Your letter keeps me going every day, Obama tells Boniface Mwangi

Your letter keeps me going every day, Obama tells Boniface Mwangi

Controversial Kenyan activist, Boniface Mwangi, has received a heartwarming letter from the United States President, Barack Obama.

In the missive, Obama begins by thanking Boniface for a ‘thoughtful gift’ and says he was “struck by his story”. The U.S. Head of State adds that he “wanted him to know he (Obama) is grateful for his (Boniface) continued support for shared values.”

Mwangi, who is yet to disclose details of the letter he had earlier addressed to the world’s most powerful man, talked about the struggles the humanity faces and how universal virtues like integrity and courage help in addressing the challenges.

In his response, Obama noted: “Though we all come from different traditions and communities, I believe each of us has power to make the world we seek. When joined together by a common set of ideals, our diversity makes us stronger.”

In the letter, which was sent from the White House, Obama expresses confidence that in the end freedom will overcome tyranny.

“As long as we hold firm to our principles and back our beliefs with courage and resolve, then I am confident hope will overcome fear, and freedom will continue to triumph over tyranny – because that’s what stirs in the human heart,” Obama wrote.

Obama ended his post by thanking Boniface for communicating with him: “Again, thank you for reaching out. Please know letters like yours mean a great deal to me, and they keep me going every single day.”

President Barack Obama's letter to Kenya's social activist, Boniface Mwangi PHOTO/COURTESY
President Barack Obama’s letter to Kenya’s social activist, Boniface Mwangi PHOTO/COURTESY

Obama’s heartwarming message to Iranian boy

This is not the first time the US leader has reached out to a non-dignitary in a hearty letter.

Last month, Obama surprised the whole world when he reached out to an Iranian boy on Facebook. Obama’s sentiments came as a response to a picture that acclaimed photographer, Brandon Stanton, posted on Humans of New York.

In September Stanton was in Iran shooting one of his many photography projects.

Stanton posted a photo from the Iranian town of Tabriz, showing a father with his 10-year-old son. The caption was a quote from the father who lovingly described his son’s “humanitarian” spirit.

The proud dad said: “Today is his tenth birthday. He’s a very emotional young man. He likes to solve other people’s problems. One time when he was five years old, he came with me to the store and we bought two pounds of fresh apricots. I let him carry the bag home. He walked a little bit behind me the entire way. After a while, I asked him to hand me an apricot. ‘I can’t,’ he said. ‘I’ve given them all away.’ I knew then that I was raising a humanitarian.”

Obama’s response, which came almost immediately the post went up, read: “What an inspirational story… I hope this young man never loses his desire to help others. And I am going to continue doing whatever I can to make this world a better place where he and every other young person  like him can live up to their full potential. (And if I ever get to meet him, I hope he’ll save me an apricot.”

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