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THE SPEECH

nzshadownzshadow 5,518 Posts
edited November 2008 in Strut Central
a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7710079.stm" target="_blank"1Is Here

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  • JuniorJunior 4,853 Posts
    I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington ??? it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.b,121b,121It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.b,121b,121I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime ??? two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.b,121b,121The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America ??? I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you ??? we as a people will get there.b,121b,121There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years ??? block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.b,121b,121What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek ??? it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.b,121b,121So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers ??? in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.b,121b,121Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House ??? a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends???though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn ??? I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.b,121b,121And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world ??? our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down ??? we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security ??? we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright ??? tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.b,121b,121For that is the true genius of America ??? that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.b,121b,121This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing ??? Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.b,121b,121She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons ??? because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.b,121b,121And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America ??? the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.b,121b,121At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.b,121b,121When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.b,121b,121When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.b,121b,121She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.b,121b,121A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.b,121b,121America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves ??? if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?b,121b,121This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time ??? to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth ??? that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:b,121b,121Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.
  • ThermosThermos 307 Posts
    Anyone else catch a Sam Cooke reference in there:b,121b,121"It's been a long time coming...but change has come!"
  • ostost Montreal 1,375 Posts
    "I would like to thank David Axelrod for all those raw funky ass beats that kept my head snapping through out the campaign."
  • CousinLarryCousinLarry 4,618 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121Anyone else catch a Sam Cooke reference in there:b,121b,121"It's been a long time coming...but change has come!" b, 21b, 21h,121
    font class="post"1b,121b,121Yeah, that was great. That song came on my iPod while I was in line to vote too.
  • sindiansindian 68 Posts
    The man knows how to give a speech.
  • spelunkspelunk 3,400 Posts
    A beautiful, absolutely perfect speech.
  • wyzewayzwyzewayz 303 Posts
    I cried reading that, and well, I am canadian......b,121well, actually, I'm an american citizen, a landed immigrant...but I've been living in canada all my life.....feel like a softy img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/WHYMUSTICRY.gif" alt="" 21
  • DB_CooperDB_Cooper Manhatin' 7,823 Posts
    This is where I started to choke up:b,121b,121/font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121I was never the likeliest candidate for this office.b,121b,121h,121
    font class="post"1b,121b,121This is where I started to get misty:b,121b,121/font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized,b,121b,121h,121
    font class="post"1b,121b,121And this is where I began to bawl like a man on a life raft who just spotted a ship and realizes he's not going to die alone in the middle of the ocean after all: b,121b,121/font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth.b,121b,121h,121
    font class="post"1
  • hammertimehammertime 2,389 Posts
    Anyone else catch a Sam Cooke reference in there:

    "It's been a long time coming...but change has come!"



    yeah that was a great touch, especially in Chicago.

    did you guys see Jesse Jackson turn the waterworks on for the TV cameras? that shit cracked me up.
  • LaserWolfLaserWolf Portland Oregon 11,517 Posts
    Anyone else catch a Sam Cooke reference in there:

    "It's been a long time coming...but change has come!"



    yeah that was a great touch, especially in Chicago.

    did you guys see Jesse Jackson turn the waterworks on for the TV cameras? that shit cracked me up.

    Essential heads know the transaction
  • funky16cornersfunky16corners 7,175 Posts
    Anyone else catch a Sam Cooke reference in there:

    "It's been a long time coming...but change has come!"



    yeah that was a great touch, especially in Chicago.

    did you guys see Jesse Jackson turn the waterworks on for the TV cameras? that shit cracked me up.


    I actually found it quite touching.
    No matter how much of an assclown Jackson has made himself, he's been deep in the cause for his entire life and had to be flashing back on Dr. King last night. Any black man that remembers America in the 50s and 60s (or any point before) had to see last night as a singularly remarkable - previously unthinkable - moment.
  • LaserWolfLaserWolf Portland Oregon 11,517 Posts
    Anyone else catch a Sam Cooke reference in there:

    "It's been a long time coming...but change has come!"



    yeah that was a great touch, especially in Chicago.

    did you guys see Jesse Jackson turn the waterworks on for the TV cameras? that shit cracked me up.


    I actually found it quite touching.
    No matter how much of an assclown Jackson has made himself, he's been deep in the cause for his entire life and had to be flashing back on Dr. King last night. Any black man that remembers America in the 50s and 60s (or any point before) had to see last night as a singularly remarkable - previously unthinkable - moment.

    It's popular in these parts to hate on Jackson.

    I hope people know how hard Jackson has worked to make this happen.

    And word to Harold Washington, too bad he was not around to see this.
  • hammertimehammertime 2,389 Posts
    I can definitely respect Jesse's contributions to the civil rights movement...no doubt about it.


    But when the cameras found him in the crowd, dude was standing there looking bored out of his gourd. Then he noticed the camera, and a minute later he had tears streaming down his cheeks (even though no one had even said shit yet).

    Maybe it was just a coincidence or whatever, but it looked corny as hell. I just calls 'em as I sees 'em.
  • batmonbatmon 27,574 Posts
    I hope people know how hard Jackson has worked to make this happen.
  • batmonbatmon 27,574 Posts
    I can definitely respect Jesse's contributions to the civil rights movement...no doubt about it.


    But when the cameras found him in the crowd, dude was standing there looking bored out of his gourd. Then he noticed the camera, and a minute later he had tears streaming down his cheeks (even though no one had even said shit yet).

    Maybe it was just a coincidence or whatever, but it looked corny as hell. I just calls 'em as I sees 'em.

    U can call it whatever. But dude broke down barriers before Barack.

    U cannot sterilize Obama's win w/out seeing the moves that other cats made before him.

    There was a time when the first Black Mayor of Cleveland was considered BIG.
  • GaryGary 3,982 Posts
    Its a speech that I will one day teach my child about.
  • kitchenknightkitchenknight 4,922 Posts
    Its a speech that I will one day teach my child about.


    Yes.


    Any of y'all remember Bush's little number in 2004?

    "I have been given a mandate... I have a lot of political capital, and I intend to spend it."

    b/w






    As opposed to last night:

    "To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -- I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president."

    b/w


  • Young_PhonicsYoung_Phonics 8,039 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America ??? the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.b,121b,121At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.b,121b,121When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.b,121b,121When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.b,121b,121She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.b,121b,121A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.b,121b,121b, 21h,121
    font class="post"1b,121b,121^^^^b,121b,121I still can't process all that.
  • davesrecordsdavesrecords 1,802 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121/font1Quote:/font1h,121b,121Its a speech that I will one day teach my child about. b, 21b, 21h,121
    font class="post"1b,121b,121b,121Yes.b,121b,121b,121Any of y'all remember Bush's little number in 2004? b, 21b, 21"I have been given a mandate... I have a lot of political capital, and I intend to spend it."b,121b,121b, 21b, 21h,121font class="post"1b,121b,121oh yeah i remember that...i could barely hear it between the noise of my teeth grinding.b,121b, 21i'm not so big on politicians or political speeches but obama's yesterday was one of the best ones i've heard.
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