The 2004 Democratic National Convention by Obama

Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention

| July 27, 2004

On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention. Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let's face it, 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 in a tin-roof shack. His father, my grandfather, was a cook, a domestic servant.

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, which stood as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before. While studying 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 he signed up for duty, joined Patton's army and marched across Europe. Back home, my grandmother raised their 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 moved west in search of opportunity.

And they, too, had big dreams for their daughter, a common dream, born of two 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 name, Barack, or "blessed," believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. They imagined me going 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. They are both passed away now. Yet, I know that, on this night, they look down on me with pride.

I stand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage, aware that my parents' dreams live on in my precious daughters. I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt 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, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago, "We hold these truths to he 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, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can tuck in our children at night and know they are fed and clothed and safe from harm. That we can say what we think, write 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 or hiring somebody's son. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will he counted - or at least, most of the time.

This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our values and commitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how we are measuring up, to the legacy of our forbearers, and the promise of future generations. And fellow Americans - Democrats, Republicans, Independents - I say to you tonight: we have more work to do. More to do for the workers I met in Galesburg, Illinois, who are losing their union jobs at the Maytag plant that's moving to Mexico, and now are having to compete with their own children for jobs that pay seven bucks an hour. More to do for the father I met who was losing his job and choking back tears, wondering how he would pay $4,500 a month for the drugs his son needs without the health benefits he counted on. More to do for the young woman in East St. Louis, and thousands more like her, who has the grades, has the drive, has the will, but doesn't have the money to go to college.

Don't get me wrong. The people I meet in small towns and big cities, in diners and office parks, they don't expect government to solve all their problems. They know they have to work hard to get ahead and they want to. Go into the collar counties around Chicago, and people will tell you they don't want their tax money wasted by a welfare agency or the Pentagon. Go into any inner city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can't teach kids to learn. They know that parents have to parent, that children can't achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white. No, people don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do better. And they want that choice.

In this election, we offer that choice. Our party has chosen a man to lead us who embodies the best this country has to offer. That man is John Kerry. John Kerry understands the ideals of community, faith, and sacrifice, because they've defined his life. From his heroic service in Vietnam to his years as prosecutor and lieutenant governor, through two decades in the United States Senate, he has devoted himself to this country. Again and again, we've seen him make tough choices when easier ones were available. His values and his record affirm what is best in us.

John Kerry believes in an America where hard work is rewarded. So instead of offering tax breaks to companies shipping jobs overseas, he'll offer them to companies creating jobs here at home. John Kerry believes in an America where all Americans can afford the same health coverage our politicians in Washington have for themselves. John Kerry believes in energy independence, so we aren't held hostage to the profits of oil companies or the sabotage of foreign oil fields. John Kerry believes in the constitutional freedoms that have made our country the envy of the world, and he will never sacrifice our basic liberties nor use faith as a wedge to divide us. And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world, war must be an option, but it should never he the first option.

A while back, I met a young man named Shamus at the VFW Hall in East Moline, Illinois. He was a good-looking kid, six-two or six-three, clear-eyed, with an easy smile. He told me he'd joined the Marines and was heading to Iraq the following week. As I listened to him explain why he'd enlisted, his absolute faith in our country and its leaders, his devotion to duty and service, I thought this young man was all any of us might hope for in a child. But then I asked myself: Are we serving Shamus as well as he was serving us? I thought of more than 900 service men and women, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors, who will not be returning to their hometowns. I thought of families I had met who were struggling to get by without a loved one's full income, or whose loved ones had returned with a limb missing or with nerves shattered, but who still lacked 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, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.

Now let me be clear. We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued and they must be defeated. John Kerry knows this. And just as Lieutenant Kerry did not hesitate to risk his life to protect the men who served with him in Vietnam, President Kerry will not hesitate one moment to use our military might to keep America safe and secure. John Kerry believes in America. And he knows it's not enough for just some of us to prosper. For alongside our famous individualism, there's another ingredient in the American saga.

A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's that fundamental belief - I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper - that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. "E pluribus unum." Out of many, one.

Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America - there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States 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 our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.

In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope? John Kerry calls on us to hope. John Edwards calls on us to hope. I'm not talking about blind optimism here - the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don't talk about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. No, I'm talking about something more substantial. It's the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a millworker's 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, too. The audacity of hope!

In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation; the belief in things not seen; the belief that there are better days ahead. I believe we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road to opportunity. I believe we can provide jobs to the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair. I believe that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices, and meet the challenges that face us. America!

Tonight, if you feel the same energy I do, the same urgency I do, the same passion I do, the same hopefulness I do - if we do what we must do, then I have no doubt that all across the country, from Florida to Oregon, from Washington to Maine, the people will rise up in November, and John Kerry will be sworn in as president, and John Edwards will be sworn in as vice president, and this country will reclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come. Thank you and God bless you.
四年前让奥巴马迈向白宫的演讲(ZT)
Barack Obama Speech at 2004 DNC Convention

作为伟大的伊利诺斯州——全国的交通枢纽，林肯的故乡——的代表，我为有向此次大会致辞的机会而深感荣幸。今晚于我而言是一份特殊的荣耀。我们得承认，我出现在这个讲坛上是件不可思议的事。我的父亲是个外国留学生，在肯尼亚的一个小村庄出生并长大，他幼时牧羊，在铁皮顶做成的简陋小屋里上学。他的父亲，我的祖父，是个厨师，一个佣人。

但我祖父对他的儿子有更大的梦想。艰辛的努力和顽强的毅力使父亲拿到了到美国留学的奖学金。美国是一片神奇的国土，它对于许多未曾来过的人而言是自由和机会的象征。在留学期间，父亲遇到了母亲。她出生在世界另一端的堪萨斯的一个小镇上。她父亲在大萧条时期为了养家糊口，不是在石油钻塔下打工，就是在农场务农。珍珠港事件后他自愿入伍，进入巴顿的部队，曾在整个欧洲大陆辗转作战。在后方家中，外祖母养育着他们的孩子，并在一条轰炸机流水线上工作。战后，他们研究了士兵福利法案，通过联邦住宅管理局买了一套房子，并移居到西部寻找机会。

他们对他们的女儿也很大的梦想。一个共通的梦想，在两个不同的大陆生发。我的父母不仅共享不可思议的爱恋，他们还共同坚守这个国家有巨大潜力的不渝信念。他们赐予我一个非洲名字，巴拉克，意为“受神福佑的”。他们相信在宽容大度的美国，一个人的名字不是通向成功的障碍。尽管生活并不富裕，但他们想让我去这片土地最好的学校就读，因为在富足的美国，你即使不富裕也能发掘你的潜力。现在他们都过世了。不过我知道，在这个夜晚，他们满怀骄傲自天堂注视我。

今天我站在这里，为我独特的血统满怀感激，并知道我父母的愿望正在我的两个宝贝女儿身上延续。我站在这里，知道我的故事是更宏伟的美国故事的一部分，也知道我们不能忘却那些在我之前来到这里的人，更知道我的故事这个世界的任何其他地方都不可能发生。今晚，我们欢聚一堂重申我们民族的荣耀，这个荣耀并不在于我们的摩天大楼有多高，也不在于我们的军备实力有多强，更不在于我们经济的规模有多大。我们的自豪感建筑在一个相当简单的前提上，两百多年前它就在一个宣言中被这样概括：”我们坚持以下真理不言而喻：众生平等。造物主赋予他们某些不可被剥夺的权利，它们包括：生命权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。”

这是美国真正的天才：坚信她的人民简单而纯朴的梦想，坚信小小的奇迹会发生。我们能在深夜给孩子掖好被子时确信他们衣食无忧且远离伤害。我们能想到什么就说什么，想到什么就写什么，而毋庸担心突然被政府找上门来。我们能生发一个想法后就去开创自己的生意，而无须行贿或雇佣某人的子女。我们能参与政治过程而不必担心被惩罚，并且，至少多数时候，我们的选票是有用的。

今年，在这次选举中，我们要重申我们的价值观和责任，秉持它们去对抗艰难时局；并留心我们怎样才能继承先辈的遗产，实现对子孙的承诺。美国公民们，——民主党人、共和党人、无党派人士——，今晚我想对你们说：我们还有更多的工作要做。要为我在伊利诺斯州盖尔斯堡市（Galesburg）遇到工人们做更多的努力，他们丢失了在即将搬迁到墨西哥的Maytag洗衣机工厂车间的工作，现今被迫同他们的子女争抢每小时7美金的工作机会。要为我遇到的一个失了业、克制住不流泪的父亲做更多的努力，他在担心没有他可以依赖的医疗保险他如何负担儿子每个月所需的4500美金的医药费。要为东圣路易斯市的一个年轻女孩和千千万万和她一样的人做更多的努力，——她有成绩、有动力和意愿，却没有钱去读大学。

请不要误解我。我在大城和小镇、在餐厅和办公楼停车场遇到的人并未期待政府去解决他们所有的困难。他们清楚他们自己必须勤劳工作去克服难关，他们也真的想这样做。走进芝加哥周边的工薪城镇，人们会告诉你他们不愿让自己的纳税花在五角大楼或福利机构。走进市中心的任何街区，人们会告诉你仅仅靠政府是不可能让孩子好好读书的。他们知道父母需要教育孩子，需要提高孩子的期待，需要关掉电视机并杜绝这样的谣言：一个捧着书本的黑人小孩简直像个白人孩子，而只有这样孩子才能进步。真的是这样，人们并不指望政府解决他们面临的所有困难。但他们真诚地认为，只要政府理顺执政的轻重缓急，它就能确保美国的每个孩子的生活有个像样的目标，让机遇向所有人敞开大门。他们知道我们能做得更好。而他们想要那样的选择。

在这次选举中，我们能提供那样的选择。我们的党已经挑选出一个最能代表这个国家的美德的人。他就是约翰·克里。约翰·克里懂得共同体、信念和献身的理想，因为这些理想是他的生活准则。他在越南英勇服役，出任过检察官和副州长，并在美国参议院供职二十多年，他为这个国家献出了自己的一切。我们再三见证他舍弃相对容易的选择而做出艰难的决定。他的价值理念和经历是我们最好品德的写照。

约翰·克里坚信美国该是多劳多得的国度。因此，他不会给那些把工作输送到海外的公司减税，他只会给那些在本土创造就业机会的公司减免赋税。约翰·克里坚信美国应该是老百姓的医疗保险跟华盛顿的政治家们的医疗保险没有差别的国度。约翰·克里坚信能源自主，因此我们不再因石油公司对利润的追求或外国油田的被破坏而受到威胁。约翰·克里坚信那些使我们的国家成为世界羡慕对象的、由宪法条款所保证的自由，他不会牺牲我们的基本自由或将信仰用作分裂我们的工具。约翰· 克里还坚信战争在一个充满危险的世界是不可避免的抉择，但它永不会是首选。

前不久，我在伊利诺斯州东莫林市的外战老兵俱乐部里遇到一个叫沙莫斯的年轻人。他长得帅气高大，有两米左右的个头，眼睛清澈，笑容可掬。他告诉我他参加了海军陆战队，下周将要开赴伊拉克。当我听他娓娓述说他入伍的原因，他对于我们的国家和领导人的完全信赖，他对于责任和服役的忠诚，我感觉这个年轻人的言行正是我们每个人对自己的孩子的所有期待。然而，我又扪心自问，我们为他提供的服务有他给我们提供的服务好吗？我想起有900多个服役的男男女女将不会再重返家园，他们是儿子和女儿、丈夫和妻子、朋友和邻居。我想起我遇到的那些家庭，他们正努力克服缺少了爱人全职收入的困窘，或尽量摆脱爱人归来而身体残疾或精神崩溃却因为是预备役军人而无法享受长期健康补贴的困境。当我们派遣我们的年轻人踏上牺牲的路途，我们必须责无旁贷地搞清和核实让他们出征的一切数字和一切理由，必须责无旁贷地在他们离去后照看他们的家庭，在他们返回后关照他们的生活，必须责无旁贷地确保在没有足够的部队时不进入战争、保卫和平和赢得世界的尊重。

请允许我阐明这一点：在这个世界上我们有真正的敌人，我们必须找到这些敌人，必须追击并打败他们。约翰·克里懂得这一点。就像克里上尉在越南战场上毫不犹豫地冒险保护他的下属一样，克里总统会毫不犹豫地运用我们的军力保护美国的安全。约翰·克里相信美国。他也知道仅仅一部分公民的富足远远不够，与我们闻名于世的个人主义如影随形的，是美国激荡的历史中的另一种元素。

这个元素是我们作为一个民族荣辱与共的信仰。假如芝加哥南部的一个孩子不能读写，即使那不是我的孩子，我也会因此受到困扰。如果一个年事已高的市民付不起她的诊疗费而被迫在医疗费和租房之间做选择，即使她不是我的祖母，也会使我的生活更加拮据。如果一个阿拉伯裔的美国家庭未经律师辩解或诉讼程序就遭到驱赶，那也会威胁我的人身自由。正是这个基本的信仰使这个国家运转：我是我的兄弟的守护人，我是我的姐妹的守护人。它保证了我们追寻个体的梦想，却仍旧聚合为一个美利坚家庭。“E plubribus Unum”，独立来自团结，单一来自集体。

当我们在这里聚会的时候，也有人正准备分裂我们，那些操纵舆论的人和制作负面广告的人，他们投身没有原则和不择手段的政治。那么，今晚我将告诉他们，这里不存在一个自由主义的美国和一个保守主义的美国，而只有一个美利坚合众国。这里不存在黑人的美国和白人的美国、拉丁族裔的美国和亚洲人的美国，而只有美利坚合众国。很多所谓的专家喜欢将我们的国家分割为红色的州和蓝色的州：红色的州由共和党人控制，蓝色的州是民主党人的天下。但我要跟他们说：我们蓝州的人信仰庄严的上帝，我们红州的人不喜欢联邦政府的官员在图书馆打探我们的阅读兴趣。我们在蓝州也给小棒球队做教练，我们在红州也有同性恋朋友。有些爱国者反对伊拉克战争，有些爱国者支持它。我们是一个民族，所有人都宣誓效忠星条旗，所有人都保卫美利坚合众国。

说到底，这才是这次选举的意义：我们投入愤世嫉俗的政治还是参与满怀希望的政治？约翰·克里号召我们去希望，约翰·爱德华兹号召我们去希望。我不是在谈盲目的乐观主义。以为如果我们不讨论失业它便会自动消失，相信只要我们无视医疗危机它就会自行解除，那是一厢情愿的无知。不，我在谈更根本的问题。我在谈奴隶们围坐在篝火旁唱颂自由的歌谣时的希望；我在谈移民背井离乡驶向遥远海岸时的希望；我在谈年轻的海军上尉勇敢地在湄公河三角洲巡逻时的希望；我在谈一个纺织工的儿子敢创敢拼时的希望；我在谈一个有着滑稽名字的、干瘦的小孩也相信美国也会有一片属于他的天地时的希望。希望就是勇气，希望就是力量！

其实，希望是上帝赐予我们的最好礼物，是这个民族的基石，是坚信不曾见到的前景，是坚信明天会更好。我相信我们能为中产阶级提供帮助，为工薪阶层制造更多的机会；我相信我们能为失业者提供工作，让无家可归者有家，从暴力和绝望中挽救美国都市里的年轻人。我相信当我们站在历史的十字路口时，我们能作出正确的抉择，并迎接我们面临的挑战。美利坚！

今晚，如果你们跟我感同身受，有同样的力量、同样的急迫感、同样的冲动和同样的希望；如果我们去做我们必须做的事，那么我相信，从佛罗里达州到俄勒冈州，从华盛顿州到缅因州，全国人民将会在11月奋起行动，使约翰·克里宣誓就任总统，约翰·爱德华兹宣誓就任副总统，而这个国家也将会重新恢复她的承诺。政治黑暗已经到了尽头，更为光明的一天就要来到。谢谢大家，愿上帝保佑你们。