaves as whole human beings.

The founders' solution?

Count them as 3/5ths of a person.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

White supremacy is the reason every state has different voting laws.

Some states allowed free black landowners to vote, which was unthinkable to other states.

The founders' solution?

Every state gets to set its own rules.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

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White supremacy is the reason behind America's military might.

Southern states didn't think the federal government should be able to raise an army because they feared black soldiers might invade the South to free their black brothers.

The Founders' solution?

The 2nd Amendment pic.twitter.com/MqUdnGG2p9

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

So, instead of facing these historical truths and force us to reconcile with how this country has treated black people and indigenous people since its inception, we'd rather lie about it.

And, in the vacuum created by this intentional whitewashing, racism flourishes

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

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Why wouldn't you hate the idea of defunding the police if you didn't know that American policing descended from slave-catching rules?

Why wouldn't you think Confederate statues are monuments to white supremacist traitors if you believe the Civil War was about "states' rights?"

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

Why wouldn't you think black people are lazy and less intelligent if you didn't know about redlining and how it still influences school funding?

Why wouldn't you be against reparations if you didn't know how black ppl were excluded from the GI Bill, the New Deal & gov't loans?

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

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Why wouldn't you think a speech at Mount Rushmore was a great idea if you didn't know how America stole the land from the Sioux after signing a treaty that said it belonged to them?

But white people are right about one thing:

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

Confederate monuments do represent history.

They represent the historical lengths this country has gone to whitewash the past. They represent the lie of "liberty and justice for all." They represent their willingness to ignore racism in order to honor whiteness in all its glory.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

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Removing these symbols of white supremacy has nothing to do with anger or resentment.

If black people ever unleashed their anger, there is not a sword in the world that wouldn't be wet with throatblood.

But we know that's not the answer.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

There is only one way.

See, a long time ago, we read another activist explained exactly how to eliminate racism and give our people justice.

It came from an admittedly whitewashed historical document but it still has a few relevant points, especially when he said:

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

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"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free:"

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) July 5, 2020

Hidden Heroes

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I’ve always been so inspired by the military caregivers who give so much to care for our nation’s wounded warriors. I’m thankful for the work that @dolefoundation does every day to celebrate and support our caregivers. I hope you’ll find a way to do the same in your community. pic.twitter.com/qpoIYINoNv

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) October 24, 2019

The gangs all here. Tonight, we’re thrilled to honor @MichelleObama with the Tom Hanks #HiddenHeroes Champion award, in recognition of her commitment to supporting America’s military caregivers. pic.twitter.com/zAaBRTSjr3

— Elizabeth Dole Foundation (@DoleFoundation) October 23, 2019

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Former First Lady Michelle Obama became teary as she accepted the Tom Hanks Caregiver Champion award for service to military caregivers on Thursday night at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes gala.

Opening up during a speech at the Washington, D.C. event, the former first lady said she first became aware of the difficulties for spouses, parents, and children of wounded and ill vets while on the campaign trail when her husband was first running for president.

“You all changed me forever,” she said. “You have changed the way I see service, you’ve changed the way I see war, you’ve changed the way I see this entire country. Whether we simply talk about the values we like to pride ourselves on, values like duty and honor and patriotism, or if we actually live them out.”

More here

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.@savannahguthrie emceed the second annual Hidden Heroes Gala with the @DoleFoundation on Wednesday night, and some very special guests joined the event: @MichelleObama, @TomHanks and @RitaWilson!

The organization brings attention to the 6 million Americans caring for veterans. pic.twitter.com/DD2xRuNk8l

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 24, 2019

Find @MichelleObama's powerful remarks here👇https://t.co/75ptHakZR4 pic.twitter.com/SCzclzunX1

— Elizabeth Dole Foundation (@DoleFoundation) October 24, 2019

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Eight years ago First Lady @michelleobama started Joining Forces to activate support for service members, veterans, and their families. Today, @tomhanks presents her with Hidden Heroes Champion Award to thank her for taking action to support #hiddenheroes. #HeroesAndHistoryMakers pic.twitter.com/qbNwslg6pR

— Elizabeth Dole Foundation (@DoleFoundation) October 24, 2019

A Presidential Treat

The families of our wounded warriors don't often get a lot of fanfare, but they're serving and sacrificing right alongside their loved ones. We all owe a debt to them, too, and Fisher House is always making sure we're serving those who serve us. https://t.co/dqnvNk9cQR

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 1, 2019

Military families staying at the Bethesda Fisher Houses got a treat today when former President @BarackObama delivered cookies and visited with our injured and ill military and their families. https://t.co/XvDPbYQrYS pic.twitter.com/pWajlLq9tG

— Fisher House (@FisherHouseFdtn) August 1, 2019

Those Famous Bangs

#LatteGate

Four years ago today: Obama's Latte Salute — the worst scandal in presidential history. pic.twitter.com/XEK2tQnaQr

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) September 23, 2018

Service, Responsibility, Generosity, And Citizenship

To all our veterans and your families: thank you. There's no tribute that can truly match the magnitude of your service and sacrifice. But all of us can do our best to live up to the American values of service, responsibility, generosity, and citizenship that you helped defend.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 11, 2018

Yoga

UPDATE: Obama struck a yoga pose at a DC bakery after one person there mentioned she hoped to become a yoga instructor. https://t.co/WJl0Mez1YF pic.twitter.com/pN5Y0RJSW0

— Washingtonian 🌸 (@washingtonian) July 30, 2018

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