Barack Obama Speech At July 27, 2004 Boston, Massachusetts
On behalf of the great state of Illinois, The nation, Land of Lincoln. Let me express my deepest gratitude, For the privilege of addressing this convention. Tonight is a particular honor for me because let's face 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 with a tin roof shacks. His father my grandfather was a cook. 6 servant to the British. 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 shown as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many would come before. When I started 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. Join bands army marched across Europe.
Back home my grandmother raises the 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 later moved west all the way to live in search of opportunity. And they too had big dreams for their daughter. A common dream born of 2 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 named Barack or blessing believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. Limited you may go 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. The bill passed away now. And yet I know that on this night they don't look down on me with great pride. They stand here and I stand here today. Grateful for the diversity of my heritage aware that my parent's streams live on in my 2 precious daughters. I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story that I told that 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. Some doubt in a declaration made over 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 that is the true genius of America. Okay. Okay in simple dreams. An insistence on small American. That we can talk to our children at night. And know that they are fed and clothed and safe from harm. We can say what we think right 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. 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 forebears and the promise of future generations and fellow Americans Democrats Republicans independents I say to you tonight we have more work to do. More work to do. The work was Ahmed in Galesburg Illinois were losing their union jobs at the Maytag plant that's moving to Mexico and now we're having to compete with their own children for jobs that pay 7 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 a month for the drugs his son needs without the help benefits the counted on. More to do for the young woman in the Saint Louis and thousands more like her who has the grades have the drive has the will but doesn't have the money to go to college. 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 the government to solve all the problems. They know they have to work hard to get ahead and they want to. Going to 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. No one. The only other city neighborhood. And folks will tell you the government alone can't teach our kids to learn they know the parents have to teach the children can achieve unless we raise our expectations and turn off the television set and a radically the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white they know those things. Don't expect. People don't expect the government to solve all the problems. But they sense deep in their bones. That would just a slight change in priorities we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot of light. And the doors of opportunity remain open to all they know we can do better and they want that choice you know.
Awhile back. Awhile back I met a young man named Seamus in the VFW hall in East Moline Illinois. He was a good-looking kid 6263 we arrived with an easy smile. He told me he joined the Marines and was heading to rock the following week. And as I listen takes him explain why he didn't list. 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 the child. But then I ask myself are we serving Seamus as well as he's serving us.
I thought of the 900 men and women sons and daughters husbands or 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 his loved ones had returned with a limb missing. Or nerves shattered but still lack 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. Through the window.
These. The world. It is not enough for just some of us to prosper. Alongside our famous individualism there's another ingredient in the American side. I believe that we're all connected as one piece. If there is a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read that matters to me even if it's not much up. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for the prescription drugs and have to choose between medicine on the web. Well I poured even if it's not my grandparents. If. Can family then wound up with a benefit of an attorney or due process that threatens my civil liberties. This is the. It is the fundamental beliefs. My brother's keeper I am my sister's keeper that makes this country work. It's. The individual dreams and yet still come together as one American family. He will be. Out of many one.
Now even as we speak there are those who are preparing to divide. Masters the negative ad peddlers were braced 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. Okay. States of America. This is our country in the world. And blue states red states will Republicans who stay 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 the libraries of the red states. In the blue states and we got from the website. The war in Iraq. The war in Iraq we are one people all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes all about defending the United States of America. That's what this election is about. Do we participate in the politics of cynicism or do we participate in the politics of hope.
I'm not talking about blind optimism here almost willful ignorance the things unemployment will go away if we just don't think about it or healthcare crisis will solve itself if we just ignore that's not what I'm talking about I'm talking about something more substantial. It's the hope of slave sitting around a fire singing freedom songs. The whole of immigrants setting up for different distant shores. The whole of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta the hope of a mill worker 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 to. This. In the face of uncertainty the old city of hope in the end that is gods greatest gift us the bedrock of this nation a believe in things not seen. I believe they're better days ahead I believe that we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road opportunity. I believe we can provide jobs for the jobless homes for the homeless and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair. I believe that we are the largest women are back and that is we spend on the crossroads of history we can make the right choices and meet the challenges that face us thank you very much everybody got.
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