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奥巴马的演讲稿尊敬的各位同胞：大家好！今天，我站在这里，心中满怀对我们国家的热爱和对未来的希望。
我们生活在一个充满挑战和机遇的时代。
我们面临着经济的起伏，社会的变革，以及全球性的问题，如气候变化、贫困和冲突。
但我坚信，我们有能力克服这些困难，因为我们是一个伟大的国家，我们有着坚韧不拔的精神和无尽的创造力。
我们不能忘记，我们的国家是建立在自由、平等和公正的原则之上的。
这些原则是我们的基石，是我们前进的指引。
然而，我们也清楚地知道，我们还没有完全实现这些理想。
仍有许多人在为基本的权利和机会而奋斗，仍有许多不公和不平等存在于我们的社会之中。
我们的经济曾经繁荣昌盛，但近年来，我们经历了许多困难和挫折。
许多家庭面临着失业、债务和生活的压力。
我们必须采取行动，重振我们的经济，创造更多的就业机会，让每一个愿意工作的人都能过上体面的生活。
我们要投资于教育，培养我们的年轻人，让他们拥有适应未来挑战的技能和知识。
我们要支持创新，鼓励创业，让我们的企业在全球市场上具有竞争力。
同时，我们也要关注社会的公平。
不能让贫富差距继续扩大，不能让少数人的富裕建立在多数人的贫困之上。
我们要建立一个公平的税收制度，让富人为社会的发展做出更多的贡献。
我们要保障每一个公民都能享受到基本的医疗保健，让生病不再成为家庭的灾难。
我们要为每一个孩子提供优质的教育，无论他们来自富裕的家庭还是贫困的社区，因为每一个孩子都有着无限的潜力。
在国际舞台上，我们也肩负着重大的责任。
我们是世界的领导者，我们必须以和平、合作和尊重的态度与其他国家交往。
我们要积极参与解决全球性的问题，推动自由贸易，促进国际合作，共同应对气候变化、恐怖主义和疾病等挑战。
我们要让世界看到，美国不仅是一个强大的国家，更是一个有担当、有爱心、有责任感的国家。
然而，要实现这些目标，我们需要团结一心。
我们不能被种族、宗教、性别和政治观点的差异所分裂。
我们都是美国人，我们都热爱我们的国家，我们都希望看到它变得更加美好。
奥巴马--无畏的希望（中英文版）The audacity of hope obamaKeynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention无畏的希望让奥巴马迈向白宫的演讲希望就是勇气，希望就是力量:2004年7月27日在民主党全国代表大会上的致辞巴拉克?奥巴马文海星译On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation,land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention. 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. 作为伟大的伊利诺斯州——全国的交通枢纽，林肯的故乡——的代表，我为有向此次大会致辞的机会而深感荣幸。
今晚于我而言是一份特殊的荣耀。
我们得承认，我出现在这个讲坛上是件不可思议的事。
我的父亲是个外国留学生，在肯尼亚的一个小村庄出生并长大，他幼时牧羊，在铁皮顶做成的简陋小屋里上学。
他的父亲，我的祖父，是个厨师，一个佣人。
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, which stood as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before. While studying here, my father met my mother. Shewas 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 he signed up for duty, joined Patton's army and marched across Europe. Back home, my grandmother raised their baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, they studied on the GI Bill, bought a house through FHA, and moved west in search of opportunity.但我祖父对他的儿子有更大的梦想。
大家好！今天，我站在这里，深感荣幸和激动。
在此，我要向大家分享一个关于梦想、奋斗和励志的故事。
首先，请允许我向大家简要介绍一下我自己。
我名叫奥巴马，曾担任美国第44任总统。
今天，我并不是以总统的身份，而是以一个普通人的身份，与大家共同探讨一个永恒的主题——励志。
自古以来，励志就是中华民族的传统美德。
古人云：“志当存高远。
”这句话告诉我们，一个人要有远大的志向，才能成就一番事业。
今天，我站在这里，就是要向大家传递一个信念：只要我们怀揣梦想，勇敢地去追求，就一定能够实现自己的人生价值。
首先，我想谈谈梦想的重要性。
梦想是人生的灯塔，指引着我们前进的方向。
一个有梦想的人，就像一艘航船，即使遇到风浪，也会勇往直前。
相反，一个没有梦想的人，就像一叶扁舟，随波逐流，最终迷失在茫茫大海。
在我的成长过程中，我也有着属于自己的梦想。
小时候，我梦想成为一名医生，为病人解除痛苦。
然而，随着年龄的增长，我逐渐意识到，我的梦想不仅仅局限于医学领域。
我希望能够为社会作出更大的贡献，让世界变得更加美好。
为了实现这个梦想，我付出了艰辛的努力。
我刻苦学习，努力提高自己的综合素质。
我相信，只有不断充实自己，才能在未来的道路上走得更远。
其次，我想谈谈奋斗的意义。
奋斗是梦想与现实之间的桥梁。
没有奋斗，梦想永远只能停留在空中楼阁。
在我国，有许多英雄人物，他们用奋斗书写了辉煌的人生。
比如，钱学森、邓稼先、杨利伟等，他们为了国家的科技事业，付出了巨大的努力，成为民族复兴的脊梁。
奋斗并不是一帆风顺的。
在追求梦想的过程中，我们总会遇到各种困难和挫折。
这时，我们要学会坚持，要有“千磨万击还坚劲，任尔东西南北风”的毅力。
正如毛泽东所说：“世上无难事，只要肯登攀。
”只要我们勇敢地面对挑战，就一定能够战胜困难，实现梦想。
此外，我想强调的是，励志并非只是个人的事，它还关乎整个国家、整个民族的命运。
一个国家、一个民族要想崛起，就需要有一批又一批有梦想、有担当的年轻人。
奥巴马演讲的魅力：以《无畏的希望》为例摘要：演讲，使他思路明晰、击败劲敌；演讲，使他聚拢民心、振奋士气；演讲，使他执政有力，富于光辉。
美国总统巴拉克·奥巴马(Barack Obama)一生的功成名就与其演讲紧密相连，慷慨激昂的演讲使他推行执政更加有力、更令人信服。
《无畏的希望》是奥巴马2004年在美国民主党全国代表大会上的主题演讲，是奥巴马从美国一个小州(伊利诺伊州)走向白宫的一次具有里程碑意义的重要演讲。
17分钟的演说，改变了自己的命运、改变了美国的历史进程与命运。
其中，坚定的信念、广泛的举例、真实的内容、美国的乐观等全面阐释了何为“希望”，这就是奥巴马演讲的魅力。
关键词：奥巴马演讲无畏的希望提到奥巴马，映入我脑海的是这样一个画面：一位非裔总统正在富有激情、慷慨激昂地面对美国民众呐喊：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. 优雅的辞句，精彩的表达，振奋人心、发人深省的内容是奥巴马演讲最亮眼的特色。
奥巴马给美国人民带去希望，同样，美国人民心甘情愿地给予奥巴马信任。
如果说二战期间丘吉尔一度用演讲支撑起当时英国人的希望与信心，那么奥巴马的演讲无疑是美国经济动荡、世界急剧变革的8年中的一剂又一剂的强心针。
2004年，奥巴马还是一位无足轻重的政坛人物，当时他在党内的职责，不过是为当时的民主党总统提名人的约翰•克里，在少数族裔里拉票。
发表《无畏的希望》这一演讲，对于时年43岁的奥巴马来说既是机会又是考验，是一个向全党、全国及全世界推销自己的绝好机会，成功则能威名远扬，失败则可能会无缘美国政坛中心。
无畏的希望作者：［美］巴拉克·奥巴马来源：《领导文萃》2009年第05期第一次看到白宫第一次看到白宫是在1984年。
我刚从大学毕业，在纽约市立学院外的哈莱姆小区做社区组织工作。
此时，里根总统正在推行一轮削减学生资助的提案。
于是，我与一群学生领袖一块工作——他们大多是黑人、波多黎各人或东欧后裔，几乎都是自己家庭的第一代在读大学生。
我们收集反对削减提案的各种提议，然后提交给纽约议会代表团。
这是一个简短的旅行，得到国会山职员彬彬有礼又草草的接见，这些职员实质上也比我大不了多少。
黄昏时，学生们和我便抽时间去纪念堂和华盛顿纪念碑，然后再去看一看白宫。
我们伫立在离海军陆战队警卫站几英尺远的宾夕法尼亚大道上，眼前蜿蜒的过道上满是行人，身后则是汹涌的车流。
白宫的优雅恢宏没有给我留下深刻印象，使我惊讶的倒是它置身在都市的喧嚣中；我们可以靠近白宫的大门，进而绕到背后去观赏玫瑰花园以及后面的官邸。
我想，白宫的不设防表现了我们作为一个民主国家的自信。
这证明我们的领导人与我们并无二致。
他们依然要遵守法律，遵守我们的共识。
二十年后，靠近白宫已不是那么容易了。
检查哨、武装警卫、前卫、摄像头、警犬以及收缩的路障将白宫四周隔离在两个街区那么大的范围内。
无证小车再不可以在宾夕法尼亚大道上行驶。
在一月的一个寒冷的下午，也就是我宣誓成为参议员的前一天，拉斐特公园的游人寥寥无几。
当小车开出白宫大门驶上车道时，我扫了一眼，不由为昔日情景的消逝而感到一丝凄凉。
白宫里面不像你从电视和电影中看到的那样光彩夺目。
它看上去管理得不错，但是显得有一些老旧，犹如人们想象中的一幢苍老的旧房子。
我得到了一位白宫立法助理的接待，被领进了金器室(Gold Room)，大部分新当选的参议员和众议员都已经聚集在这儿。
十六点整听到宣布布什总统到达。
他向讲台走去，看上去精神抖擞，神采奕奕，轻盈而坚定的步履似乎暗示着他胸有成竹。
总统做了大约十分钟的讲话，号召这个国家团结起来，话语间伴着几记玩笑，然后邀请我们去白宫的另外一侧用茶点，并与他和第一夫人合影。
【名人演讲】奥巴马成名演讲：《无畏的希望》
是因为存在希望，奴隶们围坐在火堆边，才会吟唱自由之歌；是因为存在希望，才能使得人们愿意远涉重洋，移民他乡；是因为希望，年轻的海军上尉，才会在湄公河三角洲勇敢地巡逻放哨；是因为希望，出身工人家庭的孩子，才会敢于挑战自己的命运；是因为希望，我这个名字怪怪的瘦小子才相信美国这片热土上也有自己的容身之地！
这就是无畏的希望，最后感谢上苍赐予我们最好的礼物，也就是这个国家唯一生存的基石，因为我们相信最好的东西尚未出现，更好的日子就在明天。
我相信我们可以为中产阶级减轻负担，和给工薪家庭以机会；我相信我们能够给无业者以工作机会，给无家可归者以住房，将遍布美国城市中的年轻人，从暴力和绝望的悬崖边拯救出来。
美国正面临危机，我们正处于十字路口，我们可以作出正确的选择，去面对前面的挑战，迎接不一样的明天！
驰骋商海风云，笑傲春秋人生；
掌握演说智慧，胜过百万雄兵。
——成杰语录。
奥巴马的竞选演讲《无畏的希望》堪称他的成名之作。
在奥巴马这篇竞选演讲中，“希望”一词在听众心里留下烙印，虽然美国面对分歧和危机，但是只要心中怀有“无畏的希望”，一切困境都会云开见日。
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 threaten my civil liberties.约翰•克里相信美国，他知道仅仅我们一部分美国人功成名就还远远不够。
奥巴马演讲词无畏的希望以下是XX为大家搜集整理的，欢迎借鉴与阅读!奥巴马演讲词无畏的希望我首先代表伟大的伊利诺依州，林肯的故里，感谢给我这个难得的机会。
今天我感到特别荣幸，说实在话，我连做梦都没想到我会有机会站到这个讲台上。
我父亲是个外国留学生，出生和生长在肯尼亚的一个小山村里。
他从小给人放羊，在一个铁皮做屋顶的教室里上课。
他的父亲，也就是我爷爷，是个厨师，一个英国人的佣人。
但是，我爷爷对我父亲抱有一个很大的期望。
基于勤奋和坚忍不拔，父亲有幸得到了一份奖学金，能来到这个神奇的地方--美利坚学习。
这是一块已经赋予先驱者自由与机会的圣土。
来到这里上学时，我爸爸遇到我母亲，一个出生在世界另一边的来自肯萨斯的女孩。
在整个大萧条期间，她父亲先是个农场工人而后当了个石油钻井工。
在珍珠港被轰炸后，他应征入伍，随巴顿军团开赴欧洲。
从欧洲回来后，他发现我外祖母在一边拉扯自己年幼的女儿，一边在一个炸弹装配线上班当女工。
战后，他们进补习学校学习，并通过联邦贷款买了栋房子，有了第一个自己的家。
再后来，他们西移，远远地去了夏威夷寻找机会。
他们心中对自己的女儿也怀抱着一个很大的期望。
虽然来自相隔遥远的两个不同的大陆，但他们的期望是共同的。
我父母不仅仅分享一个原来不太可能发生的爱恋，而且更重要的是，他们共同享有对这个国家的信赖。
他们给我取了个意思为"被赐福"的名字"巴拉克"，因为他们深信，在这个宽容大度的合众国，一个奇怪的名字决不会成为他未来成功的障碍。
他们梦想着，有一天我能进入这块土地上最好的学校接受教育，即使他们并不富有。
他们深知，即使是贫穷的孩子，也能在这个宽容的美利坚国土实现自己的理想，让自己的潜力尽情发挥。
他们现在都已逝去，但是，如果他们有在天之灵，能看到我的今天，他们一定会为我感到骄傲和自豪。
这个国家多民族的兼容和大度，是我们的幸运。
现在，和我们的父母一样，我对自己的一对女儿也满怀同样的期待。
我深知，我的故事只是众多的美国故事的一部分。
我更清楚，我得深深感谢那些生活在这片土地上的前辈们，是他们一代代的努力，才使我的梦想成为现实。
今天，我站在这里，是要向你们展示这个国家的伟大之处，并不取决于她所拥有的摩天大楼的高度和军队的强大，甚至也不是我们庞大的经济规模。
我为这个国家感到骄傲，只是因为两百年前先人给予我们一个基本的承诺：在这块土地上，所有人都拥有生而平等的生存、自由和追求幸福的权利，它神圣而不可侵犯。
正是对这种信念的坚持，带给我们对这个国家的信心，并由此而带给我们一个个奇迹。
能让我们的孩子夜有所居，饥有所食，寒有所衣，而且身心安全得以保障。
能让我们说所想，写所思，而不用耽心夜半三更会有不速之客的敲门声。
能让我们按自己的想法经营企业而不用行使贿赂。
能让我们自由参政而不用害怕受到惩处。
能让我们的选票能算数--至少在大多数情形。
今晚，我要告诉你们，我尊敬的党内各派同仁，我们还有很多工作要做，我们这个社会还有很多不完美的地方。
在伊州，那里梅特格(Maytag)的工人正失去他们作为工会工人的工作，只因为他们赖以生存的工厂搬去了墨西哥，他们现在不得不与自己的孩子竞争最低工资的工作机会，我们应为他们做些事情。
有一位父亲刚失去工作，他老泪纵横地告诉我，他正发愁怎样才能付得起他那没有医疗保险的儿子，每个月四千五百元的救命的医药费。
自问一下，我们是不是该为这样的父亲做点什么?还有，一位年轻的高中毕业姑娘，与成千上万类似的女孩子一样，她有不错的学习成绩，她想并且愿意上大学深造，学点技术，却因为没有钱支付学费而上不起。
我们是不是应该帮帮她们?请不要误解我。
我所遇到的人，不论是在大城小镇还是在餐桌和公园，他们并没有奢望政府解决他们的所有问题。
他们深知，他们自己得努力和勤奋才能有所作为，他们愿意为此付出。
如果你有机会，去芝加哥附近的工人弟兄们中间走走，他们都会告诉你一个愿望：他们不希望自己的税款被福利机构或五角大楼白白地浪费掉。
去看看，请去各大城市的城区走走看，他们会告诉你，单靠政府是没法教会他们的孩子认字的，这还得靠各个父母自己的努力。
如果我们不给孩子更高的期望，不为他们关掉电视，孩子们就不可能有更大的作为。
他们都理解这个道理。
他们深知政府不可能包办一切，不可能解决他们的所有问题。
但是，他们更深刻地感到，只要我们稍微调整一下我们的政策取向，调整一下我们政策的轻重缓急的次序，我们就能确保美国的每一个孩子都有一个真正好的人生机会，就能保证机会的大门对他们敞开。
他们知道我们能做得更好，并且，他们想要这种选择。
在这次竞选中，我们给予了你们这个选择。
我们党已经选出一个能给予这个国家最好的管理的领导人--克里。
在这个危险的世界上，战争有时是一种不可避免的选择，但是，战争永远也不应该成为我们的首要选择。
不久前，我遇到了一个小伙子，他已应征入伍海军陆战队，第二个星期就要开赴伊拉克前线了。
我认真听取了他应征入伍的理由和他对这个国家领导者的信任。
我曾想，这就是我们国家所需要的年轻一代的爱国热情。
但是，我接着问自己：我们为他们做了些什么?我们国家为他们做的，是不是和他们为我们国家所作的贡献对等呢?我想到了那九百位永远不能回家的英灵，和他们的子女、父母、亲朋。
我想到了那个因失掉家中经济支柱而挣扎的家中母子和母女，那些为国家而残疾但仍然没有终身医疗保障的退伍军人们。
我想当我们将无数的青年男女送上危险的征程，我们有责任告诉他们实情--为了什么而战?我们有义务照顾好他们在后方的家人，当他们在前线为国而战之时;我们应该给予他们足够的支持与关心，当他们从前线返回故土时。
我们应该确保，从此以后，如果我们没有足够的军力赢得战争，我们就不应该卷入战火。
我们应该力尽全力，确保和平，赢得世人的尊敬。
现在，让我更清楚地告诉你，是的，在这个世上，我们是有真正的敌人，我们必须找到这些敌人，击败他们。
在美国，只有一部分人富裕是不够的。
我们是一个共同的大家庭，如果在芝加哥南边区还有一个孩子不会阅读，那也会让我难过，尽管他(她)不是我自己的孩子。
如果还有一位老人无力支付处方药，还在为药品与租金而烦恼时，那也会让我感觉到自己的贫穷，虽然那不是我自己的父母和祖父母。
如果还有一个阿拉伯裔美国人得不到宪法赋予的司法权利，那就等同于在侵犯我自己个人的公民自由权。
这就是我的基本信仰：我是我兄弟姐妹的守护人!正是这种信仰能让我们每个人自由地追寻各自的理想，同时让我们和谐地共同生活在这个大家庭里，一个单一的大家庭里。
在我说这话时，有些人还在试图分裂我们。
在这里，我想告诉你们，不存在一个自由派和保守派的美国，只有一个美利坚合众国。
也不存在一个黑人，白人，拉丁及亚裔人的美国，只有一个美利坚合众国。
……实际上，这就是这次选举的区别所在，那么请问问你们自己，你是想参与一个世俗的政治?还是参与一个拥有无限希望的政治?我不是在谈论盲目的乐观。
可能有人在梦想，失业问题或许会自然地自己得到解决，如果我们不去想它;医疗保险危机也会自己过去，如果我们有意忽视它。
不!这不是我所谈的希望。
我说的是远比这更加重要的理想。
我谈的是当奴隶们围坐在火盆旁取暖，高唱自由之歌时心中的希望;移民们坐在野地里遥望远处的海岸时心中的希望;年轻的海军上尉带兵执勤时心中的希望;工厂工人胆敢向世俗命运挑战时心中的希望;一个有着奇怪名字的苗条小孩当他深信美国将有他的一席之地时的希望，等等，等等。
希望--面临艰难困苦时的希望，面对不确定性时的希望，无畏的希望。
这是上帝给予我们的最好礼物，是这个国家的基石。
一种对于未来美好生活的信仰。
我相信我们可以为中产阶级减轻负担，和给工薪家庭以机会。
我相信我们能够给无业者以工作机会，给无家可归者以住房，将遍布美国城市中的年轻人，从暴力和绝望的悬崖边拯救出来。
美国正面临危机，我们正处于十字路口，我们可以作出正确的选择，去面对前面的挑战。
奥巴马成名演讲稿:无畏的希望 (英文版)The audacity of hopeKeynote Address at the XX Democratic National ConventionJuly 27, XXOn behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention. 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. Hisfather, my grandfather, was a cook, a domestic servant.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, which stood as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before. 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 he signed up for duty, joined Patton's army and marched across Europe. Back home, my grandmother raised their baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, they studied on the GI Bill, bought a house through FHA, and moved west in search of opportunity.And they, too, had big dreams for their daughter, a common dream, born of two continents. 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 me going to the bestschools 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. They are both passed away now. Yet, I know that, on this night, they look down on me with pride.I stand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage, aware that my parents' dreams live on in my 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.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, "We hold these truths to he 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."That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on smallmiracles. That we can tuck in our children at night and know 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 or hiring somebody's son. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will he counted - or at least, most of the time.This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our values and commitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how we are measuring up, to the legacy of our forbearers, and the promise of future generations. And fellow Americans - Democrats, Republicans, Independents - I say to you tonight: we have more work to do. More to do for the workers I met in Gale□□urg, 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 I met who was losing his job and choking back tears, wondering how he would pay $4,500 a month forthe drugs his son needs without the health benefits 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.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 the Pentagon. Go into any inner city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can't teach kids to learn. They know that parents have to parent, that children can't achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off thetelevision sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white. No, people don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a change in priorities, we can make sure that every childin America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. 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. That man is John Kerry. John Kerry understands the ideals of community, faith, and sacrifice, because they've defined his life. From his heroic service in Vietnam to his years as prosecutor and lieutenant governor, through two decades in the United States Senate, he has devoted himself to this country. Again and again, we've seen him make tough choices when easier ones were available. 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'll offer them to companies creating jobs here at home. John Kerry believes in an America where all Americans can afford the same health coverage our politicians in Washington have for themselves. John Kerry believes in energy independence, so we aren't held hostage to the profitsof oil companies or the sabotage of foreign oil fields. 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. And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world, war must be an option, but it should never he the first option.A while back, I met a young man named Shamus at the VFW Hall in East Moline, Illinois. He was a good-looking kid, six-two or six-three, clear-eyed, with an easy smile. He told me he'd joined the Marines and was heading to Iraq the following week. As I listened to him explain why he'd enlisted, his absolute faith in our country and its leaders, his devotion to duty and service, I thought this young man was all any of us might hope for in a child. But then I asked myself: Are we serving Shamus as well as he was serving us? I thought of more than 900 service men and women, sons and daughters, hu□□ands and wives, friends and neighbors, who will not be returning to their hometowns. I thought of families I had met who were struggling to get by without a loved one's full income, or whose loved oneshad returned with a limb missing or with nerves shattered, but who still lacked long-term health benefits because they were 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.Now 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. John Kerry believes in America. And he knows 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 are connected as one people. Ifthere's 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's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's 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, yet still come together as a single American family. "E pluribus unum." Out of many, one.Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America - there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and BlueStates; 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 our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope? John Kerry calls on us to hope. John Edwards calls on us to hope. I'm not talking about blind optimism here - the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don't talk about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. No, 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 MekongDelta; 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. The audacity of hope!In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation; the belief in things not seen; the belief that there are better days ahead. I believe we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road to opportunity. 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 as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices, and meet the challenges that face us. America!Tonight, if you feel the same energy I do, the same urgency I do, the same passion I do, the same hopefulness 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. Thank you and God bless you。
