Man shares about his presidential hug, and it is quite sweet.

Courtesy of Imgur:

You may not remember giving me that hug, but I'll remember that moment for the rest of my life. It was my junior year in college and things weren't going very well for me. Days before I had lost someone special to me and I was emotionally distraught. I also had no idea what to do with my life, while it seemed like everyone else had it all figured out. I felt like a failure. 

 Then I heard you were coming to Binghamton University to give a speech. I was super excited but unfortunately, I didn't win the lottery to go see you. (But as you can see from the picture I managed to sneak in... Just kidding) 

 Luckily my brother Kieran was ushering for you and took me as his plus one to go see you speak! I hadn't been that excited in a very long time. You are one of my role models and I look up to you and I admire you. To be frank I admire more than just you but everything you represent. I feel like this picture is a testament to your whole character. 

You were only supposed to go around and shake everyone's hand but you went out of your way to make me, a nobody, happy. 

However, it didn't all go exactly as planned. I was supposed to ask you for a hug and anyone that knows me knows what happens next. I froze; I couldn't breathe. It felt like the longest yet shortest moment of my life. 

As you walked away I immediately berated myself for not being able to speak up. While you were halfway across the room talking to someone else, I complained out loud and said, "Damn I wish I had asked Barack for a hug!" As I said these words I saw your head slowly turn towards my direction... you had heard me! To be honest I was more worried that you had heard me call you Barack. But you didn't care! Your exact words were, "You want a hug? Come here." And then you proceeded to give me a hug! 

Whenever I tell this story I always make sure to make it a point to say that YOU gave me a hug. Not the other way around. This is a very important detail! Mainly because the bald secret service dude held my arms and frisked them not allowing me to hug back. It was undeniably one of the best frisking moments of my entire life. 

Afterwards I was mostly in a daze, no words can explain the emotion, I'm surprised I didn't feint. It's hard to remember the next ten minutes of my life. I just remember being the happiest person alive. 

Sometimes I look back at it and think about how it almost didn't happen. I'm sure in some parallel universe you didn't hear me... And my life wasted away knowing I didn't grab the opportunity. So I want to personally thank you President Obama for teaching me to always try my hardest to live life with no regrets and grab every opportunity I can.

When I read this simple account of this man's meeting with President Obama I knew that it needed to be shared.

The man is amazing.

And we are going to miss him like crazy.

You know there are days when I miss this man more than others. Today is one of them.

You know I would like to see a law passed that forced Congress to watch an hour of Mr. Rogers a day before they were allowed to write or vote on any legislative bill.

Tweet of the day.

Incredible that in 2015 this President faces virulent smears by unapologetic racists on a daily basis. pic.twitter.com/OlMj15ofRv
— Jeff Gauvin (@JeffersonObama) February 22, 2015

And yet people continue to call this man cold and aloof.

Westboro Church members face first protesters after death of founder Fred Phelps.

Courtesy of Raw Story:

Members of the notorious Westboro Baptist Church staged their first protest Friday night after the death of the church’s founder Fred Phelps on Thursday. 

According to Kansas City’s KSHB Channel 41, the stridently anti-LGBT demonstrators were met with a counter-protest outside a concert by New Zealander pop sensation Lorde. The counter-protesters held up a banner that said, “Sorry for your loss,” a message of condolence to the church members, many of whom are relatives of the late Rev. Phelps. 

Westboro members — who reportedly ousted Phelps from his own congregation earlier this year — pretended to not understand the message. 

“I don’t even know what they’re saying,” said longtime WBC member Steve Drain.

You know what, I am not even sure that WBC member was being purposefully ignorant.  

I think it is completely possible that their hate and self loathing is such that they simply cannot recognize genuine sympathy.

What a truly unfortunate way to go through life.

Heartwarming story of the day.

Great group of kids.

Now if you will excuse me I think I have a speck of dust in my eye.

Sometimes those who play heroes in television and movies are equally heroic off the screen. It is my pleasure to present to you Sir Patrick Stewart.

This is incredibly emotional story comes from the blog of a young woman who is a HUGE Star Trek fan as well as the survivor of domestic abuse. She happened to get the opportunity to ask her hero Jean Luc Picard a question during a comic book convention.

THIS is the amazing response:

I went to Comicpalooza this weekend and I was full of nervous energy as I was standing in line to ask Sir Patrick Stewart a question at his panel. I first had to thank him for a speech he had given at amnesty international about domestic violence towards women . I had only seen it a few months ago but I was still dealing with my own personal experience with a similar issue, and I didn’t know what to call it. After seeing Patrick talk so personally about it I finally was able to correctly call it abuse, in my case sexual abuse that was going to quickly turn into physical abuse as well. I didn’t feel guilty or disgusting anymore. I finally didn’t feel responsible for the abuse that was put upon me. I was finally able to start my healing process and to put that part of my life behind me. 

After thanking him I asked him “Besides acting, what are you most proud of that you have done in you life (that you are willing to share with us)?”. Sir Patrick told us about how he couldn’t protect his mother from abuse in his household growing up and so in her name works with an organization called Refuge for safe houses for women and children to escape from abusive house holds. Sir Patrick Stewart learned only last year that his father had actually been suffering from PTSD after he returned from the military and was never properly treated. In his father’s name he works with an organization called Combat Stress to help those soldiers who are suffering from PTSD. 

They were about to move onto the next question when Sir Patrick looked at me and asked me “My Dear, are you okay?” I said yes, and that I was finally able to move on from that part of my life. He then passionately said that his mother had done nothing to provoke his father and that even if she had, violence was never, ever a choice a man should make. That it is in the power of men to stop violence towards women. The moderator then asked “Do you want a hug?” 

Sir Patrick didn’t even hesitate, he smiled, hopped off the stage and came over to embrace me in a hug. Which he held me there for a long while. He told me “You never have to go through that again, you’re safe now.” 

I couldn’t stop thanking him. His embrace was so warm and genuine. It was two people, two strangers, supporting and giving love. And when we pulled away he looked strait in my eyes, like he was promising that. He told me to take care. And I will.

Here is the video of their exchange. On it you can hear the passion with which this amazing gentleman discusses the importance for young men to recognize that it is up to THEM to stop the violence against women.

That is a very powerful message coming from an iconic figure who deserves every bit of the admiration and love that he receives from his fans.

We need many more just like him.

A final word to ponder as we see 2012 come to a close.

(Source)

Image of the day.

Courtesy of Captain Cartoon:

 I've drawn nearly 35,000 caricatures, the vast majority of them children — and many from the northeast! Through my vast experience interacting with these angels, I feel a huge sense of loss over the Sandy Hook tragedy. 

The 11" x 14" black and white original artwork, shown at left, will either be donated to a sanctioned organization directly associated with the victims' families, or submitted for auction with all proceeds going to the families. As details emerge and it becomes clearer as to where to send it, that decision will be made.

Along with countless millions of people from around the world, I continue to grieve over this monumental "someone's just crossed the line" travesty, and pray for the victims and their families, for whom December 14, 2012 began a "neverending story" of tragic proportion, and for us all - especially for our children.

I often wish I had the talent to express my emotion in such an artistic manner.

I am touched both by the illustration and this artist's selfless desire to support the heartbroken families in Newtown, Connecticut.

Sometimes we need a reminder that the Obama/Biden ticket is not JUST about the President.

From Facebook:

“I had this impulse to hug him, so I did. And I cried. I think I even got tears on the Vice President’s suit jacket! … I am hugging the man who will help me and help our President move forward.” — Kobe Standing at the back of a packed high school gym as Vice President Biden finished speaking in Ft. Myers, Florida, on Saturday was 15-year-old Kobe Groce. He cradled a “Forward” sign, hoping to get the Vice President to sign it for his brother, Kaelin. 

After unsuccessfully trying to make it to the front of the event, a staff member asked if he could help. Kobe told his story, and the staffer left for a moment and came back, saying simply: “The Vice President would like to meet you.”

The President is not the only one with heart.