we, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths —
that all of us are created equal —
is the star that guides us still;
just as it guided our forebears through seneca falls,
& selma,
& stonewall;
just as it guided all those men & women, sung & unsung,
who left footprints along this great mall,
to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone;
to hear a king proclaim that
our individual freedom is inextricably bound
to the freedom of every soul on earth.
it is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began.
for our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers & daughters
can earn a living equal to their efforts.
our journey is not complete until our gay brothers & sisters
are treated like anyone else under the law —
for if we are truly created equal,
then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.
our journey is not complete until no citizen
is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote.
our journey is not complete until we find a better way
to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants
who still see america as a land of opportunity —
until bright young students & engineers
are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country.
our journey is not complete until all our children,
from the streets of detroit
to the hills of appalachia,
to the quiet lanes of newtown,
know that they are cared for & cherished & always safe from harm.
that all of us are created equal —
is the star that guides us still;
just as it guided our forebears through seneca falls,
& selma,
& stonewall;
just as it guided all those men & women, sung & unsung,
who left footprints along this great mall,
to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone;
to hear a king proclaim that
our individual freedom is inextricably bound
to the freedom of every soul on earth.
it is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began.
for our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers & daughters
can earn a living equal to their efforts.
our journey is not complete until our gay brothers & sisters
are treated like anyone else under the law —
for if we are truly created equal,
then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.
our journey is not complete until no citizen
is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote.
our journey is not complete until we find a better way
to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants
who still see america as a land of opportunity —
until bright young students & engineers
are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country.
our journey is not complete until all our children,
from the streets of detroit
to the hills of appalachia,
to the quiet lanes of newtown,
know that they are cared for & cherished & always safe from harm.
that is our generation’s task — to make these words, these rights, these values
of life & liberty & the pursuit of happiness
real for every american.
america’s possibilities are limitless,
for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands:
youth & drive;
diversity & openness;
an endless capacity for risk
& a gift for reinvention.
my fellow americans,
we are made for this moment,
&we will seize it — so long as we seize it together.
president of the united states barack h. obama
his second inaugural address
january 21st, 2013
of life & liberty & the pursuit of happiness
real for every american.
america’s possibilities are limitless,
for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands:
youth & drive;
diversity & openness;
an endless capacity for risk
& a gift for reinvention.
my fellow americans,
we are made for this moment,
&we will seize it — so long as we seize it together.
president of the united states barack h. obama
his second inaugural address
january 21st, 2013
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