美国复兴的新时代
比尔•克林顿 第一次就职演讲
星期三,1993年1月20日
同胞们：
今天，我们庆(qing)祝美国(guo)复兴的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)奇迹。这个(ge)仪式(shi)虽在(zai)隆冬举行(xing)，然而，我们通过自己(ji)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)言语和向世界展示的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)面容、却促(cu)使春回大(da)地--回到了世界上这个(ge)最古老的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)民主国(guo)家，并带来(lai)了重新创造美国(guo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)远见和勇气。
当(dang)我(wo)国(guo)的(de)(de)(de)缔造者勇敢地向(xiang)世界(jie)宣布(bu)美国(guo)独立，并向(xiang)上帝表明(ming)自(zi) 己的(de)(de)(de)目的(de)(de)(de)时，他(ta)们(men)知道，美国(guo)若要(yao)永(yong)(yong)存，就必须变(bian)(bian)(bian)革。不是为变(bian)(bian)(bian)革而变(bian)(bian)(bian)革，而是为了(le)维护美国(guo)的(de)(de)(de)理想--为了(le)生(sheng)命、自(zi)由和追求幸(xing)福而变(bian)(bian)(bian)革。尽管(guan)我(wo)们(men)随着当(dang)今时代 的(de)(de)(de)节(jie)拍前(qian)进，但我(wo)们(men)的(de)(de)(de)使命永(yong)(yong)恒不变(bian)(bian)(bian)。每(mei)一代美国(guo)人(ren)(ren)，部必须为作为一个(ge)美国(guo)人(ren)(ren)意味着什么下(xia)(xia)定(ding)义。今天，在冷(leng)战阴影下(xia)(xia)成长起来(lai)的(de)(de)(de)一代人(ren)(ren)，在世界(jie)上负起了(le)新(xin)的(de)(de)(de)责 任。这个(ge)世界(jie)虽然沐浴着自(zi)由的(de)(de)(de)阳光，但仍受(shou)到旧仇宿怨(yuan)和新(xin)的(de)(de)(de)祸(huo)患的(de)(de)(de)威胁。
我们在无与伦(lun)比的(de)(de)繁荣中长大，继承(cheng)了(le)仍然是世界上最强大的(de)(de)经济(ji)。但(dan)由(you)于(yu)企业倒闭，工资(zi)增长停滞、不平等状(zhuang)况加(jia)剧，人民的(de)(de)分歧加(jia)深，我们的(de)(de)经济(ji)已(yi)经削弱。
当乔治•华盛顿第一次宣读我(wo)(wo)刚才宜读的(de)誓言时(shi)，人(ren)们骑马把 那个(ge)信息缓(huan)慢地(di)(di)传遍大地(di)(di)，继(ji)而(er)又来(lai)船把它传过海洋。而(er)现在(zai)，这个(ge)仪式的(de)情景和(he)声音即刻(ke)向全(quan)球几十亿(yi)人(ren)播放。通信和(he)商(shang)务具(ju)有全(quan)球性(xing)，投资具(ju)有流动性(xing)；技术几 乎具(ju)有魔力；改(gai)善(shan)生(sheng)活的(de)理想现在(zai)具(ju)有普遍性(xing)。今天，我(wo)(wo)们美国(guo)人(ren)通过同世界各地(di)(di)人(ren)民进行和(he)平(ping)竞争来(lai)谋求生(sheng)存。各种深远而(er)强大的(de)力量正(zheng)在(zai)震(zhen)撼和(he)改(gai)造我(wo)(wo)们的(de)世 界，当今时(shi)代(dai)的(de)当务之急是我(wo)(wo)们能(neng)否使变革成为我(wo)(wo)们的(de)朋友，而(er)不是成为我(wo)(wo)们的(de)敌人(ren)。
这个新世(shi)界已经使几(ji)百(bai)万(wan)能(neng)够参与竞(jing)争并且取(qu)胜的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)美国(guo)人过上 了富裕的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)生活(huo)。但(dan)是，当(dang)多(duo)数人干得越(yue)多(duo)反而挣(zheng)得越(yue)少(shao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)时(shi)候(hou)(hou)，当(dang)有些人根本不可能(neng)工作的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)时(shi)候(hou)(hou)，当(dang)保健费用的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)重负(fu)使众多(duo)家庭不堪承受、使大大小(xiao)小(xiao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)企业濒临破 产的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)时(shi)候(hou)(hou)，当(dang)犯罪活(huo)动的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)恐惧(ju)使守法公民(min)不能(neng)自由行动的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)时(shi)候(hou)(hou)，当(dang)千百(bai)万(wan)贫穷(qiong)儿童甚至不能(neng)想象(xiang)我(wo)们呼唤他们过的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)那种生活(huo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)时(shi)候(hou)(hou)，我(wo)们就没(mei)有使变(bian)革(ge)成为我(wo)们的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)朋 友(you)。我(wo)们知(zhi)道，我(wo)们必须面对严酷的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)事实真相，并采取(qu)强(qiang)有力(li)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)步骤。但(dan)我(wo)们没(mei)有这样做，而是听之任之，以致损耗(hao)了我(wo)们的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)资源，破坏了我(wo)们的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)经济，动摇了我(wo)们 的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)信心(xin)。
我(wo)们(men)面(mian)临惊(jing)(jing)人(ren)的(de)挑战，但我(wo)们(men)同样具(ju)有惊(jing)(jing)人(ren)的(de)力量，美国(guo)人(ren)历(li)来是不安(an)现(xian)状、不断追求和充满(man)希望的(de)民族，今天，我(wo)们(men)必须(xu)把前人(ren)的(de)远见卓(zhuo)识和坚强意志带到(dao)(dao)我(wo)们(men)的(de)任务中(zhong)去(qu)。从革命(ming)，内战，大萧条，直到(dao)(dao)民权运动，我(wo)国(guo)人(ren)民总(zong)是下定决(jue)心(xin)，从历(li)次危机中(zhong)构筑我(wo)国(guo)历(li)史(shi)的(de)支(zhi)柱。
托马斯(si)•杰斐逊认为，为了(le)维护我(wo)国的(de)根基，我(wo)们(men)(men)需要时(shi)(shi)(shi)常进行激动人心的(de)变革。美(mei)国同(tong)胞们(men)(men)，我(wo)们(men)(men)的(de)时(shi)(shi)(shi)代就(jiu)是变革的(de)时(shi)(shi)(shi)代，让(rang)我(wo)们(men)(men)拥抱这个时(shi)(shi)(shi)代吧！
我们(men)的(de)(de)民(min)主(zhu)制度不仅要(yao)成为举世称羡的(de)(de)目标，而且要(yao)成为举国复兴(xing)的(de)(de)动力。美国没(mei)有任何错(cuo)误的(de)(de)东西不能被(bei)正确的(de)(de)东西所纠(jiu)正。因此，我们(men)今天立下誓言，要(yao)结束这(zhei)个(ge)(ge)僵(jiang)持停顿(dun)、放(fang)任自流(liu)的(de)(de)时代，一个(ge)(ge)复兴(xing)美国的(de)(de)新时代已经开始。
我(wo)(wo)(wo)们(men)(men)(men)(men)要(yao)复兴美国(guo)，就必(bi)须(xu)鼓足勇(yong)气。我(wo)(wo)(wo)们(men)(men)(men)(men)必(bi)须(xu)做(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)前人无需(xu)(xu)做(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)的(de) 事情。我(wo)(wo)(wo)们(men)(men)(men)(men)必(bi)须(xu)更多地投资于人民，投资于他们(men)(men)(men)(men)的(de)工作(zuo)和未来(lai)，与(yu)此(ci)同(tong)时(shi)，我(wo)(wo)(wo)们(men)(men)(men)(men)必(bi)须(xu)减少巨额债务。而且，我(wo)(wo)(wo)们(men)(men)(men)(men)必(bi)须(xu)在一个需(xu)(xu)要(yao)为每(mei)个机会而竞争(zheng)的(de)世界上做(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)到这一 切。这样做(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)并不容易：这样做(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)要(yao)求(qiu)作(zuo)出(chu)牺(xi)牲(sheng)。但是，这是做(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)得(de)到的(de)，而且能做(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)得(de)公平合理。我(wo)(wo)(wo)们(men)(men)(men)(men)不是为牺(xi)牲(sheng)而牺(xi)牲(sheng)，我(wo)(wo)(wo)们(men)(men)(men)(men)必(bi)须(xu)像家庭供养子女那样供养自己的(de)国(guo)家。
我(wo)国(guo)(guo)的(de)(de)缔造者是用子(zi)孙后代的(de)(de)眼光来(lai)审视自(zi)己(ji)的(de)(de)。我(wo)们(men)也必(bi)须(xu) 这样做。凡(fan)是注意过孩子(zi)蒙?o人(ren)睡的(de)(de)人(ren)，都知道后代意味着什么，后代就(jiu)是将要到(dao)来(lai)的(de)(de)世界--我(wo)们(men)为之(zhi)坚持自(zi)己(ji)的(de)(de)理想(xiang)，我(wo)们(men)向之(zhi)借用这个星球，我(wo)们(men)对之(zhi)负有 神圣的(de)(de)责(ze)(ze)任(ren)。我(wo)们(men)必(bi)须(xu)做美国(guo)(guo)最(zui)拿手的(de)(de)事情：为所(suo)有的(de)(de)人(ren)提供更多的(de)(de)机会，要所(suo)有的(de)(de)人(ren)负起更多的(de)(de)责(ze)(ze)任(ren)。
现在是破除只求(qiu)向(xiang)政府和别人(ren)免费索取的(de)(de)恶习的(de)(de)时(shi)候了。让(rang)我们(men)大家(jia)不仅为自己和家(jia)庭(ting)，而且为社区(qu)和国家(jia)担负起更多(duo)的(de)(de)责任吧。
我(wo)(wo)们(men)要复兴美国(guo)，就(jiu)必(bi)须恢复我(wo)(wo)们(men)民主制度的(de)活力。这(zhei)个(ge)美丽的(de)首都，就(jiu)像文(wen)明的(de)曙光出现(xian)以(yi)来的(de)每一(yi)个(ge)首都一(yi)样，常常是尔虞我(wo)(wo)诈、明争(zheng)暗斗之(zhi)地(di)。大腕人物争(zheng)权(quan)夺势，没完没了(le)地(di)为官(guan)员(yuan)的(de)更(geng)替升降而烦神，却忘(wang)记了(le)那些用(yong)辛(xin)勤和汗水把我(wo)(wo)们(men)送到这(zhei)里来，并(bing)养活了(le)我(wo)(wo)们(men)的(de)人。
美国人(ren)理应得(de)到更(geng)(geng)好(hao)的(de)回报。在这(zhei)个城市里，今天有人(ren)想把事 情(qing)办得(de)更(geng)(geng)好(hao)一些。因此，我要时所有在场的(de)人(ren)说(shuo)(shuo)：让(rang)(rang)我们(men)(men)下定决心改革政治，使权(quan)力和(he)特权(quan)的(de)喧嚣(xiao)不再压倒人(ren)民的(de)呼声。让(rang)(rang)我们(men)(men)撇开(kai)个人(ren)利益(yi)。这(zhei)样我们(men)(men)就能觉察美 国的(de)病痛，并(bing)看到官的(de)希望。让(rang)(rang)我们(men)(men)下定决心，使政府(fu)成为(wei)富(fu)兰克林•罗(luo)斯(si)福(fu)所说(shuo)(shuo)的(de)进行"大胆而持久试(shi)验(yan)"的(de)地方，成为(wei)一个面向未来而不是留恋过去(qu)的(de)政府(fu)。让(rang)(rang) 我们(men)(men)把这(zhei)个首都(dou)归还给它所属于的(de)人(ren)民。
我(wo)们(men)要复兴美国(guo)，就必须迎接国(guo)内(nei)外(wai)的种(zhong)种(zhong)挑战。国(guo)外(wai)和(he)国(guo)内(nei)事务(wu)之间已不再(zai)有明确的界限--世(shi)界经济，世(shi)界环境，世(shi)界艾滋(zi)病危机，世(shi)界军(jun)备竞赛，这一切(qie)都在(zai)影响(xiang)着我(wo)们(men)大家。
我(wo)们在国内进(jin)行(xing)(xing)重(zhong)建的(de)同时(shi)，面(mian)对这个新世界的(de)挑战不(bu)会退缩不(bu)前，也(ye)下会坐失良(liang)机。我(wo)们将同盟友一起努力(li)进(jin)行(xing)(xing)变(bian)革(ge)，以免被变(bian)革(ge)所吞没。当我(wo)们的(de)重(zhong)要利益受(shou)到挑战，或者(zhe)，当国际社会的(de)意志(zhi)和良(liang)知受(shou)到蔑视，我(wo)们将采取行(xing)(xing)动--可(ke)能时(shi)就(jiu)采用(yong)和平外交手段，必要时(shi)就(jiu)使用(yong)武力(li)。
今天，在波斯湾、索马(ma)里和任何其他地方为国(guo)效力的(de)(de)勇敢的(de)(de)美国(guo)人，都证(zheng)明了我们(men)的(de)(de)决心。
但(dan)是(shi)(shi)，我(wo)们最伟大的(de)力量是(shi)(shi)我(wo)们思想的(de)威力。这(zhei)些(xie)思想在(zai)许(xu)多(duo)国家仍(reng)然(ran)处(chu)于萌芽阶段。看到这(zhei)些(xie)思想在(zai)世界各地被(bei)接受，我(wo)们感(gan)到欢(huan)欣鼓舞。我(wo)们的(de)希望，我(wo)们的(de)心，与每一个大陆(lu)正在(zai)建立民主和自由的(de)人们是(shi)(shi)连在(zai)一起的(de)。他们的(de)事业也是(shi)(shi)美国的(de)事业。
美(mei)国(guo)人(ren)民(min)唤来(lai)了我们(men)今天所(suo)庆(qing)祝的变革。你们(men)毫不含(han)糊(hu)地齐声疾呼(hu)。你们(men)以前(qian)所(suo)未有的人(ren)数参加了投(tou)票。你们(men)使(shi)国(guo)会、总(zong)统职(zhi)务和政治进程本身全都面目一新。是(shi)的，是(shi)你们(men)，我的美(mei)国(guo)同胞们(men)，促(cu)使(shi)春回大地。
现(xian)在(zai)，我们必(bi)须做这个季节需要做的(de)工作(zuo)。现(xian)在(zai)，我就(jiu)运用我的(de)全(quan)部职权转向这项(xiang)工作(zuo)。我请求国会同(tong)我一(yi)道做这项(xiang)工作(zuo)。任何(he)总统、任何(he)国会、任何(he)政府都(dou)不能单(dan)独完成这一(yi)使命。同(tong)胞们，在(zai)我国复兴的(de)过程(cheng)中，你们也必(bi)须发挥作(zuo)用。
我向新一代(dai)美国年轻人挑(tiao)战，要(yao)(yao)求你们(men)投入这(zhei)一奉(feng)献的(de)(de)季节--按照你们(men)的(de)(de)理想(xiang)主(zhu)义行动起来，使不(bu)幸(xing)的(de)(de)儿童(tong)得到帮助(zhu)，使贫困的(de)(de)人们(men)得到关怀，使四分五裂的(de)(de)社区恢复(fu)联系。要(yao)(yao)做的(de)(de)事(shi)情很多--确实够多的(de)(de)，以(yi)至几百万在精神上仍然年轻的(de)(de)人也可作出奉(feng)献。
在(zai)奉献过程中(zhong)(zhong)，我(wo)们(men)(men)认识到(dao)相互(hu)(hu)需要(yao)这(zhei)(zhei)一(yi)简单而又强大的(de)(de)(de)(de)真(zhen) 理(li)(li)(li)。我(wo)们(men)(men)必须相互(hu)(hu)关心(xin).今(jin)天，我(wo)们(men)(men)不(bu)仅是(shi)在(zai)赞颂美(mei)国，我(wo)们(men)(men)再一(yi)次把(ba)自己(ji)奉献给美(mei)国的(de)(de)(de)(de)理(li)(li)(li)想(xiang)：这(zhei)(zhei)个(ge)(ge)理(li)(li)(li)想(xiang)在(zai)革命中(zhong)(zhong)诞生，在(zai)两个(ge)(ge)世纪(ji)(ji)的(de)(de)(de)(de)挑战中(zhong)(zhong)更新；这(zhei)(zhei)个(ge)(ge)理(li)(li)(li)想(xiang)经受了 认识的(de)(de)(de)(de)考验，大家认识到(dao)，若(ruo)不(bu)是(shi)命运的(de)(de)(de)(de)安排，幸运者或不(bu)幸者有可能互(hu)(hu)换位置；这(zhei)(zhei)个(ge)(ge)理(li)(li)(li)想(xiang)由于一(yi)种(zhong)信(xin)念而变得崇高，即(ji)我(wo)国能够从纷繁的(de)(de)(de)(de)多(duo)佯性中(zhong)(zhong)实现(xian)最深刻(ke)的(de)(de)(de)(de)统(tong) 一(yi)性，这(zhei)(zhei)个(ge)(ge)理(li)(li)(li)想(xiang)洋溢着一(yi)种(zhong)信(xin)：美(mei)国漫长而英勇的(de)(de)(de)(de)旅程必将永远(yuan)继续。同胞们(men)(men)，在(zai)我(wo)恻即(ji)将跨入21世纪(ji)(ji)之际(ji)，让(rang)我(wo)们(men)(men)以(yi)旺盛的(de)(de)(de)(de)精力和(he)满腔(qiang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)希望，以(yi)坚定的(de)(de)(de)(de)信(xin)心(xin)和(he) 严明的(de)(de)(de)(de)纪(ji)(ji)律开始工作，直到(dao)把(ba)工作完成。《圣经》说："我(wo)们(men)(men)行善，不(bu)可丧(sang)志，若(ruo)不(bu)灰心(xin)，到(dao)了时候(hou)，就(jiu)要(yao)收(shou)成。"
在(zai)这个欢乐的(de)(de)山巅，我(wo)们(men)听(ting)见山谷里传来(lai)了要我(wo)们(men)作出奉献(xian)的(de)(de)召唤。我(wo)们(men)听(ting)到了号角声。我(wo)们(men)已经换岗。现在(zai)，我(wo)们(men)必(bi)须以各自的(de)(de)方式，在(zai)上帝(di)的(de)(de)帮助下响应这一召唤。
谢谢大家。上(shang)帝保佑大家。
First Inaugural Address of William J. Clinton
January 20, 1993
My fellow citizens :
Today we celebrate the mystery of American renewal.
This ceremony is held in the depth of winter. But, by the words we speak and the faces we show the world, we force the spring. A spring reborn in the world's oldest democracy, that brings forth the vision and courage to reinvent America.
When our founders boldly declared America's independence to the world and our purposes to the Almighty, they knew that America, to endure, would have to change. Not change for change's sake, but change to preserve America's ideals; life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. Though we march to the music of our time, our mission is timeless. Each generation of Americans must define what it means to be an American.
On behalf of our nation, I salute my predecessor, President Bush, for his half-century of service to America. And I thank the millions of men and women whose steadfastness and sacrifice triumphed over Depression, fascism and Communism.
Today, a generation raised in the shadows of the Cold War assumes new responsibilities in a world warmed by the sunshine of freedom but threatened still by ancient hatreds and new plagues.
Raised in unrivaled prosperity, we inherit an economy that is still the world's strongest, but is weakened by business failures, stagnant wages, increasing inequality, and deep divisions among our people.
When George Washington first took the oath I have just sworn to uphold, news traveled slowly across the land by horseback and across the ocean by boat. Now, the sights and sounds of this ceremony are broadcast instantaneously to billions around the world.
Communications and commerce are global; investment is mobile; technology is almost magical; and ambition for a better life is now universal. We earn our livelihood in peaceful competition with people all across the earth.
Profound and powerful forces are shaking and remaking our world, and the urgent question of our time is whether we can make change our friend and not our enemy.
This new world has already enriched the lives of millions of Americans who are able to compete and win in it. But when most people are working harder for less; when others cannot work at all; when the cost of health care devastates families and threatens to bankrupt many of our enterprises, great and small; when fear of crime robs law-abiding citizens of their freedom; and when millions of poor children cannot even imagine the lives we are calling them to lead, we have not made change our friend.
We know we have to face hard truths and take strong steps. But we have not done so. Instead, we have drifted, and that drifting has eroded our resources, fractured our economy, and shaken our confidence.
Though our challenges are fearsome, so are our strengths. And Americans have ever been a restless, questing, hopeful people. We must bring to our task today the vision and will of those who came before us.
From our revolution, the Civil War, to the Great Depression to the civil rights movement, our people have always mustered the determination to construct from these crises the pillars of our history.
Thomas Jefferson believed that to preserve the very foundations of our nation, we would need dramatic change from time to time. Well, my fellow citizens, this is our time. Let us embrace it.
Our democracy must be not only the envy of the world but the engine of our own renewal. There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.
And so today, we pledge an end to the era of deadlock and drift; a new season of American renewal has begun. To renew America, we must be bold. We must do what no generation has had to do before. We must invest more in our own people, in their jobs, in their future, and at the same time cut our massive debt. And we must do so in a world in which we must compete for every opportunity. It will not be easy; it will require sacrifice. But it can be done, and done fairly, not choosing sacrifice for its own sake, but for our own sake. We must provide for our nation the way a family provides for its children.
Our Founders saw themselves in the light of posterity. We can do no less. Anyone who has ever watched a child's eyes wander into sleep knows what posterity is. Posterity is the world to come; the world for whom we hold our ideals, from whom we have borrowed our planet, and to whom we bear sacred responsibility. We must do what America does best: offer more opportunity to all and demand responsibility from all.
It is time to break the bad habit of expecting something for nothing, from our government or from each other. Let us all take more responsibility, not only for ourselves and our families but for our communities and our country. To renew America, we must revitalize our democracy.
This beautiful capital, like every capital since the dawn of civilization, is often a place of intrigue and calculation. Powerful people maneuver for position and worry endlessly about who is in and who is out, who is up and who is down, forgetting those people whose toil and sweat sends us here and pays our way.
Americans deserve better, and in this city today, there are people who want to do better. And so I say to all of us here, let us resolve to reform our politics, so that power and privilege no longer shout down the voice of the people. Let us put aside personal advantage so that we can feel the pain and see the promise of America. Let us resolve to make our government a place for what Franklin Roosevelt called "bold, persistent experimentation," a government for our tomorrows, not our yesterdays. Let us give this capital back to the people to whom it belongs.
To renew America, we must meet challenges abroad as well at home. There is no longer division between what is foreign and what is domestic; the world economy, the world environment, the world AIDS crisis, the world arms race; they affect us all.
Today, as an old order passes, the new world is more free but less stable. Communism's collapse has called forth old animosities and new dangers. Clearly America must continue to lead the world we did so much to make.
While America rebuilds at home, we will not shrink from the challenges, nor fail to seize the opportunities, of this new world. Together with our friends and allies, we will work to shape change, lest it engulf us.
When our vital interests are challenged, or the will and conscience of the international community is defied, we will act; with peaceful diplomacy when ever possible, with force when necessary. The brave Americans serving our nation today in the Persian Gulf, in Somalia, and wherever else they stand are testament to our resolve.
But our greatest strength is the power of our ideas, which are still new in many lands. Across the world, we see them embraced, and we rejoice. Our hopes, our hearts, our hands, are with those on every continent who are building democracy and freedom. Their cause is America's cause.
The American people have summoned the change we celebrate today. You have raised your voices in an unmistakable chorus. You have cast your votes in historic numbers. And you have changed the face of Congress, the presidency and the political process itself. Yes, you, my fellow Americans have forced the spring. Now, we must do the work the season demands.
To that work I now turn, with all the authority of my office. I ask the Congress to join with me. But no president, no Congress, no government, can undertake this mission alone. My fellow Americans, you, too, must play your part in our renewal. I challenge a new generation of young Americans to a season of service; to act on your idealism by helping troubled children, keeping company with those in need, reconnecting our torn communities. There is so much to be done; enough indeed for millions of others who are still young in spirit to give of themselves in service, too.
In serving, we recognize a simple but powerful truth, we need each other. And we must care for one another. Today, we do more than celebrate America; we rededicate ourselves to the very idea of America.
An idea born in revolution and renewed through two centuries of challenge. An idea tempered by the knowledge that, but for fate we, the fortunate and the unfortunate, might have been each other. An idea ennobled by the faith that our nation can summon from its myriad diversity the deepest measure of unity. An idea infused with the conviction that America's long heroic journey must go forever upward.
And so, my fellow Americans, at the edge of the 21st century, let us begin with energy and hope, with faith and discipline, and let us work until our work is done. The scripture says, "And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not."
From this joyful mountaintop of celebration, we hear a call to service in the valley. We have heard the trumpets. We have changed the guard. And now, each in our way, and with God's help, we must answer the call.
Thank you, and God bless you all.
