Obama Eulogy: Rev. Clementa Pinckney

From the moment that I first heard it, I've said that President -- then Senator -- Obama's speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention was the best speech that I've ever heard.  At the end, I turned to my wife and said that man will be president some day.  (I assumed that this would be in twenty-ish years.  How glad I am to have been wrong in being right!)  This past week, we heard the president give an oratory performance that while different may very well have been its equal.

If you have not watched the president's eulogy for the Reverend Clemnta Pinckney, do yourself a favor and do so.  It is a masterful bit of speaking, perfect for its moment, capturing the mood of its audience perfectly.  This speech backs up everything that I've read about Pinckney.  He sounds like an impressive man indeed.

This speech put tears in my eyes -- as usual, not unusual -- and bursting forth when "Amazing Grace" rang out.  It is worth it just to hear the president sing and sing well.

What happened at the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston was horrific.  This eulogy didn't back away from that horror, which is only right.  Still, at its heart it is about forgiveness, justice, redemption, and grace... for the killer, for his victims, for us as a people... and for our nation.

Here is to Amazing Grace.

2 July 2015