Obama bends over so the son of a White House staff member can pat his head during a family visit to the Oval Office May 8, 2009. The youngster wanted to see if the President’s haircut felt like his own. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
I’ve received this photo via e-mail several times over the past few days. It is the simple humanity of it that gets to me.
The e-mail reads…
This little boy wanted to see if the President’s hair felt like his.
For some reason, it made me burst into tears.Perhaps at the beautiful demonstration of a child’s curiosity when we don’t “shush” them.
Perhaps at the thought that this young boy could see part of himself in the President of the United States, for the very first time.
Perhaps at the humble way President Obama bent down.
Perhaps all of the above.