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Former President Barack Obama was given the 

 "Profile in Courage Award" on May 7, 2017

 who is the former U.S. ambassador to Japan, and her son Jack Schlossberg.  

During his speech, Obama said we need the courage to listen to one another, to seek common ground and to embrace principled compromise.

He told the audience that any fool can be fearless, but true courage is found in being our best selves and keeping our most important commitments. 

2017 Profile In Courage Award Ceremony with President Obama


"Our politics remains filled with division and discord," Obama said, "and everywhere we see the risk of falling into the refuge of tribe and clan and anger at those who don't look like us or have the same surnames or pray the way we do."

In these moments Americans need to have the courage to stand up to hate — not just in others, but in themselves too, he said.

Obama called on Congress to have this kind of courage when forging ahead on a new health care reform in America, signalling out Republicans and asking them to let personal ethics be their guide.

"John F. Kennedy knew that our best hope and our most powerful answer to our doubts and to our fears lies inside each of us, in our willingness to joyfully embrace our responsibility as citizens, to stay true to our allegiance, to our highest and best ideals, to maintain our regard and concern for the poor and the aging and the marginalized, to put our personal or party interest aside when duty to our country calls or when conscience demands," Obama said.

The "Profile in Courage Award" is named for a 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book by John F. Kennedy that profiled eight U.S. senators who risked their careers by taking principled, though unpopular, positions.

To listen to the full speech, click either the audio player or the video player above.

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At the JFK Presidential Library in Boston, President Obama said we need the courage to listen to one another, to seek common ground, and to embrace principled compromise.

At the JFK Presidential Library in Boston, President Obama said we need the courage to listen to one another, to seek common ground, and to embrace principled compromise. He told the audience that any fool can be fearless, but true courage is found in being our best selves and keeping our most important commitments.

Former President Barack Obama speaks about courage

Former President Barack Obama awarded Profile in Courage award

Former President Barack Obama speaks about courage

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