On Tuesday, November 12th, I had the privilege of attending “A Conversation with President Barack Obama” and hearing the 44th President of the United States discuss a range of topics such as climate change, media biases in the age of the Internet, and some inspiring thoughts certain to remain with the thousands of attendees. The most notable quote of the evening was Mr. Obama’s statement that “you should worry less about what you want to be and worry more about what you want to do.” The event opened with performances from local musicians Tim Baker, former front-man of Hey Rosetta! and Alan Doyle, formerly the lead singer of Great Big Sea. The lively pair of musical geniuses, supported with the beautiful voices of Shallaway Youth Choir (led by Musical Director Kellie Walsh) truly embodied the welcoming St. John’s spirit.
Before President Obama took the stage, his interviewer, Zita Cobb, was introduced by members of the event coordinators, the St. John’s Board of Trade. Cobb, the entrepreneur who began the esteemed Fogo Island Inn in 2013, has won awards for her advocation for and conduction of business in rural communities.
When President Obama came out, he said that if he were to resume presidency for another term, his main priority would be climate change. He remarked that it is the largest threat facing humanity at this time. While he commended the actions of young people in the Global Climate Strikes and the bold accomplishments of Greta Thunberg, he also stated that while it is beneficial for individuals to make small changes such as taking public transit, until the global corporations and mega-polluters are held accountable, the threat will not subside.
The topic of corporation brought Mr. Obama into discussion of globalisation and shifting business practices. Globalisation, he said, is causing companies to “become rootless.” He claimed that businesses operate in local scales to take their profits to the global economy to benefit shareholders rather than individual employees, thus leaving the average citizen behind. However, he noted that the youth – giving the example of his daughters – are beginning to shift toward supporting ethical businesses. He said that his daughters have “no brand loyalty,” and that they will quickly change the products they buy and the companies they support in order to spend their dollars the way they wish. President Obama claimed that the ways to reinvest into local economies are by supporting local businesses and restraining one’s materialism.
The final discussion between Mr. Obama and Ms. Cobb allowed the former president to share his opinion on “fake news” and polarisation in the internet age. The flood of innovation in recent years has led to people placing too much trust in the internet; believing everything one reads has led to the spread of misinformation. Mr. Obama spoke on the concept of “deep fakes,” and noted that in the near future, it may become nearly impossible to determine what media is factual and what is not. Alongside this, he made the point that the internet has allowed people to consume information to deepen their pre-existing opinions, thus creating vast polarisation. He gave the example of leftists and rightists left-leaning people can (knowingly or in ignorance) view media that only supports their ideals, and vice-versa. He warned of the dangers that can cause, and implored that people educate themselves and their children in civil matters and media literacy to further the understanding and cultivation of democracy.
The event ran smoothly, but a common critique from other attendees was that Mr. Obama should have just given a speech with the questions asked ahead of time. People argued that while Ms. Cobb was a warming presence, their exchanges could be garish at certain points; numerous attendees thought the questions and jokes about President Donald Trump – while sure to come up – were somewhat inappropriate. Mr. Obama seemed to have a shift in decorum during those occasions. All in all, the event was a huge success. President Obama said he hopes to return to St. John’s one day as he enjoyed the “island culture” which reminded him of his home – despite how different Newfoundland and Hawaii might be.