a people

[udara sankalpa]

Dear Teachers

In a speech of president Obama's he used " we as a people". This "a people" thing is kind of confusing to me.

Would somebody be kind enough to give me an explanaion please?

kind regards
udara

[Harry Smith]

Dear Teachers

In a speech of president Obama's he used " we as a people". This "a people" thing is kind of confusing to me.

Would somebody be kind enough to give me an explanaion please?

kind regards
udara

He meant a whole nation....

[Ms_S]

People, as a singular noun, can refer to a community of persons with something in common (nationality, religion, culture, language, etc.). When President Obama uses "we as a people," he is actually invoking the last speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, in which he so eloquently said, "...we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land."

While Dr. King was referring to African-American people, President Obama is referring to all Americans as a people... but by brilliantly invoking Dr. King, he reminds us that "we as a people" have not always been united.

Anyway, just substitute the word "people" with "group" and it will make sense: "We as a group will..."

By the way, "we as a people" is also similar to the Preamble to our Constitution, which begins, "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union..." Using the phrase "we as a people" makes us think of the ideals inherent in our democracy and, by doing so, appeals to our better (and more noble) nature.

Hope I've helped...

[udara sankalpa]

I'm so thankful to both of you for your explanations. Not it's clear to me.
Kind regards
udara