If you haven’t heard Michelle Obama’s impressive speech at the Democratic National Convention last night, then you are surely missing out. She refocused the entire election’s priorities (or should-be priorities) in literally a single speech: It’s about the kids–you know, the future generation that will be affected by many of the current events. Regardless of who you’re voting for, no one can argue about that fact.
She deftly and poignantly centered her speech stating what should be the obvious:
“This election, and every election, is about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives.”
Here are four quotes from her speech that every parent can take to heart:
1. How one motto helps her parent her kids:
“That is what Barack and I think about every day as we try to guide and protect our girls through the challenges of this unusual life in the spotlight, how we urge them to ignore those who question their father’s citizenship or faith. How we insist that the hateful language they hear from public figures on TV does not represent the true spirit of this country. How we explain that when someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level. No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high.”
2. Actions really do speak louder than words:
“With every word we utter, with every action we take, we know our kids are watching us. We as parents are their most important role models. And let me tell you, Barack and I take that same approach to our jobs as president and first lady because we know that our words and actions matter, not just to our girls, but the children across this country, kids who tell us, I saw you on TV, I wrote a report on you for school.”
3. She explains what she wants in a president (in this case, Hillary Clinton). It’s someone who will keep kids (and adults) safe–and someone who sets a good example of dedication:
“You see, Hillary has spent decades doing the relentless, thankless work to actually make a difference in their lives, advocating for kids with disabilities as a young lawyer, fighting for children’s health care as first lady, and for quality child care in the Senate.
What I admire most about Hillary is that she never buckles under pressure. She never takes the easy way out. And Hillary Clinton has never quit on anything in her life.
And when I think about the kind of president that I want for my girls and all our children, that’s what I want.
I want someone with the proven strength to persevere, someone who knows this job and takes it seriously, someone who understands that the issues a president faces are not black-and-white and cannot be boiled down to 140 characters.
I want a president with a record of public service, someone whose life’s work shows our children that we don’t chase fame and fortune for ourselves, we fight to give everyone a chance to succeed.”
4. When times are tough, coming together as a community and family is key. Love is actually all around–and it can help us through the tough times:
“And when crisis hits, we don’t turn against each other. No, we listen to each other, we lean on each other, because we are always stronger together.
…It’s about leaving something better for our kids. That’s how we’ve always moved this country forward, by all of us coming together on behalf of our children, folks who volunteer to coach that team, to teach that Sunday school class, because they know it takes a village.”
So, the moral of the story: Michelle Obama is basically Dumbledore.
Watch the full speech below (and/or read the entire transcript here):
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