baraac obama first day first speech

8/14/2019 Baraac Obama First Day First Speech

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President Barack Obama's inauguraladdress, 20-01-2009,

WASHINGTON (AP): Text of President Barack Obamas ina!"!ra#address on T!esda$% as &re&ared for de#i'er$ and re#eased b$ tePresidentia# Ina!"!ra# ommittee*

OBA+A: +$ fe##o, citi-ens:

I stand ere toda$ !mb#ed b$ te task before !s% "ratef!# forte tr!st $o! a'e besto,ed% mindf!# of te sacrifices borne b$

o!r ancestors* I tank President B!s for is ser'ice to o!rnation% as ,e## as te "enerosit$ and coo&eration e as so,ntro!"o!t tis transition*

.ort$/fo!r Americans a'e no, taken te &residentia# oat* Te,ords a'e been s&oken d!rin" risin" tides of &ros&erit$ and testi## ,aters of &eace* 0et% e'er$ so often te oat is taken amidst"aterin" c#o!ds and ra"in" storms* At tese moments% Americaas carried on not sim$ beca!se of te ski## or 'ision of tose ini" office% b!t beca!se ,e te &eoe a'e remained faitf!# to

te idea#s of o!r forebears% and tr!e to o!r fo!ndin" doc!ments*

So it as been* So it m!st be ,it tis "eneration of Americans*

Tat ,e are in te midst of crisis is no, ,e## !nderstood* O!rnation is at ,ar% a"ainst a far/reacin" net,ork of 'io#ence andatred* O!r econom$ is bad#$ ,eakened% a conse1!ence of "reedand irres&onsibi#it$ on te &art of some% b!t a#so o!r co##ecti'efai#!re to make ard coices and &re&are te nation for a ne,a"e* Homes a'e been #ost2 3obs sed2 b!sinesses s!ttered*

O!r ea#t care is too cost#$2 o!r scoo#s fai# too man$2 and eacda$ brin"s f!rter e'idence tat te ,a$s ,e !se ener"$stren"ten o!r ad'ersaries and treaten o!r anet*

Tese are te indicators of crisis% s!b3ect to data and statistics*4ess meas!rab#e b!t no #ess &rofo!nd is a sa&&in" of confidence


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across o!r #and 5 a na""in" fear tat Americas dec#ine isine'itab#e% and tat te next "eneration m!st #o,er its si"ts*

Toda$ I sa$ to $o! tat te ca##en"es ,e face are rea#* Te$ areserio!s and te$ are man$* Te$ ,i## not be met easi#$ or in a

sort s&an of time* B!t kno, tis% America 5 te$ ,i## be met*

On tis da$% ,e "ater beca!se ,e a'e cosen o&e o'er fear%!nit$ of &!r&ose o'er conf#ict and discord*

On tis da$% ,e come to &roc#aim an end to te &ett$ "rie'ancesand fa#se &romises% te recriminations and ,orn o!t do"mas%tat for far too #on" a'e stran"#ed o!r &o#itics*

We remain a $o!n" nation% b!t in te ,ords of scri&t!re% te

time as come to set aside ci#dis tin"s* Te time as come toreaffirm o!r end!rin" s&irit2 to coose o!r better istor$2 tocarr$ for,ard tat &recio!s "ift% tat nob#e idea% &assed on from"eneration to "eneration: te God/"i'en &romise tat a## aree1!a#% a## are free and a## deser'e a cance to &!rs!e teir f!##meas!re of a&&iness*

In reaffirmin" te "reatness of o!r nation% ,e !nderstand tat"reatness is ne'er a "i'en* It m!st be earned* O!r 3o!rne$ asne'er been one of sortc!ts or sett#in" for #ess* It as not beente &at for te faint/earted 5 for tose ,o &refer #eis!re o'er,ork% or seek on#$ te eas!res of rices and fame* 6ater% itas been te risk/takers% te doers% te makers of tin"s 5 somece#ebrated b!t more often men and ,omen obsc!re in teir#abor% ,o a'e carried !s !& te #on"% r!""ed &at to,ards&ros&erit$ and freedom*

.or !s% te$ &acked !& teir fe, ,or#d#$ &ossessions andtra'e#ed across oceans in searc of a ne, #ife*

.or !s% te$ toi#ed in s,eatso&s and sett#ed te West2 end!redte #as of te ,i& and o,ed te ard eart*

.or !s% te$ fo!"t and died% in aces #ike oncord andGett$sb!r"2 Normand$ and 7e San*


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Time and a"ain tese men and ,omen str!""#ed and sacrificedand ,orked ti## teir ands ,ere ra, so tat ,e mi"t #i'e abetter #ife* Te$ sa, America as bi""er tan te s!m of o!rindi'id!a# ambitions2 "reater tan a## te differences of birt or,ea#t or faction*

Tis is te 3o!rne$ ,e contin!e toda$* We remain te most&ros&ero!s% &o,erf!# nation on 8art* O!r ,orkers are no #ess&rod!cti'e tan ,en tis crisis be"an* O!r minds are no #essin'enti'e% o!r "oods and ser'ices no #ess needed tan te$ ,ere#ast ,eek or #ast mont or #ast $ear* O!r ca&acit$ remains!ndiminised* B!t o!r time of standin" &at% of &rotectin" narro,interests and &!ttin" off !neasant decisions 5 tat time ass!re#$ &assed* Startin" toda$% ,e m!st &ick o!rse#'es !&% d!st

o!rse#'es off% and be"in a"ain te ,ork of remakin" America*

.or e'er$,ere ,e #ook% tere is ,ork to be done* Te state ofte econom$ ca##s for action% bo#d and s,ift% and ,e ,i## act 5 noton#$ to create ne, 3obs% b!t to #a$ a ne, fo!ndation for "ro,t*We ,i## b!i#d te roads and brid"es% te e#ectric "rids and di"ita##ines tat feed o!r commerce and bind !s to"eter* We ,i##restore science to its ri"tf!# ace% and ,ie#d tecno#o"$s,onders to raise ea#t cares 1!a#it$ and #o,er its cost* We ,i##arness te s!n and te ,inds and te soi# to f!e# o!r cars and

r!n o!r factories* And ,e ,i## transform o!r scoo#s and co##e"esand !ni'ersities to meet te demands of a ne, a"e* A## tis ,ecan do* And a## tis ,e ,i## do*

No,% tere are some ,o 1!estion te sca#e of o!r ambitions 5,o s!""est tat o!r s$stem cannot to#erate too man$ bi" ans*Teir memories are sort* .or te$ a'e for"otten ,at tisco!ntr$ as a#read$ done2 ,at free men and ,omen canacie'e ,en ima"ination is 3oined to common &!r&ose% andnecessit$ to co!ra"e*

Wat te c$nics fai# to !nderstand is tat te "ro!nd as siftedbeneat tem 5 tat te sta#e &o#itica# ar"!ments tat a'econs!med !s for so #on" no #on"er a&$* Te 1!estion ,e asktoda$ is not ,eter o!r "o'ernment is too bi" or too sma##% b!t,eter it ,orks 5 ,eter it e#&s fami#ies find 3obs at a decent,a"e% care te$ can afford% a retirement tat is di"nified* Were


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te ans,er is $es% ,e intend to mo'e for,ard* Were te ans,eris no% &ro"rams ,i## end* And tose of !s ,o mana"e te&!b#ics do##ars ,i## be e#d to acco!nt 5 to s&end ,ise#$% reformbad abits% and do o!r b!siness in te #i"t of da$ 5 beca!seon#$ ten can ,e restore te 'ita# tr!st bet,een a &eoe andteir "o'ernment*

Nor is te 1!estion before !s ,eter te market is a force for"ood or i##* Its &o,er to "enerate ,ea#t and ex&and freedom is!nmatced% b!t tis crisis as reminded !s tat ,ito!t a,atcf!# e$e% te market can s&in o!t of contro# 5 and tat anation cannot &ros&er #on" ,en it fa'ors on#$ te &ros&ero!s*Te s!ccess of o!r econom$ as a#,a$s de&ended not 3!st on tesi-e of o!r "ross domestic &rod!ct% b!t on te reac of o!r

&ros&erit$2 on o!r abi#it$ to extend o&&ort!nit$ to e'er$ ,i##in"eart 5 not o!t of carit$% b!t beca!se it is te s!rest ro!te too!r common "ood*

As for o!r common defense% ,e re3ect as fa#se te coicebet,een o!r safet$ and o!r idea#s* O!r fo!ndin" faters% faced,it &eri#s ,e can scarce#$ ima"ine% drafted a carter to ass!rete r!#e of #a, and te ri"ts of man% a carter ex&anded b$ teb#ood of "enerations* Tose idea#s sti## #i"t te ,or#d% and ,e,i## not "i'e tem !& for ex&ediences sake* And so to a## oter

&eoes and "o'ernments ,o are ,atcin" toda$% from te"randest ca&ita#s to te sma## 'i##a"e ,ere m$ fater ,as born:kno, tat America is a friend of eac nation and e'er$ man%,oman% and ci#d ,o seeks a f!t!re of &eace and di"nit$% andtat ,e are read$ to #ead once more*

6eca## tat ear#ier "enerations faced do,n fascism andcomm!nism not 3!st ,it missi#es and tanks% b!t ,it st!rd$a##iances and end!rin" con'ictions* Te$ !nderstood tat o!r&o,er a#one cannot &rotect !s% nor does it entit#e !s to do as ,e

ease* Instead% te$ kne, tat o!r &o,er "ro,s tro!" its&r!dent !se2 o!r sec!rit$ emanates from te 3!stness of o!rca!se% te force of o!r exame% te tem&erin" 1!a#ities of!mi#it$ and restraint*

We are te kee&ers of tis #e"ac$* G!ided b$ tese &rinciesonce more% ,e can meet tose ne, treats tat demand e'en


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"reater effort 5 e'en "reater coo&eration and !nderstandin"bet,een nations* We ,i## be"in to res&onsib#$ #ea'e Ira1 to its&eoe% and for"e a ard/earned &eace in Af"anistan* Wit o#dfriends and former foes% ,e ,i## ,ork tire#ess#$ to #essen ten!c#ear treat% and ro## back te s&ecter of a ,armin" anet* We,i## not a&o#o"i-e for o!r ,a$ of #ife% nor ,i## ,e ,a'er in itsdefense% and for tose ,o seek to ad'ance teir aims b$ind!cin" terror and s#a!"terin" innocents% ,e sa$ to $o! no,tat o!r s&irit is stron"er and cannot be broken2 $o! cannoto!t#ast !s% and ,e ,i## defeat $o!*

.or ,e kno, tat o!r &atc,ork erita"e is a stren"t% not a,eakness* We are a nation of ristians and +!s#ims% 9e,s andHind!s 5 and non/be#ie'ers* We are sa&ed b$ e'er$ #an"!a"e

and c!#t!re% dra,n from e'er$ end of tis 8art2 and beca!se ,ea'e tasted te bitter s,i## of ci'i# ,ar and se"re"ation% andemer"ed from tat dark ca&ter stron"er and more !nited% ,ecannot e#& b!t be#ie'e tat te o#d atreds sa## someda$ &ass2tat te #ines of tribe sa## soon disso#'e2 tat as te ,or#d "ro,ssma##er% o!r common !manit$ sa## re'ea# itse#f2 and tatAmerica m!st a$ its ro#e in !serin" in a ne, era of &eace*

To te +!s#im ,or#d% ,e seek a ne, ,a$ for,ard% based onm!t!a# interest and m!t!a# res&ect* To tose #eaders aro!nd te

"#obe ,o seek to so, conf#ict% or b#ame teir societ$s i##s on teWest 5 kno, tat $o!r &eoe ,i## 3!d"e $o! on ,at $o! canb!i#d% not ,at $o! destro$* To tose ,o c#in" to &o,er tro!"corr!&tion and deceit and te si#encin" of dissent% kno, tat $o!are on te ,ron" side of istor$2 b!t tat ,e ,i## extend a andif $o! are ,i##in" to !nc#enc $o!r fist*

To te &eoe of &oor nations% ,e ed"e to ,ork a#on"side $o!to make $o!r farms f#o!ris and #et c#ean ,aters f#o,2 to no!risstar'ed bodies and feed !n"r$ minds* And to tose nations #ike

o!rs tat en3o$ re#ati'e ent$% ,e sa$ ,e can no #on"er affordindifference to s!fferin" o!tside o!r borders2 nor can ,econs!me te ,or#ds reso!rces ,ito!t re"ard to effect* .or te,or#d as can"ed% and ,e m!st can"e ,it it*

As ,e consider te road tat !nfo#ds before !s% ,e remember,it !mb#e "ratit!de tose bra'e Americans ,o% at tis 'er$


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o!r% &atro# far/off deserts and distant mo!ntains* Te$ a'esometin" to te## !s toda$% 3!st as te fa##en eroes ,o #ie inAr#in"ton ,is&er tro!" te a"es* We onor tem not on#$beca!se te$ are "!ardians of o!r #ibert$% b!t beca!se te$embod$ te s&irit of ser'ice2 a ,i##in"ness to find meanin" insometin" "reater tan temse#'es* And $et% at tis moment 5 amoment tat ,i## define a "eneration 5 it is &recise#$ tis s&irittat m!st inabit !s a##*

.or as m!c as "o'ernment can do and m!st do% it is !#timate#$te fait and determination of te American &eoe !&on ,ictis nation re#ies* It is te kindness to take in a stran"er ,ente #e'ees break% te se#f#essness of ,orkers ,o ,o!#d raterc!t teir o!rs tan see a friend #ose teir 3ob ,ic sees !s

tro!" o!r darkest o!rs* It is te firefi"ters co!ra"e to storma stair,a$ fi##ed ,it smoke% b!t a#so a &arents ,i##in"ness ton!rt!re a ci#d% tat fina##$ decides o!r fate*

O!r ca##en"es ma$ be ne,* Te instr!ments ,it ,ic ,emeet tem ma$ be ne,* B!t tose 'a#!es !&on ,ic o!rs!ccess de&ends 5 ard ,ork and onest$% co!ra"e and fair a$%to#erance and c!riosit$% #o$a#t$ and &atriotism 5 tese tin"s areo#d* Tese tin"s are tr!e* Te$ a'e been te 1!iet force of&ro"ress tro!"o!t o!r istor$* Wat is demanded ten is a

ret!rn to tese tr!ts* Wat is re1!ired of !s no, is a ne, era ofres&onsibi#it$ 5 a reco"nition% on te &art of e'er$ American% tat,e a'e d!ties to o!rse#'es% o!r nation% and te ,or#d% d!tiestat ,e do not "r!d"in"#$ acce&t b!t rater sei-e "#ad#$% firm inte kno,#ed"e tat tere is notin" so satisf$in" to te s&irit% sodefinin" of o!r caracter% tan "i'in" o!r a## to a diffic!#t task*

Tis is te &rice and te &romise of citi-ensi&*

Tis is te so!rce of o!r confidence 5 te kno,#ed"e tat God

ca##s on !s to sa&e an !ncertain destin$*

Tis is te meanin" of o!r #ibert$ and o!r creed 5 ,$ men and,omen and ci#dren of e'er$ race and e'er$ fait can 3oin ince#ebration across tis ma"nificent ma##% and ,$ a man ,osefater #ess tan sixt$ $ears a"o mi"t not a'e been ser'ed at a


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#oca# resta!rant can no, stand before $o! to take a most sacredoat*

So #et !s mark tis da$ ,it remembrance% of ,o ,e are ando, far ,e a'e tra'e#ed* In te $ear of Americas birt% in te

co#dest of monts% a sma## band of &atriots !dd#ed b$ d$in"cam&fires on te sores of an ic$ ri'er* Te ca&ita# ,asabandoned* Te enem$ ,as ad'ancin"* Te sno, ,as stained,it b#ood* At a moment ,en te o!tcome of o!r re'o#!tion ,asmost in do!bt% te fater of o!r nation ordered tese ,ords beread to te &eoe:

4et it be to#d to te f!t!re ,or#d *** tat in te de&t of ,inter%,en notin" b!t o&e and 'irt!e co!#d s!r'i'e***tat te cit$and te co!ntr$% a#armed at one common dan"er% came fort tomeet (it)*

America% in te face of o!r common dan"ers% in tis ,inter of o!rardsi&% #et !s remember tese time#ess ,ords* Wit o&e and'irt!e% #et !s bra'e once more te ic$ c!rrents% and end!re ,atstorms ma$ come* 4et it be said b$ o!r ci#drens ci#dren tat,en ,e ,ere tested ,e ref!sed to #et tis 3o!rne$ end% tat ,edid not t!rn back nor did ,e fa#ter2 and ,it e$es fixed on teori-on and Gods "race !&on !s% ,e carried fort tat "reat "ift

of freedom and de#i'ered it safe#$ to f!t!re "enerations*

baraac obama first day first speech

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