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Obama family marks Martin Luther King's birthday with volunteer outing
(16 Jan 2012)
1. Pan as Obama family walk into school; Obama takes the microphone and greets students
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Barack Obama, US President:
If you look at that speech talking about Dr. King as a drum major, what he really said was that all of us can be a drum major for service, all of us can be a drum major for justice. There is nobody who can't serve, nobody who can't help somebody else. And whether you are 7 or 6 or whether you are 76, you can find opportunities to make an enormous difference in your community.
3. Close of Obama family greeting volunteers at school
4. Pan left to President Obama shaking hands
5. Pull out, from unpainted Martin Luther King sign on wall reading (English) I have a dream; pan to Obama putting shelves into bookcase; zoom in
6. Mid Obama with volunteer cleaning shelves
7. Close Obama stacking books
8. Mid Obama colouring in Martin Luther King quote on wall
9. Close Obama painting
10. Wide Obama painting; zoom in
11. Close Michelle Obama painting quote on wall; zoom out
STORYLINE:
US President Barack Obama evoked equal rights activist Martin Luther King Junior's own words about public service on Monday as he and his family celebrated the life of the late civil rights leader with a volunteer project.
The president, along with wife Michelle Obama and daughter Malia, joined other volunteers at Browne Education Centre in Washington DC.
During brief remarks to volunteers, the president said there was no better way to honour King than to do something on behalf of others.
He also acknowledged the controversy surrounding a quote on the new King memorial in Washington, which is being changed amid criticism that it did not accurately reflect King's words.
What he really said was all of us can be a drum major for service, all of us can be a drum major for justice, Obama said. There is nobody who can't serve, nobody who can't help somebody else.
The inscription on the King memorial, located on the National Mall, currently reads: I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.
The phrase is modified from a sermon known as the Drum Major Instinct, which King delivered just two months before he was assassinated in 1968.
In the speech, King's words seem more modest than the paraphrased inscription: Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.
After meeting with volunteers, the Obamas headed to the school library to help build bookshelves and a reading corner for students.
The president and first lady were then put to work painting two King quotes on the library walls.
The president stood on a chair and carefully used blue paint to fill-in the lettering on the phrase The time is always right to do what is right.
Michelle Obama did the same with the world famous I have a dream.
This was the third year in a row the Obamas have participated in a service project on the King holiday.
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Obama Honors King by Helping Next Generation
President Barack Obama and his family honored Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy Monday by helping with a project at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. The Obamas helped paint murals and assemble literacy kits. (Jan. 19)
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