While the majority of 2017 has been dominated by negative news and the controversy surrounding the Donald Trump administration, not all hope is lost. For former President Barack Obama, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel as 2018 draws near.
Obama on 2018
In January 2017, Barack Obama ended his second term in office, completing a presidency that changed the course of the United States. While there were aspects of fair criticism, the consensus was that Obama handled his time in office with class and respect, passing through legislation that will forever be linked back to his presidency, including the signing of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.
Since then, Donald Trump has done everything in his power to repeal the efforts of his predecessor, much to the chagrin of his critics. As Trump continues to behave in a reckless manner on social media, Obama took to his Twitter account on December 29 with a more optimistic tone.
As we count down to the new year, we get to reflect and prepare for what’s ahead. For all the bad news that seemed to dominate our collective consciousness, there are countless stories from this year that remind us what's best about America.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2017
In a series of tweets on Friday, Barack Obama shinned a line of hope on the future of the United States. "As we count down to the new year, we get to reflect and prepare for what’s ahead," Obama wrote.
"For all the bad news that seemed to dominate our collective consciousness, there are countless stories from this year that remind us what's best about America," he added, in an apparent nod to the controversial administration of Donald Trump.
Chris Long gave his paychecks from the first six games of the NFL season to fund scholarships in Charlottesville, VA. He wanted to do more, so he decided to give away an entire season’s salary. That’s a story from 2017. https://t.co/NL0RoARkan
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2017
"Kat Creech, a wedding planner in Houston, turned a postponed wedding into a volunteer opportunity for Hurricane Harvey victims.
Thirty wedding guests became an organization of hundreds of volunteers," Barack Obama tweeted, in reference to a positive story coming out of 2017. "Chris Long gave his paychecks from the first six games of the NFL season to fund scholarships in Charlottesville, VA. He wanted to do more, so he decided to give away an entire season’s salary," the former president tweeted in another post.
All across America people chose to get involved, get engaged and stand up. Each of us can make a difference, and all of us ought to try. So go keep changing the world in 2018.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2017
Double down
"Ten-year-old Jahkil Jackson is on a mission to help homeless people in Chicago. He created kits full of socks, toiletries, and food for those in need. Just this week, Jahkil reached his goal to give away 5,000 'blessing bags,'" Obama added in yet another tweet. In his final Twitter post, Obama looked ahead to the new year. "All across America people chose to get involved, get engaged and stand up," he wrote, while stating, "Each of us can make a difference, and all of us ought to try. So go keep changing the world in 2018."
