Photo courtesy of cbc.ca
“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord."
“[I]t has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom. For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth. For us, they fought and died in places Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life.”
“And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today . . . know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.”
“We honor [the soldiers] not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service: a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment, a moment that will define a generation, it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.”
“Our challenges may be new, the instruments with which we meet them may be new, but those values upon which our success depends, honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old.”
“America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words [of Washington]; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.”
2 comments:
It brought tears to my eyes watching him yesterday and it continues to have the same effect today, reading his speech. Wow.
Those are so great. I forgot about a few of them. I especially loved the part about America being a friend to all those who seek a future of peace. My boss was in Saudi and Kuwait during the inauguration and he said there is a lot of excitement and hope about what this means for the world there too.
Post a Comment