A.W.A.D. - Words Used by President Obama

Tomorrow Barack Obama will become president of the US, and not a moment too soon. This week we'll feature words from Obama, words from his books, speeches, and interviews.

Unlike most politicians, who hire ghostwriters, Obama writes his own books. He's a gifted writer. Reading his words you can see his thought process. He's not one who sees the globe in black and white. He has lived outside the US and has been exposed to other cultures. He realizes that just because someone has a different set of beliefs, just because someone looks different, doesn't mean he's wrong -- sometimes there can be two ways to do something and both can be right.

Obama is to be commended for his accomplishments. We've come a long way in this country. But we still have far to go before we can call ourselves truly unbiased. Real progress will be when any capable person can have a fair chance at winning the highest office, even someone who happens to be, say, a black gay vegan atheist woman.

Anything is possible... but don't hold your breath.

cohere
PRONUNCIATION: (ko-HEER)
MEANING: verb intr.: To be united; to work or hold together

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin cohaerere, from co- (together) + haerere (to stick)

syncretic
PRONUNCIATION: (sin-KREH-tik)
MEANING: adjective: Combining different forms of belief or practice

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin syncretismus, Greek synkretismos (union), from synkretizein (to unite in the manner of the Cretan cities), from syn (together) + Kret-, Kres (Cretan)

endemic
PRONUNCIATION: (en-DEM-ik)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Natural to a particular people or place; always present in a particular area
2. Confined to a geographic region

ETYMOLOGY:From Greek endmos (native), from en- (in) + demos (people)

abrogate
PRONUNCIATION: (AB-ruh-gayt)
MEANING: verb tr. To put aside or treat as nonexistent, especially by an authoritative act

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin abrogatus (repealed), past participle of abrogare (to repeal a law), from ab- (away from) + rogare (to ask, propose a law). Ultimately from the Indo-European reg- (to move in a straight line, to lead or rule) that is also the source of regent, regime, direct, rectangle, erect, rectum, alert, source, and surge

sui generis
PRONUNCIATION: (soo-ee JEN-uhr-is)
MEANING: adjective: Of its own kind; unique

ETYMOLOGY:From Latin sui (of its own) + generis (kind)

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