All throughout my life time and the challenging periods I got to encounter and fiercely battle, I have come to know one thing, and that is gratitude! Gratification edifies the soul and illuminates one’s spirit in totality, and it evangelizes to the hearts and minds of others in a profound way.
Even the mighty Holy Bible couldn’t have been more unequivocal in forcefully emphasizing thanks and appreciation in the face of kindness, so gratitude is Godliness.
President Barack Obama thrilled and stunned the world recently when he emotionally expressed a depth of gratitude to his Vice President and Brother, Joe Biden in a historic and surreal style and faction.
The room was amazingly quiet and the audience became passionately consumed while the tears of joy and appreciation of the President could not stop pouring especially on the glittering cheeks of the Veteran American Vice President and his family. It was no doubt an outstanding and defining moment in the lives of both men and buddies.
Obama proudly presented Biden, the man he calls, “ my brother”, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, in a well-planned colorful White House ceremony that was witnessed by some of the country venerated personalities including long standing friends of Veep Biden.
“For your faith in your fellow Americans, for your love of country and for your lifetime of service that will endure through the generations, I’d like to ask the military aide to join us on stage,” Obama beaming with smiles, stated in the ceremony.
“For my final time as President, I am pleased to award our nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
Biden, who appeared extremely emotional during the tribute and was seen tearing up, accepted the award but said he did not deserve it.
“This honor is not only well beyond what I deserve, but it’s a reflection of the extent and generosity of your spirit,” Biden said. “I don’t deserve this but I know it came from the President’s heart and what comes from the heart is the heart.”
Before surprising Biden with the award, Obama gave lengthy and colorful remarks praising Biden, his wife Dr. Jill Biden and his children and grandchildren.
“This is the kind of family that built this country,” Obama said. “That’s why my family is honored to call ourselves honorary Bidens.”
Obama noted that while their term is almost over the two will be “forever bonded as a family,”
“If you can’t admire Joe Biden as a person you’ve got a problem,” Obama said quoting a Republican senator. “He’s as good a man as God ever created.”
Biden, who was shocked by the entire gathering, said he had no “inkling” it was going to happen. The Vice President said he thought he was coming to toast senior staff with the first lady and his wife Jill Biden.
Obama could not stop flowering his Vice President with horde of praises. He called him a decent man with a good heart and a brilliant professional who gave America the best of his service for about half a century.
He intimated that Biden served him with unwavering loyalty, boldness and commitment, and for that, he will forever remain grateful to his Vice President and the two of them shall remain inseparable for their lifetime.
Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden told reporters that the moment will forever live on in the hearts of the Bidens—from generation to generation, adding, she was extremely honored and jollified for the honor bestowed on her husband and the Biden family as a whole.
The million dollar question is; what can we learn from the good example of President Obama? What can Africa and specifically Liberia learn from this?
Here in Liberia, we do not appropriately honor people who served our country with proud and distinction. Most of the times, people are honored based on their connections and relations with the power that be. It is downright wrong!
In fact, in some instances, we denigrate and treat our statesmen with unbearable neglect, despair and disdain—even viciously going after them with witch-hunt and some times, sadly exterminating them.
Obama is perhaps teaching Liberia to do things appropriately. That we should always give honor to who honor is due—by honoring people who gave the best of their geniuses and lives to our nation rather than publicly dishonoring them as in the case of many statesmen that have given the best of their services to our country.
Liberian leaders must follow the good example of the incredible and historically fulfilled outgoing U.S. President by honoring our great statesmen and women on whose backs our nation cometh thus far. We should always respect and promote them, and unconditionally refrain from the unwelcoming attitude of demeaning and undermining them, for no society grows when it throw dishonor, ingratitude and disrespect to its heroes.
Finally, I like to congratulate President Obama for being an outstanding Leader in his country and to particularly extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation on his surreal move to honor his Vice President, Comrade Veteran Joe Biden for his half of century (a real milestone) of remarkable and immaculate service to the nation and people of America.
I implore Africa but particularly we here in Liberia, to emulate and mimic the good example of President Barrack Hussein Obama. I was indeed, touched and enlightened by his instinct of magnanimity extended to his friend and brother, Vice President, Joe Biden.
May we explain more?
Moncio Robert Kpadeh, Contributing Writer