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Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Believe!

It was four years ago this summer that Chuck and I stood before our television in our kitchen, riveted by a passionate speaker at the Democratic Party Convention in Boston. Chills ran down our spines. We applauded. We were choked up with emotion. We felt the first wave of hope in four long years - no, even longer. The speaker was Barack Obama.

Tonight, Senator Barack Obama is the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic party! Tonight, he spoke again, just as passionately, just as powerfully. Below is an excerpt from the finale of his speech.

“...Americans are a decent, generous, compassionate people, united by common challenges and common hopes.  And every so often, there are moments which call on that fundamental goodness to make this country great again. 
 
So it was for that band of patriots who declared in a Philadelphia hall the formation of a more perfect union; and for all those who gave on the fields of Gettysburg and Antietam their last full measure of devotion to save that same union.
 
So it was for the Greatest Generation that conquered fear itself, and liberated a continent from tyranny, and made this country home to untold opportunity and prosperity. 
 
So it was for the workers who stood out on the picket lines; the women who shattered glass ceilings; the children who braved a Selma bridge for freedom’s cause. 
 
So it has been for every generation that faced down the greatest challenges and the most improbable odds to leave their children a world that’s better, and kinder, and more just.
 
And so it must be for us.  
 
America, this is our moment.  This is our time.  Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past.  Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face.  Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.
 
The journey will be difficult.  The road will be long.  I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations.  But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people.  Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth.  This was the moment – this was the time – when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals.  Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.”


- Senator Barack Obama
June 3, 2008
St. Paul, Minnesota

You can read the entire speech, as prepared, here.

Or you can watch and listen to Senator Obama here:

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I plan to make my second donation to Obama this week! I am thrilled, but still cynical about the general voting population. This country did elect W....

I was filled with emotion watching him speak last night. An exciting time.

Pink Granite said...

Hey Kate -
We've been contributing to his campaign as well.
The whole process has been fascinating, disturbing, exhilarating, distressing, engaging, frustrating and exciting! Did I miss anything?
I too worry about the general election. But have you noticed that when McCain is speaking, he has an odd little smile and a strange laugh which is eerily similar to Bush's? With Bush's approval ratings so low, lets hope other folks make the connection:
McCain = Bush's Third Term!
;o)
- A.L.

barbie2be said...

Woo to the Hoo!!!! i love this man. i am so excited about this election. i know that Obama can really start to make a change in this country.

Pink Granite said...

Woo to the Hoo right back B2B!
I believe he is the right person at the right time!
;o)
- Lee

Fiona said...

I missed this, sorry. I have really found the build up to your elections facinating and exciting this time. I like Obama the best and was very excited to see he was born in Kenya. Must be a good chap!!! Lets hope he wins you need a change. As for McCain (I think that is where they got the name for frozen veggies from) cause he just looks scary to me. Fiona

Pink Granite said...

Hi Fiona -
Yes we are very excited about Senator Obama's win! It's tough that we have to wait until November for the General Election. But hopefully on January 20, 2009, President Obama will take the Oath of Office!!!
BTW, it was actually Senator Obama's father who was born in Kenya. His mother was born in Kansas and met Obama senior while they were both students at the University of Hawaii.
I appreciate Senator McCain's military service and don't know how he survived all those years as a POW. I even liked some of his policy positions several years ago when he was an "unconventional" Republican. Now, as a presidential candidate, he scares the daylights out of me!!!
I want our country to change course, not so much in a new direction, as back to the best of what we were and what we can be again.
I'm fascinated that there is such international interest in this election. Here's hoping all turns out well in the coming months!
Thanks!
;o)
- Lee

Anonymous said...

I know I am always late on my responses because i get busy but I am so happy he got the nomination...Now lets get W out so we can begin again!

Pink Granite said...

Hi Carrie -
I'm always happy whenever you stop by!
We are very excited as well and are counting the days until January 20, 2009!
;o)
- Auntie Lee