拜登费城演讲全文：为国家灵魂而战，川普和MAGA共和党人在威胁这个国家（中英文对照）
拜登在费城独立厅发表演讲。
我的美国同胞们，如果你们有座位，请坐。 今晚，我在美国的圣地——宾夕法尼亚州费城的独立厅向你们讲话。
两个多世纪前，美国在这里向世界发表了《独立宣言》，提出了一个独一无二的理念：在美国，我们生而平等。
这里是美国宪法撰写和辩论的地方。
在这里，我们用三个简单的词开启了世界上有史以来最特别的自治试验，这三个词是：“我们，（美国）人民（We, the People）”。
这两份文件和它们所体现的思想——平等和民主，是这个国家建立的基石。它们使我们成为全球最伟大国家。它们让美国两个多世纪以来，一直都是世界的灯塔。
但当我今晚站在这里时，平等和民主正受到攻击。假装没这回事，对我们没有好处。
因此，今晚，我来到这个一切开始的地方，尽可能直截了当地向全国人民讲述我们面临的威胁，讲述我们自己手中可以应对这些威胁的力量，以及讲述只要我们选择，摆在我们面前的不可思议的未来。
我们决不能忘记：我们，美国人民，是两个多世纪前开始的美国试验的真正继承者。
我们，美国人民，每个人体内都燃烧着在独立厅里点燃的自由之火，这火焰照亮了我们走过的废奴、内战、选举权、大萧条、世界大战、民权运动的道路。
如今，当我们在建设一个更加繁荣、自由和公正的美国时，这一神圣的火焰仍在燃烧。
这是我在总统任期内的工作，是我全心全意相信的使命。
但首先，我们必须对彼此和自己诚实。
今天在我们国家发生的太多事情都是不正常的。
唐纳德·川普和MAGA（注：MAGA系川普竞选口号“让美国再次伟大”的英文缩写）共和党人代表着一种极端主义，威胁着我们共和国的根基。
2021年1月6日，国会山。
现在，我想很明确地说：不是每个共和党人，甚至不是大多数共和党人，都是MAGA共和党人。不是每个共和党人都拥护他们的极端意识形态。
我知道这一点，因为我能够与这些主流共和党人合作。
但毫无疑问，今天的共和党被唐纳德·川普和MAGA共和党人所主导、驱动和恐吓，这是对这个国家的威胁。
这都是很困难的事情。
但我是一位美国总统，不是红色美国或蓝色美国的总统，而是整个美国的总统。
而且我相信，这是我的责任——我有责任与你们坦诚相待，告诉你们真相，无论这有多么困难，无论多么痛苦。
而在我看来，这就是事实。MAGA共和党人不尊重宪法。他们不相信法治。他们不承认人民的意愿。
他们拒绝接受自由选举的结果。就在我发言的时候，他们现在正在各州努力将决定美国选举的权力交给自己的党派和亲信，授权否认选举结果的人破坏民主本身。
MAGA势力决心让这个国家倒退，倒退到一个没有选择权、没有隐私权、没有避孕权、没有嫁给你爱的人的权利的美国。
他们鼓吹专制领导人，他们煽动政治暴力的火焰，威胁我们的个人权利，威胁我们对正义的追求，威胁法治，威胁这个国家的灵魂。
他们把1月6日冲进美国国会大厦，残酷地攻击执法部门的暴徒，看成不是将匕首放在我们民主喉咙上的叛乱分子，而是看成爱国者。
2021年1月6日，冲进国会大厦的暴乱分子。
他们认为，他们的MAGA运动未能阻止2020年选举后的和平权力移交，是为2022年和2024年选举做准备。
上次，他们想尽一切办法使8100万人的投票无效。 这一次，他们决心成功阻挠人民的意愿。
这就是为什么受人尊敬的保守派，如联邦巡回法院法官迈克尔·卢蒂格（美国第四巡回上诉法院法官，前美国助理总检察长），称川普和极端的MAGA共和党人，对我们的民主是一个“明确和切实的危险”。
但是，虽然对美国民主的威胁是真实的，但我想尽可能明确地说：在这些威胁面前，我们并非无能为力。 在这场对民主的持续攻击中，我们不是旁观者。
在来自不同背景和信仰的美国人中，拒绝极端的MAGA意识形态的人比接受它的人多得多。
而且，各位，我们有能力，你我有能力阻止对美国民主的攻击。
我相信美国正处于一个转折点——决定未来一切形态的时刻之一。
现在美国必须做出选择：是向前走还是向后退？是创造未来还是沉迷于过去？要成为一个充满希望、团结和乐观的国家，还是一个充满恐惧、分裂和黑暗的国家？
MAGA共和党人已经做出了他们的选择。他们拥护愤怒。他们在混乱中茁壮成长。他们不是生活在真理的光芒中，而是生活在谎言的阴影中。
但是我们一起，我们可以选择一条不同的道路。 我们可以选择一条更好的道路。 向前走，走向未来。 一个充满可能性的未来。 一个可以建设、有梦想和希望的未来。
而我们正走在这条路上，向前迈进。
我了解这个国家。 我了解你们，了解美国人民。 我知道你们的勇气。 我知道你们的心。 我也知道我们的历史。
这是一个尊重我们宪法的国家。 我们不拒绝它。
这是一个相信法制的国家。 我们不否定它。
这是一个尊重自由和公平选举的国家。 我们尊重人民的意愿。 我们不否认它。
这是一个拒绝将暴力作为政治工具的国家。 我们不鼓励暴力。
我们仍然是一个相信诚实、正直、尊重他人、爱国主义、自由、正义、希望和可能性的美国。
我们的核心仍然是民主。
然而，历史告诉我们，对单一领导人的盲目忠诚和参与政治暴力对民主是致命的。
长期以来，我们一直告诉自己，美国的民主是有保障的，但它不是。
我们必须捍卫它，保护它，为它挺身而出，我们每个人都必须这么做。
这就是为什么今晚我要求我们的国家团结起来，团结是捍卫我们民主的目标中，无论你的意识形态如何。
出于责任和良知，我们都要对抗那些将自己追求权力置于一切之上的极端分子。
民主党人、独立人士、主流共和党人。我们必须比MAGA共和党人更强大、更坚定、更致力于拯救美国民主。
我们，美国人，不会让任何人或任何事把我们分开。今天，我们周围有一些危险，我们不能让它们占上风。 我们听到——你已经听到了——越来越多关于暴力是这个国家可接受的政治工具的言论。 这不是的。暴力永远不可能成为一个可接受的工具。
我想简单明了地说一句。在美国没有属于政治暴力的地方。阶段性的没有，也永远不会有。
我们看到执法部门在1月6日遭到野蛮攻击。 我们看到选举官员、投票工作人员，他们中有许多是两党的志愿者，受到恐吓和死亡威胁。 而且你相信吗？ 联邦调查局特工只是按照指示工作，却受到来自他们自己同胞的生命威胁。
除此之外，今天、昨天和前天都有公众人物，预测并呼吁大规模暴力和街头骚乱。
这是煽动性的，是危险的，是违反法治的。 而我们必须说，这不是我们。
女士们，先生们，我们不能既支持叛乱者又支持美国。 它们是不相容的。
我们不能允许暴力在这个国家正常化。 这是不对的。 我们每个人都必须拒绝政治暴力，用这个国家所能凝聚的所有道德和信念。 现在就行动。
我们不能让选举的完整性受到破坏，因为那是一条通往混乱的道路。
听着，我知道在美国，政治可能是激烈的、卑鄙的和讨厌的。 我明白这一点。 我相信政治上的取舍，相信分歧、辩论和异议。
我们是一个庞大而复杂的国家。 但只有当我们，所有美国人维护共和政体的护栏， 接受自由和公平的选举结果，不把政治视为全面战争而是调解我们之间分歧的时候，民主才会持久。
当一方认为选举只有两种结果时，民主就无法生存：要么他们赢了，要么他们被骗了。 而这就是今天的MAGA共和党人。
他们不明白每个爱国的美国人都知道的道理：你不能只在你赢的时候爱你的国家。这是根本。
只有当我们选择尊重法治和在我身后的这个会议厅里设立的机构时，只有当我们尊重我们的合法政治分歧时，美国的民主才能发挥作用。
我不会袖手旁观，我不会的，美国人民的意愿被疯狂的阴谋论和毫无根据、没有证据的欺诈指控所推翻。
我不会袖手旁观，看着这个国家的选举结果被那些根本拒绝接受自己失败的人偷走。
我不会袖手旁观，看着这个国家最基本的自由——投票自由和你被计算在内的选票被夺走。
听着，作为你们的总统，我将竭尽全力来捍卫我们的民主，我恳求每个美国人都加入我。
纵观我们的历史，美国经常在一些最黑暗的时刻取得最大的进步，就像你们在喇叭里听到的那样。
我相信我们可以而且必须再次这样做，而且我们正在这样做。
MAGA共和党人看着美国，看到了屠杀、黑暗和绝望。 他们散布恐惧和谎言，为了利益和权力而撒谎。
但我看到了一个非常不同的美国——一个拥有无限未来的美国，一个即将起飞的美国。 我希望你们也能看到它。 只要看看周围。
我相信我们可以把美国从新冠大流行的深渊中解救出来，所以我们通过了自富兰克林·德拉诺·罗斯福以来最大的经济复苏方案。而今天，美国的经济比世界上任何其他先进国家都发展的更快、更强。我们还有更多事情要做。
我相信我们可以建设一个更好的美国，所以我们通过了自德怀特·艾森豪威尔总统以来最大的基础设施投资法案。而我们现在已经开始了十年的重建工作，国家的道路、桥梁、高速公路、港口、水系统、高速互联网和铁路。
我相信我们可以使美国更安全，所以我们通过了自克林顿总统以来最重要的枪支安全法。
我相信我们可以从世界上处方药成本最高的国家转变为让处方药和医疗服务更为实惠的国家，所以我们通过了自奥巴马总统签署《平价医疗法案》以来最重要的医疗保健改革法案。
我相信我们可以创造一个以清洁能源为主导的未来并拯救地球，所以我们通过了有史以来最重要的气候倡议。
愤世嫉俗者和批评者告诉我们什么都做不了，但他们错了。没有一件事是美国做不到的，如果我们一起做，没有一件事是做不成的。
这从来都不容易。但我们正在证明，在美国，无论道路多么漫长，进步总会到来。
听着，我知道过去一年，几年很艰难。但今天，新冠不再控制我们的生活。更多的美国人在工作，比以往任何时候都多。企业正在增长。我们的学校是开放的。数以百万计的美国人已经摆脱了贫困。数百万曾经暴露在有毒燃烧坑（toxic burn pits）中的退伍军人，现在他们将得到应有的补偿。
美国制造业在整个中心地带蓬勃发展，未来将是美国制造，无论白人至上主义者和极端分子怎么说。
我在你们，美国人身上打了个赌，而这个赌注正在得到回报。这证明了从黑暗中，从夏洛茨维尔的黑暗、新冠的黑暗、枪支暴力的黑暗、叛乱的黑暗中，我们可以看到光明。 光就在眼前。
光明将指导我们前进，不仅是在语言上，而且是在行动上，为你们、为你们的孩子、为你们的孙子、为美国而行动。
即使在这个时刻，面对我们面临的所有挑战，我拜登向你们保证：我从未对美国的未来感到如此乐观。 不是因为我，而是因为你们是谁。
我们将终结我们所知的癌症。记住我的话。
我们将在清洁能源经济中创造数以百万计的新工作。
我们要志向远大。 我们将使21世纪成为另一个美国世纪，因为世界需要我们。
这才是我们需要集中精力的地方，不是在过去，不是在分裂的文化战争上，不是在悲情政治上，而是在我们可以共同建设的未来上。
MAGA共和党人认为，他们要成功，其他人就必须失败。 他们相信美国不像我相信美国。
我相信美国足够大，我们所有人都能成功，这就是我们正在建设的国家：一个没有人被抛弃的国家。
拜登和夫人吉尔在费城。
我竞选总统是因为我相信我们正处在一场为这个国家的灵魂而战的战斗中。 我仍然相信这是真的。 我相信，灵魂是我们的呼吸、生命，是我们的本质。 灵魂使我们成为 "我们 "。
美国的灵魂是由这样一个神圣的命题定义的：即在上帝的刻画中，人生而平等。 所有人都有权得到体面、有尊严和被尊重的待遇。 所有人都应该得到公正，并有机会过上富裕和有意义的生活。 而且，民主必须得到捍卫，因为民主使所有这些事情成为可能。各位，这取决于我们。
民主始于并将保存在我们，人民的心中，在我们的性格中：经受住考验的乐观主义，在我们需要时候深挖的勇气，助长民主的同理心，不把对方当作敌人而是当作美国同胞的意愿。
听着，我们的民主是不完美的。 它一直是这样。
尽管有些人和你立场不同，但他们有权无理取闹。 这是一个民主国家。 但历史和常识性的良好礼仪是他们不曾接受过的。
但历史和常识告诉我们，所有人的机会、自由和正义最有可能在一个民主国家实现。
我们从未完全实现我们建国时的愿望，但每一代人都把这些门打开得更大一些，以让更多以前被排斥的进来。
我的美国同胞们，美国是一个理念，世界历史上最强大的理念。 它在这个国家的人民心中跳动。 它在我们所有人的心中跳动。 它使美国团结起来。 它是美国的信条。
美国保证每个人都被有尊严的对待，这个想法。 它不给仇恨任何安全港湾。 它向每个人灌输这样的信念：无论你在生活中的起点如何，没有什么是你不能实现的。
这就是我们。这就是我们的立场。这就是我们的信念。而这正是我们正在做的事情：打开门，创造新的可能性，关注未来。而我们只是刚刚开始。
我们的任务是使我们的国家自由和公平，公正和强大，崇高和完整。
而这项工作是关于民主的工作，这一代人的工作。 它是我们这个时代的工作，一直要持续下去的工作。
我们不能让任何人袖手旁观。我们需要每个人都尽到自己的责任。所以要大声说出来。说出来。参与进来。投票，投票，投票。
如果我们都能履行我们的职责，如果我们在2022年及以后都能履行我们的职责，那么未来的岁月将告诉我们——我们在座的所有人，我们坚持了信仰。 我们维护了民主。我们听从的不是我们最坏的本能，而是我们更好的天使。我们证明，尽管美国有种种不完美之处，但它仍然是世界的灯塔，是有待实现的理想，是有待兑现的承诺。
没有什么比这更重要，没有什么比这更神圣，没有什么比这更符合美国国情。这就是我们的灵魂。这就是我们真正的身份。这就是我们必须要成为的人。
我毫不怀疑，这就是我们将成为的人，我们将为了这个国家凝聚到一起。我们将保卫我们的民主。在接下来的200年里，我们将拥有过去200年所拥有：地球上最伟大的国家。
我们只需要记住我们是谁。我们是美利坚合众国，美利坚合众国。
愿上帝保护我们的国家，也愿上帝保护所有捍卫我们民主的人，上帝保佑你们所有人，保护民主，谢谢。
My fellow Americans, please, if you have a seat, take it.
I speak to you tonight from sacred ground in America: Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA.
This is where America made its declaration of independence to the world more than two centuries ago, with an idea unique among nations: that in America, we’re all created equal.
This is where the United States Constitution was written and debated. This is where we set in motion the most extraordinary experiment of self-government the world has ever known.
With three simple words: we, the people; we, the people. These two documents and their ideas they embody — equality and democracy — are the rock upon which this nation is built.
They are how we became the greatest nation on earth. They are why, for more than two centuries, America has been a beacon to the world.
But as I stand here tonight, equality and democracy are under assault. We do ourselves no favor to pretend otherwise.
So, tonight, I’ve come to this place where it all began to speak as plainly as I can to the nation about the threats we face, about the power we have in our own hands to meet these threats and about the incredible future that lies in front of us, if only we choose it.
We must never forget, we, the people, are the true heirs of the American experiment that began more than two centuries ago.
We, the people, have burning inside of each of us the flame of liberty that was lit here at Independence Hall. A flame that lit our way through abolition, the Civil War, suffrage, the Great Depression, world wars, civil rights. That sacred flame still burns. Now on our time as we build an America that is more prosperous, free, and just. That is the work of my presidency, a mission I believe in with my whole soul.
But first, we must be honest with each other and with ourselves.
Too much of what’s happening in our country today is not normal. Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our Republic.
Now, I want to be very clear, very clear up front. Not every Republican, not even the majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans. Not every Republican embraces their extreme ideology. I know, because I’ve been able to work with these mainstream Republicans.
But there’s no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans. And that is a threat to this country.
These are hard things, but I’m an American president, not a president of red America or blue America, but of all America. And I believe it’s my duty, my duty to level with you, to tell the truth no matter how difficult, no matter how painful.
And here, in my view, is what is true: MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people. They refuse to accept the results of a free election, and they’re working right now as I speak in state after state to give power to decide elections in America to partisans and cronies, empowering election deniers to undermine democracy itself.
MAGA forces are determined to take this country backwards, backwards to an America where there is no right to choose, no right to privacy, no right to contraception, no right to marry who you love. They promote authoritarian leaders, and they fanned the flames of political violence that are a threat to our personal rights, to the pursuit of justice, to the rule of law, to the very soul of this country.
They look at the mob that stormed the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, brutally attacking law enforcement, not as insurrectionists who placed a dagger at the throat of our democracy, but they look at them as patriots. And they see their MAGA failure to stop a peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election as preparation for the 2022 and 2024 elections.
They tried everything last time to nullify the votes of 81 million people. This time, they’re determined to succeed in thwarting the will of the people. That’s why respected conservatives like Federal Circuit Court Judge Michael Luttig has called Trump and the extreme MAGA Republicans “a clear and present danger” to our democracy.
But while the threat to American democracy is real, I want to say as clearly as we can, we are not powerless in the face of these threats. We are not bystanders in this ongoing attack on democracy. There are far more Americans, far more Americans from every background and belief, who reject the extreme MAGA ideology than those that accept it. And folks, it’s within our power, it’s in our hands, yours and mine, to stop the assault on American democracy.
I believe America is at an inflection point, one of those moments that determine the shape of everything that’s to come after. And now, America must choose to move forward or to move backwards, to build a future or obsess about the past, to be a nation of hope and unity and optimism or a nation of fear, division and of darkness.
MAGA Republicans have made their choice. They embrace anger. They thrive on chaos. They live, not in the light of truth but in the shadow of lies. But together, together, we can choose a different path. We can choose a better path forward to the future, a future of possibility, a future to build a dream and hope, and we’re on that path moving ahead.
I know this nation. I know you, the American people. I know your courage, I know your hearts, and I know our history. This is a nation that honors our Constitution. We do not reject it. This is a nation that believes in the rule of law. We do not repudiate it. This is a nation that respects free and fair elections. We honor the will of the people. We do not deny it. And this is a nation that rejects violence as a political tool. We do not encourage violence. We are still an America that believes in honesty and decency and respect for others. Patriotism, liberty, justice for all, hope, possibilities — we are still at our core a democracy.
And yet, history tells us that blind loyalty to a single leader and a willingness to engage in political violence is fatal to democracy.
For a long time, we’ve told ourselves that American democracy is guaranteed, but it’s not. We have to defend it, protect it, stand up for it, each and every one of us. That’s why tonight, I’m asking our nation to come together, unite behind the single purpose of defending our democracy regardless of your ideology.
We’re all called by duty and conscience to confront extremists who put their own pursuit of power above all else. Democrats, independents, mainstream Republicans, we must be stronger, more determined and more committed to saving American democracy. And MAGA Republicans are destroying American democracy.
We, the people, will not let anyone or anything tear us apart. Today, there are dangers around us we cannot allow to prevail. We hear — you’ve heard it, more and more talk about violence as an acceptable political tool in this country. It’s not. It can never be an acceptable tool. So, I want to say this plain and simple: There is no place for political violence in America, period, none, ever.
You saw law enforcement brutally attacked on January the 6th. We’ve seen election officials, poll workers, many of them volunteers of both parties, subject to intimidation and death threats. And, can you believe it, F.B.I. agents just doing their job as directed, facing threats to their own lives from their own fellow citizens.
On top of that, there are public figures today, yesterday and the day before predicting and all but calling for mass violence and rioting in the streets. This is inflammatory. It’s dangerous. It’s against the rule of law. And we, the people, must say this is not who we are.
Ladies and gentlemen, we can’t be pro-insurrectionist and pro-American. They’re incompatible. We can’t allow violence to be normalized in this country. It’s wrong. We each have to reject political violence with all the moral clarity and conviction this nation can muster now.
We can’t let the integrity of our elections be undermined, for that is a path to chaos. Look, I know politics can be fierce and mean and nasty in America. I get it. I believe in the give and take of politics, in disagreement and debate and dissent. We’re a big complicated country, but democracy endures only if we, the people, respect the guardrails of the Republic. Only if, we the people accept the results of free and fair elections. Only if, we the people see politics, not as total war, but mediation of our differences. Democracy cannot survive on one side believes there are only two outcomes to an election: Either they win or they were cheated. And that’s where the MAGA Republicans are today.
They don’t understand what every patriotic American knows. You can’t love your country only when you win. It’s fundamental.
American democracy only works only if we choose to respect the rule of law and the institutions that were set up in this chamber behind me. Only if we respect our legitimate political differences.
I will not stand by and watch — I will not — the will of the American people be overturned by wild conspiracy theories and baseless evidence-free claims of fraud. I will not stand by and watch elections in this country stolen by people who simply refuse to accept that they lost. I will not stand by and watch the most fundamental freedom in this country, the freedom to vote and have your vote counted, and be taken from you and the American people.
Look, as your president, I will defend our democracy with every fiber of my being, and I’m asking every American to join me.
Throughout our history, America has often made the greatest progress coming out of some of our darkest moments like you’re hearing in that bullhorn. I believe we can and must do that again, and we are.
MAGA Republicans look at America and see carnage and darkness and despair. They spread fear and lies. Lies told for profit and power.
But I see a different America — an America with an unlimited future, an America that’s about to take off. I hope you see it as well. Just look around. I believe we could lift America from the depths of Covid, so we passed the largest economic recovery package since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and today America’s economy is faster, stronger than any other advanced nation in the world. We have more to go. I believe we can build a better America, so we passed the biggest infrastructure investment since President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and we’ve now embarked on a decade of rebuilding the nation’s roads, bridges, highways, ports, water systems, high-speed internet, railroads.
I believe we can make America safer, so we passed the most significant gun safety law since President Clinton.
I believe we could go from being the highest cost of prescriptions to the world to making prescription drugs and health care more affordable, so we passed the most significant health care reform since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act.
And I believed we could create a clean energy future and save the planet, so we passed the most important climate initiative ever, ever, ever.
The cynics and the critics tell us nothing can get done, but they’re wrong.
There is not a single thing America cannot do, not a single thing beyond our capacity if we do it together. It’s never easy. But we’re proving that America, no matter how long the road, progress does come.
Look, I know the last year, few years have been tough, but today Covid no longer controls our lives. More Americans are working than ever. Businesses are growing, our schools are open, millions of Americans have been lifted out of poverty. Millions of veterans once exposed to toxic burn pits will now get what they deserve for their families in compensation. American manufacturing has come alive across the heartland, and the future will be made in America, no matter what the white supremacists and the extremists say.
I made a bet on you, the American people, and that bet is paying off, proving that from darkness, the darkness of Charlottesville, of Covid, of gun violence, of insurrection, we can see the light. Light is now visible. Light that will guide us forward. Not only in words but in actions. Actions for you, for your children, for your grandchildren, for America.
Even in this moment with all the challenges we face, I give you my word as a Biden, I’ve never been more optimistic about America’s future. Not because of me, but because of who you are.
We’re going to end cancer as we know it, mark my words. We’re going to create millions of new jobs and a clean energy economy. We’re going to think big. We’re going to make the 21st century another American century because the world needs us to. That’s where we need to focus our energy. Not in the past, not on divisive culture wars, not on the politics of grievance, but on a future we can build together.
The MAGA Republicans believe that for them to succeed, everyone else has to fail. They believe America, not like what I believe about America. I believe America is big enough for all of us to succeed, and that is the nation we’re building, a nation where no one is left behind.
I ran for president because I believed we were in a battle of the soul of this nation. I still believe that to be true. I believe the soul is the breadth, the life and the essence of who we are. The soul is what makes us, us.
The soul of America is defined by the sacred proposition that all are created equal in the image of God, that all are entitled to be treated with decency, dignity and respect, that all deserve justice and a shot at lives of prosperity and consequence. And that democracy, democracy must be defended, for democracy makes all these things possible.
Folks, and it’s up to us. Democracy begins and will be preserved, and we the people’s habits of the heart — in our character, optimism that is tested, yet endures, courage that digs deep when we need it. Empathy that fuels democracy. The willingness to see each other not as enemies but as fellow Americans.
Look, our democracy isn’t perfect. It always has been. Notwithstanding those folks you hear on the other side there. They’re entitled to be outrageous. This is a democracy. But history and common sense — good manners is nothing they have ever suffered from — but history and common sense tell us that opportunity, liberty and justice for all are most likely to come to pass in a democracy. We have never fully realized the aspirations of our founding, but every generation has opened those doors a little bit wider to include more people who have been excluded before.
My fellow Americans, America is an idea; the most powerful idea in the history of the world, and it beats in the hearts of the people of this country. It beats in all our hearts. It unites America. It is the American creed.
The idea that America guarantees that everyone be treated with dignity. It gives hate no safe harbor. It installs in everyone the belief that no matter where you start in life, there’s nothing you can’t achieve. That’s who we are. That’s what we stand for. That’s what we believe.
And that’s precisely what we’re doing — opening doors, creating possibilities, focusing on the future — and we’re only just beginning.
Our task is to make our nation free and fair, just and strong, noble and whole, and this work is the work of democracy, the work of this generation. It is the work of our time for all time. We can’t afford to leave anyone on the sidelines. We need everyone to do their part, so speak up, speak out, get engaged, vote, vote, vote!
And if we do our duty, if we do our duty, in 2022 and beyond, then ages still to come will say we, all of us here, we kept the faith. We preserved democracy. We heeded our words. We heeded not our worst instincts but our better angels. We proved that for all its imperfections, America is still the beacon to the world, an ideal to be realized, a promise to be kept. There’s nothing more important. Nothing more sacred. Nothing more American. That’s our soul. That’s who we truly are. And that’s who we must always be.
I have no doubt, none, that this is who we will be and that we’ll come together as a nation that will secure our democracy. That for the next 200 years we’ll have what we had the past 200 years, the greatest nation on the face of the earth. We just need to remember who we are. We are the United States of America, the United States of America. And may God protect our nation, and may God protect all those who stand watch over our democracy.
God bless you all. Democracy. Thank you.
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