Friday -- Words from Obama, words from his books, speeches, and interviews.

This week Wordsmith.org is featuring 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.
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sui generis

PRONUNCIATION:
(soo-ee JEN-uhr-is)

MEANING:
adjective: Of its own kind; unique.

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

USAGE:
"Time: What's the best piece of advice that you've gotten from someone about being President?"
Obama: Well, precisely because it's sui generis, the only people that really know are the collection of ex-Presidents we have."
The Interview; Time (New York); Dec 29, 2008.