Amser’s thoughts on President Obama’s motivational speech
“Your destiny is in your hands. And as you pursue the future that you want, I want you to know that the United States of America will be right there with you as your partner, and as your friend.” - Mr. Obama’s last words to the youth of Vietnam before leaving.
With only a brief 30 minutes of presentation, President Barack Obama instilled motivation and new ideals into the hearts of over 2.000 young Vietnamese at the National Conference Center on May 24, 2016.
If the true talent of a politician is to understand his listeners, and to draw sympathy, then Mr. Obama surely is a talented politician. The people of Vietnam had mostly been observing Mr. Obama via the media, on international newspapers or television and the such. Thus, everyone was filled with excitement when they got a ticket to the Conference Room, where they could see President Obama for the first time. Even the slightest details of his visit to Vietnam, such as where he tasted Bun Cha, or which door he came in, became hot topics for debate while they were waiting for the President to appear on stage.
Le Minh Trang, 11 English 1 student of Hanoi-Amsterdam High School shares her feelings after attending President Obama’s speech.
Mr. Obama certainly did not leave them disappointed. He began his speech by saying hello in Vietnamese :”Xin chao. Xin chao Vietnam”, even showed gratitude for the hospitality of Vietnam afterwards. He remembered each and every hand-waving, handshake, or the slightest smiles that Vietnamese people gave him while he was travelling.
Not only that, Mr. Obama also included his own experiences, wove into his speech the most familiar traditional aspects of Vietnam to connect with his audience. From Vietnamese Bamboo, the Temple of Literature, the Dong Son drum, to the famous art pieces like Trinh Cong Son’s “Noi Vong Tay Lon”, Ly Thuong Kiet, general Vo Nguyen Giap and even quotes from the Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du, as if he had known them all for a long time.
President Obama’s always making eye contact with the audience, readily accepts the affection he receives.
President Barack Obama’s speech cannot instantly change things in Vietnam. However, the young generation hopes that one day, they themselves will turn those aspirations, those dreams into reality, so that the 2.000 people present at the National Conference Center will one day reminisce about the moment they heard the President of the United States share his view of the future with Viet Nam, and will proudly say that they have succeeded.
Reporter: Minh Trang - English 1 1417
Translator : Hoang Trung - English 1 1417
