An American Moment
"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics ...
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage ...
The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified ...
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers ...
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations ..."
[notas do discurso de posse de Barack Obama]
Locais: Text of President Obama's inaugural address (Ledger-Enquirer) / Obama's Speech Annotated, Part I (The Atlantic) / Obama's Speech, Annotated, Part II (The Atlantic) / Editorial President Obama (N.Y.T.) / Rejecting Bush Era, Reclaiming Older Values (N.Y.T.) / The Best (and Worst) Lines in the Speech (Slate) / Blunt criticism of the past (Chicago Tribune) / Barack Obama's Speech: A Disappointing Hodgepodge (The New Republic) / Discurso de Obama: Novo Presidente pede uma "nova era de responsabilidade" (Público) / Is Europe Ready for a Barack Obama? (ABC) / The new president's first duty: Tell Americans the 'whole truth' (National Review) / Obama: We must change with the world (F.T.)
