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freshwest

(53,661 posts)
11. 'If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools...'
Fri Nov 7, 2014, 05:42 AM
Nov 2014

That is what Obama has dealt with from Day One!

If— By Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!


The reporters are shallow, babbling brooks who make shrill noises which will mean nothing in history. Obama is living every word of that poem.


DU Rec In_The_Wind Nov 2014 #1
Doubling your rec! And, link to transcript: NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #2
I'm not ready to watch The Daily Show yet alone .... SleeplessinSoCal Nov 2014 #3
Don't worry, he didn't take any guff from them. He's doubling down! freshwest Nov 2014 #6
Mahalo so much for Posting the Vid of the Presser where the President Cha Nov 2014 #4
Well, even that pack of jackals can't bring down a Leo the size of our Lion! freshwest Nov 2014 #7
They most certainly could not, fresh.. The President is too Focused on what he wants Cha Nov 2014 #10
freshwest! hope you hopemountain Nov 2014 #24
I'm honored. PBO has his eye on what's really important, he never loses sight of that. freshwest Nov 2014 #28
Thank you freshwest. lovemydog Nov 2014 #5
You're welcome, lovemydog. I thought he did great. They were nonplussed. freshwest Nov 2014 #8
He did. He reminds me of that great quote by Robert Louis Stevenson: lovemydog Nov 2014 #9
'If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools...' freshwest Nov 2014 #11
That's one of the most beautiful poems in the English language. lovemydog Nov 2014 #14
We have been blessed, lovemydog: freshwest Nov 2014 #15
I enjoy every minute of it freshwest. lovemydog Nov 2014 #16
That is my favorite poem ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #20
Thank you 1StrongBlackMan. sheshe2 Nov 2014 #22
Not only beautiful ... USEFUL! eom. 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #23
Both inspirational, 1SBM. I've heard both, but that second one is where I am now. Thanks. freshwest Nov 2014 #26
Brava freshwest! sheshe2 Nov 2014 #21
Love your warning. Some folks... Hekate Nov 2014 #12
There was some trolling earlier, so I felt the disclaimer and title were needed. freshwest Nov 2014 #13
Only seen 1/2 but safe to say he did an admirable job as usual. nt BootinUp Nov 2014 #17
KnR sheshe2 Nov 2014 #18
Thanks for this, freshwest, a shame you have to warn so clearly steve2470 Nov 2014 #19
Check out my sig line: freshwest Nov 2014 #27
wonderful posts! hopemountain Nov 2014 #25
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