[Obama] A summary of the life of President Barack Obama, the process of becoming president, and a bold hope speech
[Obama] A summary of the life of President Barack Obama, the process of becoming president, and a bold hope speech
1. Barack H. Obama is the 44th President of the United States.
His story is the story of the United States, which embodies the values of the heart of the United States, a middle-class home education from a strong family, social success through hard work and education, and the belief that service to others must be part of such a blessed life. President Obama was born on August 4, 1961 in Hawaii to a Kenyan-born father and a Kansas mother. He grew up with the help of his grandfather, who had served under General Patton, and his grandmother, who started out as a bank secretary and rose to middle management positions. After graduating from college on scholarships and student loans, he moved to Chicago, where he worked with a church group to rebuild a community hit by the closure of a steel mill.
Obama then went to law school and became the first African-American to become the editor of the Harvard Law Review, published by Harvard Law School. After graduating, he returned to Chicago to lead voter registration campaigns, and remained active in the community, lecturing on constitution at the University of Chicago. After entering his public office, he moved on a firm belief that he could unite people around purposeful politics. In the Illinois State Senate, he passed the first major ethical reforms in 25 years, cut taxes for the working class, and expanded health care to children and their parents. During his time as a senator, he worked in bipartisan cooperation to pass groundbreaking lobbying reforms, control the world's most dangerous weapons, and ensure transparency in government operations by making federal spending publicly available on the Internet. President Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008, and took office on January 20, 2009. With his wife Michelle, he has two sisters, Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11.
2. Former US President Barack Obama, 8 Moments
1. America's first black president - Yes, We can!
Barack Obama, 44th President-elect of the United States and First Lady Michelle Obama, shake hands during the inauguration ceremony held at the Lincoln Memorial Museum in Washington, USA on January 18, 2009. He is only 47 years old. In January 2009, Obama became the fifth youngest president in U.S. history. In 2008, Obama won 365 electoral votes and defeated Republican John McCain as the 44th President of the United States. In his inaugural address at the Washington Capitol, President Obama emphasized unity, referring to the human rights activist, Pastor Martin Luther King, saying, "Let's remember King's lesson that our different dreams are actually one."
The topics that President Obama raised at the inauguration ceremony were 'hope' and 'change'. For Americans who started the 21st century with the shock of 9/11, and who were exhausted from the continuous war in Afghanistan and Iraq and the financial crisis of 2008, the birth of the first black president in history itself is a symbol of 'hope' and 'change'. accepted.
2. Obama Care - Reform or Disaster?
The policy that President Barack Obama has put the most emphasis on since taking office is the implementation of the health insurance reform law called 'Obama Care'. The basic idea is to provide government subsidies to the low- and middle-class people and to induce them to purchase insurance. After facing ups and downs such as Republican opposition and lobbying by private insurance companies, Obama Care was passed by the US House of Representatives with 219 votes to 212 votes on March 21, 2010.
'Obama Care' is regarded as the most important health insurance reform in US history since 'Medicare', a health insurance for the elderly introduced in 1965. This is because ObamaCare is the only health insurance system that low-income workers who cannot afford expensive private insurance can rely on. In fact, the growth rate of medical expenses, which was close to 7% per year, has remained at the 4% level since Obama Care was implemented in 2010.
3. Operation 'Neptune's Spear' - The president sits in a small chair
On May 1, 2011, the United States launched the 'Spear of Neptune', an operation to kill Osama bin Laden. The operation, led by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and conducted by the Navy SEALs, the U.S. Navy's anti-terrorism special forces, was broadcast live directly to the White House through cameras mounted on the crew's helmets. Osama bin Laden's code name was 'Geronimo'.
A few days after Operation Neptune's Spear, a photo of the White House Situation Room at the time was released, drawing public attention. President Barack Obama was sitting in a folding chair in the corner rather than the center of the White House Situation Room, looking at the operation screen with a serious expression. In the 'Presidential' chair placed in the very center, Deputy Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, Marshall Webb, was sitting and giving instructions. This photograph was evaluated as a clear demonstration of President Obama's leadership in granting the most important powers to working people.
The operation to kill Osama bin Laden, the main culprit of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, was evaluated as having a decisive effect on President Obama's re-election the following year, but at the same time, it was criticized that the immediate killing of Osama bin Laden on the spot was an act in violation of international law. also happened. The use of Osama bin Laden's code name as 'Geronimo', a Native American Apache chief and a famous warrior, also drew protests from Native Americans.
4. Iran Nuclear Negotiation - The Peak of a 'World Without Nuclear Weapons'
At the dawn of November 24, 2013 (local time), the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany (P5+1) were dramatically concluded. The framework was to reduce and freeze Iran's nuclear activities, and to lift some of the existing sanctions without imposing new sanctions on Iran's nuclear activities for the 'P5+1' countries, including the United States. In a televised speech shortly after the conclusion of the nuclear deal, President Barack Obama said, "For the first time in 10 years, we have achieved tangible diplomatic achievements that can halt the progress of Iran's nuclear program." The 'Iran Nuclear Negotiation' was evaluated as clearly demonstrating the diplomatic strategy of the second term of the Obama administration, which acknowledges the reality of the enemy and seeks practicality through diplomatic negotiations.
President Obama showed his will for denuclearization by declaring a 'nuclear-free world' in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2009 right after taking office, but on the other hand, it is also pointed out that President Obama took contradictory steps, such as pouring a large budget into the modernization of US nuclear weapons.
5. President comforted by song “Amazing Grace”
On June 17, 2015, a massacre occurred at a Methodist church in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, killing nine members, including Rev. Clementa Pinckney. On the 26th, ten days after the accident, President Obama, attending Pastor Pinckney's funeral in Charleston, suddenly started singing the hymn 'Amazing Grace' (Amazing Grace) during the memorial service. Applause erupted from the audience, the organ began to accompany, and soon everyone at the funeral chorused with President Obama.
'Amazing Grace' is a hymn about the English Anglican Father John Newton regretting his past involvement in the black slave trade and thanking God for the forgiveness of sins. President Obama said, "Pastor Pinckney has found that grace," and then called the names of other victims one after another to comfort the bereaved. Major foreign media such as CNN and the daily Washington Post reported that this scene in which President Obama sang 'Amazing Grace' would be remembered as the best moment during his presidency.
6. Gun Control Press Conference and the President's Tears
“Every moment I think of (sacrificed) children, I feel really crazy.”
At a press conference at the White House on January 5, 2016, when an executive order tightening gun trade restrictions was issued, President Barack Obama wept as he referred to the victims of gun accidents. After being speechless for a while, President Obama targeted Republicans who oppose gun control, saying, "We all need to call on Congress to stand up to the false lobbying of gun groups. We must stand up resolutely to protect our citizens,” he said.
Starting with the 2011 Arizona massacre that killed 21 people, the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012, the Santa Barbara massacre in 2014, the Charleston Church/San Bernardino massacre in South Carolina in 2015, the Orlando nightclub massacre in 2016. During President Obama's presidency, including the Dallas sniper, there were a number of particularly shocking shootings. Whenever similar incidents occur, President Obama has called for stricter restrictions on gun use, but gun control remains elusive due to massive lobbying from gun-related interest groups, including the National Rifle Association (NRA).
6. Obama and the Kids - 'Chemie Explodes!'
“I have a similar hairstyle. Can I touch it and see if it feels the same?”
President Barack Obama smiled at the child's words and bowed his head, and the child stroking the president's head with curious eyes was captured on camera. When this photo, taken by White House chief photographer Pete Souza, was released in 2009, netizens cheered on President Obama's friendly appearance in answering a cute request from a young child.
President Obama's 'chemistry' is not only found in photos taken with children. In 2009, while passing through the hallways of the White House administrative building, President Obama, without hesitation, clenched fists with a cleaning worker, also became a topic of discussion among netizens.
7. U.S.-Cuba normalization of diplomatic relations, in the future?
On July 20, 2015, the Cuban flag fluttered for the first time in 54 years at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, DC. The United States and Cuba normalized diplomatic ties for the first time since 1961 by upgrading the existing interest representative office in the other country's capital to the embassy. The U.S. has since resumed operation of commercial aircraft and cruise ships to Cuba, and has taken measures such as partially lifting the embargo.
In March of the following year, President Obama visited Cuba for the first time in 88 years as an incumbent US president. On a visit to Cuba with his family, President Obama took active steps such as a tour of the old town of Cuba and holding a summit with President of the Cuban National Council, Raul Castro.
3. The speech that made Obama a star, Audacity of Hope! (Bold hope)
Barack Obama, who was then a senator from Illinois, served as a state senator for eight years.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAG0ep9QDNw)
Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Dick Durbin. You make us all proud.
thank you thank you
On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation, Land of Lincoln, let me express my deepest gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention.
On behalf of the state of Illinois, America's transportation hub and the birthplace of Lincoln, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to speak at this conference.
Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let’s face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely. My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to school in a tin-roof shack. His father -- my grandfather -- was a cook, a domestic servant to the British.
Tonight is a special honor for me. To be honest, it's almost impossible for me to stand here. My father was an international student who was born and raised in a small town in Kenya. His father was a goat herder and went to school in a tin-roofed shack. His grandfather worked as a cook and servant in an English family.
But my grandfather had larger dreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place, America, that shone as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before.
However, the grandfather had big dreams for his son. My father, who studied hard with indomitable perseverance, was selected as a scholarship student to study in the magical land of America, a symbol of freedom and opportunity.
While studying here, my father met my mother. She was born in a town on the other side of the world, in Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs and farms through most of the Depression. The day after Pearl Harbor my grandfather signed up for duty; joined Patton’s army, marched across Europe. Back home, my grandmother raised a baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, they studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through F.H.A., and later moved west all the way to Hawaii in search of opportunity.
While studying here, my father met my mother. Her mother was born in Kansas, on the other side of the globe from her father's hometown. Her maternal grandfather worked on oil rigs and farms throughout the Great Depression of the 1930s. The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, my grandfather voluntarily enlisted and served under General Patton in Europe. Her grandmother, who remained in the United States, raised her baby and worked in a bomber assembly plant. After the war, they were able to finish their studies with the support of the GI Bill of Rights (Act on the Rights of the U.S. Army for World War I Veterans of 1944), and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Administrstion) bought a house, and in search of an opportunity, they made their way to Hawaii.
And they, too, had big dreams for their daughter. A common dream, born of two continents.
They too had a bigger dream for their daughter, a dream they raised together in America and Europe.
My parents shared not only an improbable love, they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or ”blessed,” believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. They imagined -- They imagined me going to the best schools in the land, even though they weren’t rich, because in a generous America you don’t have to be rich to achieve your potential.
It wasn't just the love that my parents shared with me through a rare relationship. My parents also shared an unwavering belief in the possibilities of this country. My parents gave me the African name BARACK, meaning 'blessed', yet they believed that my name would not stand in the way of success in a tolerant American land. Although my father and mother were not wealthy at all, they never gave up on the dream that I would go to the best school on the planet. Because in a generous America, you can use your abilities to the fullest even if you don't have a lot of money.
They're both passed away now. And yet, I know that on this night they look down on me with great pride.
Both of you are dead now, but I trust you will be proud to look down on me tonight.
They stand here -- And I stand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage, aware that my parents’ dreams live on in my two precious daughters. I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible.
And as I am here tonight with gratitude for the diversity I have inherited, I know that the dreams of parents continue to pass on to my two precious daughters. I know that my history is part of the history of the whole of America, and that I am here thanks to everyone who came to this land before me. And I also know that my life history is not possible in any other country on earth.
Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our Nation -- not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago:
Tonight we are gathered here to affirm the greatness of America, but not because of its skyscrapers, nor because of its military power, or its size. Our pride is based on a very simple premise outlined in the Declaration of Independence 200 years ago.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
"We hold the self-evident truths that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. These include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
That is the true genius of America, a faith -- a faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles; that we can tuck in our children at night and know that they are fed and clothed and safe from harm; that we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door; that we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe; that we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will be counted -- at least most of the time.
Belief-- At least, to be able to put children to sleep at night, to feed them, to clothe them, and to consider them safe from harm. Being able to say what you think and write what you think without any threat. If you have a good idea, you can start a business without paying a bribe. Belief, belief, and paradox of little miracles in simple wishes (dreams) that we can engage in political activity without fear of retaliation, that our votes are worthwhile, and so on, is the true strength of America.
This year, in this election we are called to reaffirm our values and our commitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how we're measuring up to the legacy of our forbearers and the promise of future generations.
In this year's elections, we will reaffirm our values and commitments, defend them against the grim reality, and see how we can adapt to the legacy of our ancestors and the hopes of future generations.
And fellow Americans, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, I say to you tonight: We have more work to do -- more work to do for the workers I met in Galesburg, Illinois, who are losing their union jobs at the Maytag plant that’s moving to Mexico, and now are having to compete with their own children for jobs that pay seven bucks an hour; more to do for the father that I met who was losing his job and choking back the tears, wondering how he would pay 4500 dollars a month for the drugs his son needs without the health benefits that he counted on; more to do for the young woman in East St. Louis, and thousands more like her, who has the grades, has the drive, has the will, but doesn’t have the money to go to college.
Tonight I appeal to you Americans, Democrats, Republicans and Independents. We have a lot to do. We must do more for the workers I met in Galesburg, Illinois, who lost their jobs after the Maytag factory moved to Mexico and now have to compete with their children for a $7 an hour job. do. I have to do more for a father I met, who lost his job and endured the sorrow of his son who was worried and worried about how to pay for his son's $4,500 a month without health insurance. I have to do more for the young woman I met in East St. Louis, and so many people like her who are good grades, can drive and have the will but can't go to college because they don't have tuition.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The people I meet -- in small towns and big cities, in diners and office parks -- they don’t expect government to solve all their problems. They know they have to work hard to get ahead, and they want to. Go into the collar counties around Chicago, and people will tell you they don’t want their tax money wasted, by a welfare agency or by the Pentagon. Go in -- Go into any inner city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can’t teach our kids to learn; they know that parents have to teach, that children can’t achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white. They know those things.
Now, don't get me wrong. The people I've met in small towns and big cities, in restaurants and business districts, don't expect the government to solve all their problems. They know they have to work hard to get better, and they want to. Caller County around Chicago (five counties surrounding Cook County, the equivalent of downtown Chicago) A term that has been widely used in urban planning, public policy, and media coverage since the 1960s and 1970s - DuPage County , Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, Will County), people say they don't want their taxes to be wasted by public welfare agencies or the Department of Defense. will be Step inside the city and people will tell you that the government alone can never teach children. They know that parents have to teach. We know that we can achieve by raising our children's expectations, keeping them from watching TV, and not scolding black kids who carry books for pretending to be white.
People don’t expect -- People don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a slight change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all.
People do not expect the government to solve all their problems. However, they are convinced that with a small change in policy priorities, every child in America can lead a dignified life, and they feel deeply that the door of opportunity will be open to all.
They know we can do better. And they want that choice.
They know we can do better. And they want that choice.
In this election, we offer that choice. Our Party has chosen a man to lead us who embodies the best this country has to offer. And that man is John Kerry.
We must provide that opportunity in this election. The man chosen by our party must lead us and embody the best that this country has to offer. That person is John Kerry.
John Kerry understands the ideals of community, faith, and service because they’ve defined his life. From his heroic service to Vietnam, to his years as a prosecutor and lieutenant governor, through two decades in the United States Senate, he's devoted himself to this country. Again and again, we’ve seen him make tough choices when easier ones were available.
Candidate John Kerry knows the beliefs, ideals and service of the community, as evidenced by his life. He led a life of devotion to the United States for his heroism in the Vietnam War, many years as a prosecutor and lieutenant governor, and more than 20 years as a federal senator. After all, you can tell that he has lived his life making difficult choices rather than easy paths.
His values and his record affirm what is best in us. John Kerry believes in an America where hard work is rewarded; so instead of offering tax breaks to companies shipping jobs overseas, he offers them to companies creating jobs here at home.
I can assure you that his values and qualities are the best. Candidate Kerry believes that America is a country where hard work is rewarded. So, we do not give tax reductions to companies that provide jobs abroad, but support companies that create jobs in Korea.
John Kerry believes in an America where all Americans can afford the same health coverage our politicians in Washington have for themselves.
Candidate Kerry believes in a country where all Americans have the same access to health care as Washington politicians.
John Kerry believes in energy independence, so we aren’t held hostage to the profits of oil companies, or the sabotage of foreign oil fields.
Candidate Kerry has a self-reliant energy policy that does not take hostage hostage to oil-producing countries' sabotage or the interests of oil companies.
John Kerry believes in the Constitutional freedoms that have made our country the envy of the world, and he will never sacrifice our basic liberties, nor use faith as a wedge to divide us.
Candidate Kerry believes that the constitutional freedoms have made America the envy of the world. He will not sacrifice our most basic freedoms, nor will he use faith as a means to divide us.
And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world war must be an option sometimes, but it should never be the first option.
Candidate Kerry, in a dangerous world situation, never chooses war as the first option, although sometimes one of several options.
You know, a while back -- awhile back I met a young man named Shamus in a V.F.W. Hall in East Moline, Illinois. He was a good-looking kid -- six two, six three, clear eyed, with an easy smile. He told me he’d joined the Marines and was heading to Iraq the following week. And as I listened to him explain why he’d enlisted, the absolute faith he had in our country and its leaders, his devotion to duty and service, I thought this young man was all that any of us might ever hope for in a child.
Not long ago, I met a young man named Sheamus at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in East Molin, Illinois. He was a handsome young man of great stature, with clear eyes and a gentle smile. He enlisted in the Marines and said he was leaving for Iraq next week. Hearing about his reasons for enlisting, his total faith in our country and its leaders, and his devotion to service and duty, I felt that this young man had everything we wanted of our children.
But then I asked myself, "Are we serving Shamus as well as he is serving us?"
And I consulted. As much as he is devoted to us, are we devoted to Sheamus?
I thought of the 900 men and women -- sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors, who won’t be returning to their own hometowns. I thought of the families I’ve met who were struggling to get by without a loved one’s full income, or whose loved ones had returned with a limb missing or nerves shattered, but still lacked long-term health benefits because they were Reservists.
I thought of 900 men and women who could never return to their hometowns - who could be someone's sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors. I thought of families whose loved ones had died and were struggling with little income. I also thought of people whose loved ones had lost limbs or had returned from delirium, but were unable to get long-term medical benefits because they were on reservists.
When we send our young men and women into harm’s way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they’re going, to care for their families while they’re gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.
When sending young men and women to such wars, we must fulfill an important responsibility—not to deceive the number of casualties or cover up the reasons for dispatch. You must look after their families while they are on the battlefield, and look after them when they return. We must not go to war without having enough soldiers to win the war, to secure the peace, to be respected in the world.
Now -- Now let me be clear. Let me be clear. We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued. And they must be defeated. John Kerry knows this. And just as Lieutenant Kerry did not hesitate to risk his life to protect the men who served with him in Vietnam, President Kerry will not hesitate one moment to use our military might to keep America safe and secure.
Now-- Now let me make it clear. We have enemies to fight. You must find the enemy. Track down your enemies and defeat them. John Kerry knows that. Kerry, as a naval captain in the Vietnam War, did not hesitate to risk his life to protect his men. President Kerry would not hesitate to use him as an army serving to ensure America's safety.
John Kerry believes in America. And he knows that it’s not enough for just some of us to prosper -- for alongside our famous individualism, there’s another ingredient in the American saga, a belief that we’re all connected as one people. If there is a child on the south side of Chicago who can’t read, that matters to me, even if it’s not my child. If there is a senior citizen somewhere who can’t pay for their prescription drugs, and having to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it’s not my grandparent. If there’s an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties.
Candidate Kerry believes. And, I know. It is not enough that only a few prosper. America is famous for its individualism, but there is a separate element in American history. It is the belief that we are all united as one nation. If I have an illiterate child in the South of Chicago, even if it's not mine, that's my problem. Wherever there are elderly citizens who cannot afford prescriptions, elderly citizens who have to choose between paying for drugs or rent, my life becomes poor, even if they are not my grandparents. If an Arab American is arrested for failing to get a lawyer, my civil liberties are threatened.
It is that fundamental belief -- It is that fundamental belief: I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper that makes this country work. It’s what allows us to pursue our individual dreams and yet still come together as one American family.
That basic belief, the belief that I protect my brothers and sisters, moves this nation. We are allowed to unite as one American family while pursuing our individual dreams.
Out of many, one: "Out of many, one."
One from the many. (A slogan with the national ideology of the United States engraved on the seal of the United States)
Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us -- the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of "anything goes." Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America -- there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America -- there’s the United States of America.
Even as we are talking right now, there are people who want to divide us. They are fabricators or people who believe in black slander. They are people who are obsessed with politics that they can do anything. I'll tell them tonight. This country is neither a liberal America nor a conservative United States, only the United States of America. Neither black America, nor white America, nor Latin American America, but the United States of America.
The pundits, the pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I’ve got news for them, too. We worship an "awesome God" in the Blue States, and we don’t like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and yes, we’ve got some gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.
Intellectuals like to divide our country into red and blue states, with Republicans in red and Democrats in blue. However, I have something to tell them. We believe in a wonderful God even in the blue state, and we don't want federal agents scouring the red state library. In the blue state, we are divided into little leagues (elementary school, middle school (ages 13 to 15) and high school (ages 16 to 18)). It consists of 9 players, 2 of which must be under the age of 11, and no more than 7 players under the age of 12) and may make friends with gays in the Red State. There are patriots who oppose the war in Iraq and there are patriots who support it, but we all pledge our allegiance to the flag. We are all defending the United States.
In the end -- In the end -- In the end, that’s what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or do we participate in a politics of hope?
Finally, what does this election mean? Are you engaging in cynic politics, or are you engaging in hopeful politics?
John Kerry calls on us to hope. John Edwards calls on us to hope.
Candidate Kerry is appealing to us for hope. Vice-President Edwards is appealing to us for hope.
I’m not talking about blind optimism here -- the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don’t think about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about something more substantial. It’s the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a millworker’s son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too.
I'm not talking about blind optimism right now. Blind difficulty refers to an almost intentional disregard of the belief that if you don't think about unemployment, unemployment will go away, and if you ignore the medical crisis, it will be solved. That's not what I'm talking about, it's more real. It is the hope of sitting around a bonfire singing freedom, the hope of immigration from distant countries, the hope of a young naval captain who bravely patrolled the Mekong Delta, the hope of the son of a factory worker who will not yield to inequality, where America will live. It is also the hope of a skinny boy (Obama) with a strange name.
Hope -- Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope!
That hope is--a hope that does not give up in the face of difficulties, a hope that does not disregard in the face of uncertainty, a great (bold) hope.
In the end, that is God’s greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation. A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead.
It is the greatest gift from God, and it is the foundation of this country. Faith in the unseen, the belief that good days will come.
I believe that we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road to opportunity.
I believe we will give the middle class peace of mind and opportunities for the workers.
I believe we can provide jobs to the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair.
I believe that we can give jobs to the unemployed, homes to the homeless, and rehabilitate young people from violence and despair in cities across America.
I believe that we have a righteous wind at our backs and that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices, and meet the challenges that face us.
I believe that we are on the tailwind of justice, that we can make the right choices at a turning point in history, and that we can tackle the challenges we face head-on.
America! Tonight, if you feel the same energy that I do, if you feel the same urgency that I do, if you feel the same passion that I do, if you feel the same hopefulness that I do -- if we do what we must do, then I have no doubt that all across the country, from Florida to Oregon, from Washington to Maine, the people will rise up in November, and John Kerry will be sworn in as President, and John Edwards will be sworn in as Vice President, and this country will reclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come.
Americans!, Tonight, if you feel the same energy as me, if you feel the same urgency as me, if you feel the same hope as me, if we do what we have to do, from Florida to Oregon, from Washington to Maine. , I am confident that all Americans will rise and take the oath of office for President Kerry and Vice President Edward in November. And this country will be able to renew that promise and open up a bright tomorrow, freed from the long shackles of dark politics.
Thank you very much everybody. God bless you. Thank you.
thank you God bless you!, thank you.