'In suffering there is strength':

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[h=2]'In suffering there is strength': Presidents Obama and George W. Bush lead tributes to the five police officers killed in Dallas in moving memorial in front of their families and injured comrades[/h]

President Obama doused his Dallas audience with a dose of 'the truths that we know' as he joined former President George W. Bush in Texas to pay respects to the five fallen police officers killed in last week's racist sniper attack. Obama made comments about the relationship between police and black communities, trying to articulate the viewpoints of both, as the five killedwere protecting those marching in a Black Lives Matter protest downtown on Thursday night after the deaths of two black men at the hands of officers last week. Before arriving in Dallas, Obama had called the families of the two men killed, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. The president, echoing Dallas Police Chief David Brown, said the country expected too much of its police force 'and we ask too little of ourselves.' Bush, in a rare public appearance said, 'the shock of this evil has not faded,' taking the stage at the Morton H. Meyerson Sympnony Center before his successor. The former president and Dallas resident called the slain officers 'the best among us' and said the Dallas Police Department has 'been mighty inspirations for the rest of the nation.' President Obama followed Brown onstage, who spoke the lyrics of Stevie Wonder's 'As,' to show love to his fellow officers. Five seats were symbolically left empty for those who were killed.

 

[superbeets]

'Today we all feel a sense of loss': Presidents Obama and George W. Bush lead tributes to the five police officers killed in Dallas in moving memorial in front of their families and injured comrades

• Speaking at a memorial for slain police officers in Dallas, Texas, President Obama tried to articulate the realities that both American police and black communities face
• Obama said that he agreed with Dallas Police Chief David Brown who has said that the public simply expect too much of the police
• The president said that the country allows 'poverty to fester' and 'flood communities with so many guns that it is easier for a teenager to buy a glock than get his hands on a computer or even a book'
  [*]He said that police were then expected to play the role of everything from a social worker to a parent - while also managing to cause any 'political blowback'
  [*]The president was joined at the memorial by his wife, along with former President George W. Bush, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, Vice President Joe Biden, former first lady Laura Bush and Dr. Jill Biden
  [*]Police Chief David Brown contributed the most colorful moment of the memorial service by speaking the lyrics of a Stevie Wonder to show his fellow officers some love
  [*]At the finale to the memorial former president George W. Bush enthusiastically led the dignitaries in a stirring version of the Battle Hymn of the Republic
  

By NIKKI SCHWAB, U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 18:54, 12 July 2016 | UPDATED: 22:57, 12 July 2016




President Obama doused his Dallas audience with a dose of 'the truths that we know' as he joined former President George W. Bush today in Texas to pay respects to the five fallen police officers killed in last week's racist sniper attack.
Obama made overarching comments about the relationship between police and black communities, trying to articulate the viewpoints of both, as the five killed were protecting those marching in a Black Lives Matter protest downtown on Thursday night after the deaths of two black men at the hands of officers last week.
Before arriving in Dallas, Obama had called the families of the two men killed, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
The president, echoing Dallas Police Chief David Brown, said the country expected too much of its police force 'and we ask too little of ourselves.'
'As a society we choose to under-invest in decent schools, we allow poverty to fester so that entire, we refuse to fund drug treatment and mental health programs,' Obama said.
'We flood communities with so many guns that it is easier for a teenager to buy a glock than get his hands on a computer or even a book,' the president continued. .
'And then we tell the police, you're the social worker, you're the parent, you're the teacher, you're the drug counselor, we tell them to keep those neighborhoods in check at all costs, and do so without causing any political blowback or inconvenience, don't make the mistake that might disturb our own peace of mind and then we feign surprise when periodically the tensions boil over,' the president added.
Bush, in a rare public appearance said, 'the shock of this evil has not faded,' taking the stage at the Morton H. Meyerson Sympnony Center before his successor.
The former president and Dallas resident called the slain officers 'the best among us' and said the Dallas Police Department has 'been mighty inspirations for the rest of the nation.'
President Obama followed Brown onstage, who spoke the lyrics of Stevie Wonder's 'As,' to show love to his fellow officers.
'I'm so glad I met Michelle first, because she loves Stevie Wonder,' President Obama said once he took the stage.

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Difficult subject: The president has argued that, despite the heated public outcry of the past week, the country is not as divided as it may seem







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Poignant: President Barack Obama on Tuesday gathered with politicians, police officers and families of the fallen in Dallas to call for unity in the wake of a shocking slaying of five police officers by a black man who said he wanted revenge for the killings of blacks by police

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Tribute: President Barack Obama speaks during a memorial service at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

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Message: People in Dallas and across the United States are suffering in the wake of last week's slaying of five police officers at a protest against police violence, President Barack Obama told a memorial on Tuesday for victims of the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement in almost 15 years

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Unifier: 'Scripture tells us that in our suffering there is glory. Because we know that suffering produces perseverance,' Obama told a crowd several hundred people, including many uniformed police officers, at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. 'Right now, those words test us because the people of Dallas, people across the country are suffering.'



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Intent: US President Barack Obama speaks during an interfaith memorial service for the victims of the Dallas police shooting (left) and afterwards hugs Dallas Police Chief David Brown

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President Barack Obama speaks at the memorial for the five police officers slain last week in Dallas, Texas

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Gratitude: US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Dallas Police Chief David Brown (2nd L) watched by First Lady Michelle Obama (L) and Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Chief James Spiller

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Touching: First Lady Michelle Obama hugs Dallas Police Chief David Brown (2nd L) as US President Barack Obama hugs Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Chief James Spiller (R) during the memorial service in Dallas

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President Barack Obama, (third from right), gives DART Police Chief J.D. Spiller a hug as first lady Michelle Obama hugs Dallas Police Chief David Brown, (center), after an interfaith memorial service for the five fallen officers

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President Barack Obama, (center), joins hands with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and other dignitaries during an interfaith memorial service at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, for five law enforcement officers killed last week in an ambush at a Black Lives Matter rally. From left are Vice President Joe Biden, former first lady Laura Bush, former President George W. Bush, first lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, Mayor Mike Rawlings, Micki Rawlings, Dallas Police Chief David Brown and DART police chief J.D. Spiller

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Song: Former president George W. Bush, First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. President Barack Obama sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the end of the memorial service for the murdered police officers who died in Dallas last week

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Involved: Former president George W. Bush sings enthusiastically along to the Battle Hymn of the Republic with First Lady Michelle Obama

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Joining in: Former president George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush, First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama share a moment during the memorial for the five murdered Dallas police on Tuesday

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Hug; President Barack Obama, (left), and First Lady Michelle Obama, (center), reach out to former President George W. Bush during the service

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Linked: President Barack Obama holds hands with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, (right), and First Lady Michelle Obama during the interfaith memorial service for the fallen police officers

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Powerful speech: US President Barack Obama listens to Dallas Police Department Chief David Brown during the Interfaith Tribute to Dallas Fallen Officers at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas - he extensively quoted from Stevie Wonder during his speech

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Hand shake: US President Barack Obama is greeted by Dallas Police Department Chief David Brown at the memorial service for the five police officers gunned down on Thursday

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Listening to the president: Officials, including Dallas Police Department Chief David Brown (C) reflect on Barack Obama's words during the Interfaith Tribute to Dallas Fallen Officers at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas

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Salute for fallen comrades: Police join hands during the singing of 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

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Police listen as U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a memorial service for five policemen killed last week in a sniper attack in Dallas, Texas

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Emotion: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attend an interfaith memorial service for the fallen police officers and members of the Dallas community



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This administration was joined by the last one with President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden and their wives standing alongside former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush

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'The shock of this evil has not faded' said former President George W. Bush as he paid tribute to the officers killed in Dallas, where he now resides

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Unity: First lady Michelle Obama and President George W. Bush, flanked by President Barack Obama and former first lady Laura Bush, share a moment during the memorial service for the five Dallas police officers killed on Thursday



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Two presidents were on hand today in Dallas with President George W. Bush, with wife first lady Laura Bush, making a rare appearance with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama bow their heads at a memorial service for five slain police officers in Dallas gunned down by a racist as they protected Black Lives Matter protesters

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Fallen: Portraits of the five fallen police officers are seen at rear as a memorial at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas

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Respect: An honor guard passes the photos of the fallen police officers during a memorial service at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, in Dallas

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Listening intently: Former first lady Laura Bush former US president George W. Bush and US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama listen to music during the memorial service in Dallas today

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The 'soul of our city was pierced' said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings who called on the country to pull together during his town's time of crisis



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[h=3]‘I’LL BE LOVING YOU, ALWAYS’: DALLAS POLICE CHIEF RECITES POWERFUL LYRICS TO STEVIE WONDER’S AS [/h]'We all know sometimes life's hates and troubles

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Icon and musician: Stevie Wonder's 1976 masterpiece album Songs in the Key of Life dealt with issues from the civil rights movement that took hold of the United States in the 1960s

Can make you wish you were born in another time and space
But you can bet your life times that and twice its double
That God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed
So make sure when you say you're in it but not of it
You're not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called Hell
Change your words into truths and then change that truth into love
And maybe our children's grandchildren
And their great-great grandchildren will tell
I'll be loving you
Until the ocean covers every mountain high--Loving you
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea--Loving you
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream--Be loving you
Until the day is night and night becomes the day--Loving you
Until the trees and seas up, up and fly away--Loving you
Until the day that 8x8x8x8 is 4--Loving you
Until the day that is the day that are no more--Loving you
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left--Be loving you
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself--Loving you
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through--Loving you
Until the day that you are me and I am you--
Now ain't that loving you
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
Ain't that loving you
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
And I've got to say always

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Tribute: Dallas Police Chief David Brown read out the lyrics to Stevie Wonder's 1976 song As - to show his love for his colleagues who died

Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea always
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream-always
Until the day is night and night becomes the day-always
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away-always
Until the day that 8x8x8 is 4-always
Until the day that is the day that are no more-always
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left- always
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself always
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through- always
Until the day that you are me and I am you
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream
Until the day is night and night becomes the day
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away
Until the day that 8x8x8 is 4
Until the day that is the day that are no more
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through
Until the day that you are me and I am you'







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President Obama arrives in Dallas, Texas, today with first lad Michelle Obama and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in tow

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President Obama huddles with Sen. Ted Cruz as they arrive in Dallas, Texas, in a bipartisan show of solidarity that also includes President George W. Bush giving remarks

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President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrived in Dallas Tuesday afternoon, where the president will give remarks at a non-denominational service for the five slain police officers

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Vice President Joe Biden (center) arrives in Dallas with wife Jill Biden (left), Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins (center left) and Fort Worth, Texas Mayor Betsy Price (center right)

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Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Dallas, Texas. He's accompanied by his wife Dr. Jill Biden

Becoming quickly solemn, Obama spoke of the Bible.
'Scripture tells in in our suffering there is glory because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character hope,' the president said.
'Sometimes the truths of these words are hard to see,' he continued.
'Right now those words test us,' Obama added.
The president went back to that night, acknowledging that the police officers became targets because they were helping protesters act on their constitutional rights.
'For awhile the protest went on without incident and despite the fact that police conduct was the subject of the protest, despite the fact that there must have been signs or slogans or chants which with they profoundly disagreed,' Obama said.
'These men and this department did their jobs like professionals that they were,' the president noted.
'Then around 9 o'clock the gunfire came. Another community torn apart. More hearts broken, more questions about what caused and what might prevent another tragedy,' the president said.
The president said he realized that Americans were struggling: 'First the shootings in Minnesota and Baton Rouge, the protests, then the targeting of police by the shooter here.'
'An act not just of demented violence but of racial hatred,' Obama said.
The three incidents together exposed some of the 'deepest fault lines' of the American democracy, Obama continued and widened some wounds.

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President Obama was joined by first lady Michelle Obama in the South Lawn today as they boarded Marine One en route to Dallas, Texas, for a memorial service for five fallen police officers

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The Obamas, photographed leaving the White House mid-morning Tuesday, will be joined by President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush once they arrive in Dallas for a rare joint appearance

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President Obama is expected to give remarks 'appropriate for the setting,' speculated Press Secretary Josh Earnest, who suggested he wouldn't get too political while in Texas

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Five chairs were left empty and draped with American flags today in Dallas to honor the five police officers killed by a racist sniper overnight on Thursday



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Dallas victims: Brent Thompson (left) and Mike Krol (right) were two of the officers killed in Dallas

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Family: Patrick Zamarripa (above with his family) was one of the five shot dead



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Painful loss: Lorne Ahrens (left) was a former deputy in Los Angeles and Michael Smith (right) a father of two

'We can't simply dismiss it as a symptom of political correctness, or reverse racism,' he said, using a term often uttered by the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump.
'To have your experience denied like that, dismissed by those in authority, dismissed perhaps even by your white friends and co-workers and fellow church members again and again and again, it hurts. Surely we can see that. All of us.'
Before Obama gave his talk, Dallas Police Chief Brown, who's gotten national attention for his extremely competent handling of the situation, gave the memorial its lighthearted moment.
'When I was a teenager and started liking girls, I could never find the words to express myself,' he began.
Brown explained that after a few unsuccessful tries, he attempted a new strategy: reciting song lyrics at women he wanted to take on dates.
'So for girls I liked I would pull out some Al Green or some Teddy Pendergrass,' he mentioned, asking the audience to envision the bald police chief with a full fro, bell bottom jeans and wide collared shirts.
'But for people that I loved, if I fell in love with a girl, I'd have to dig down deep and get some Stevie Wonder,' he said.
'So today I'm going to pull out some Stevie Wonder for these families,' he said, and began reciting the lyrics to the song, 'As.'


.President Bush spoke of the call to duty of those in blue. 'Most of us imagine if the moment called for that we would risk our lives to protect a spouse or a child, those wearing uniform assume that risk for the safety of strangers,' Bush said.
'They and their families share the unspoken knowledge that each new day can bring new dangers,' he continued.
'But none of us were prepared or could be prepared by an ambush of hatred and malice,' Bush added.
Before Bush, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings spoke first at the interfaith memorial service Tuesday afternoon.
He proclaimed that the 'soul of our city was pierced' on Thursday night. And he said the police were the ones fighting a disease – 'this absurd violence on our streets.
Rawlings pointed to the five seats, filled with American flags, left empty for the lives that were lost.
This was the 11th trip Obama made to a city during his presidency to console the family and friends of victims of mass shootings.
In the past Obama and Bush have joined forces in Selma, Alabama in 2015; in Tanzania in 2013, for a wreath-laying ceremony to pay homage to the 1998 embassy bombing victims in Dar es Salaam.
They also appeared together at the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in 2011, gathering at Ground Zero, according to CNN.
In Dallas today, they were joined by former first lady Laura Bush, as well as Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden.





Bush had served as governor of Texas before moving into the Oval Office in 2001.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who vied for the Republican nomination, was also aboard Air Force One today, CNN reported, in a bipartisan show of support.
His Senate counterpart, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, introduced Bush.
At the end of the service the elected official sitting onstage joined hands and sang 'Battle Hymn of the Republic,' with President Bush squeezing first lady Michelle Obama's hand. The first lady was seated next to Bush throughout the program and was spotted patting his left hand to show appreciationg for his comments.
Before leaving the stage the Obamas, Bushes and Bidens applauded the uniformed police officers who were in the audience.
The pictures of the five officers killed were left onstage as the political parade exited.
On Thursday in Dallas, gunman Micah Johnson sprayed bullets at police officers who were charged with monitoring a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest.
Overall, 12 police officers were shot and five were killed.
The victims were later identified as: Brent Thompson, 43; Patrick Zamarripa, 32; Michael Krol, 40; Michael Smith, 55; and 48-year-old Lorne Ahrens.
Dallas police eventually used a robot to kill Johnson.


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[ScottL]

Not surprised no comments in this thread. There should be plenty. So I'll contribute a few.....

SB, this is why you're one of the MVPs of this forum. Don't ever stop what you do.



While in hospital waiting room yesterday before I was wheeled in I got to hear GWB speak. He was PERFECT. And just as great as his words were, he also left room for the others to follow. I missed the rest of the speeches. The bits and pieces I've heard of Obama's so far I'd say he was very good as well (As I type Hillary stinks in the background).

There comes a point in our country where unity trumps politics. Yesterday D + R found that place. Can you imagine Ted Cruz flying with the Obamas on Air Force One?!? It's unfortunate that between the members of our forum it seems this place of unity does not exist. And that's pretty sad. If the picture below gives you other than warm feelings sorry to say you're part of the problem. You can all now pelt me with cyber rocks. And TG, spare me the nailed it. I already know.

 

[MantisToboggan]

Not surprised no comments in this thread. There should be plenty. So I'll contribute a few.....

SB, this is why you're one of the MVPs of this forum. Don't ever stop what you do.


While in hospital waiting room yesterday before I was wheeled in I got to hear GWB speak. He was PERFECT. And just as great as his words were, he also left room for the others to follow. I missed the rest of the speeches. The bits and pieces I've heard of Obama's so far I'd say he was very good as well (As I type Hillary stinks in the background).

There comes a point in our country where unity trumps politics. Yesterday D + R found that place. Can you imagine Ted Cruz flying with the Obamas on Air Force One?!? It's unfortunate that between the members of our forum it seems this place of unity does not exist. And that's pretty sad. If the picture below gives you other than warm feelings sorry to say you're part of the problem. You can all now pelt me with cyber rocks. And TG, spare me the nailed it. I already know.

This is a good post.