奥巴马胜选演说英文（共4篇）
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.我要告诉那些在美国大陆以外关注今晚选举的人们，也许你们在一个被世界遗忘的角落通过收音机了解今晚的选举，尽管我们的国情不一样，但是我们的命运是紧紧联系在一起的。一个全新的美国领导层即将呼之欲出。
To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you.To those who seek peace and security – we support you.And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.我要告诉那些试图破坏这个世界的人们，我们将打败你们！我要告诉那些追求和平和安全的人们，我们将全力支持你们！我要告诉那些对美国的未来持怀疑态度的人们，今晚，我们再次证明了一个事实，那就是这个国家拥有强大的力量，这并不是因为我们拥有众多的武器和财富。民主、自由、机遇、坚定不屈的希望才使这个国家保持强大的持久力量！
For that is the true genius of America – that America can change.Our union can be perfected.And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.美国强大的真谛在于它能够做出改变，我们的国家可以变得更加完美。我们过去所达到的成就让我们看到了前进的希望。
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations.But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta.She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.本届选举创造了多项历史之最，有许多故事将代代相传。但此时此刻，我脑海中想起的是一名来自亚特兰大的选民，这位名叫安妮·尼克松·库珀的女性和千千万万的选民一样，静静地站在投票队伍之中，投出自己的选票，表达自己的声音。不过，与众不同的是，她已经106岁高龄了。在她出生的年代，公路上没有汽车，天空中没有飞机。像她一样的人仅仅因为肤色和性别就被挡在参与投票的大门之外。She was born just a generation past slavery;a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky;when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the colour of her skin.And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope;the struggle and the progress;the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot.Yes we can.今晚，我由此联想到了她一个世纪以来，在美国见证的一切：困苦与希望，奋斗与进步，那是一个让人无能为力的年代，但人们必须不断告诉自己美国的伟大信条：“是的，我们可以！”曾经，女性无法表达自己的意见，她们的希望成为幻影。如今，她终于见证了这一幕，和她一样有着悲惨遭遇的人们成功地投出了自己的选票。是的，我们可以！
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose.Yes we can.当整个美国大陆都笼罩在经济大萧条的绝望之中时，她见证了一个国家战胜自身恐惧，重新崛起，罗斯福总统推行的“新政”不仅给美国带来了新的就业机会，更给美国人民带来了共同的价值观。是的，我们可以！
When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved.Yes we can.当敌人的炮弹投向我们的港口，当世界被暴政所威胁，她见证了一个崛起的民族，民主重获新生。是的，我们可以！
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.她目睹了发生在蒙哥马利巴士上、伯明翰的高压水龙头下、塞尔玛大桥上的种族歧视暴行„„而后，来自亚特兰大的民权先驱告诉人们，“我们可以战胜这一切”。是的，我们可以！
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.Yes we can.而后，人类登月，柏林墙倒塌，世界重新集结在科学和想象力的号角下。现在，在这场选举中，她终于用自己的指尖触碰到投票屏幕，郑重地投下选票。饱经106年的沧桑变化，穿越岁月的风云变迁，她知道美国能做出怎样的改变。是的，我们可以！
America, we have come so far.We have seen so much.But there is so much more to do.So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century;if my
daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
美国，我们风雨兼程，一路走来。我们经历了太多，但前方仍有许多梦想等待着我们去实现。今晚，让我们大声地问自己，我们的孩子是否还能看到下一个世纪；我可爱的女儿是否能和安妮·尼克松·库珀一样幸运，享受漫长的人生。他们将看到怎样的变革？我们将取得怎样的进步？
This is our chance to answer that call.This is our moment.This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids;to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace;to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one;that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:Yes We Can.这是我们给出答案的机会。这是属于我们的时刻。这是我们的时代：让人们有事可做；为我们的孩子打开机遇之门；推动世界和平与繁荣；再次锻造美国梦，重申这一不可动摇的事实——虽然我们每个人不尽相同，但我们是一个整体，只要我们呼吸尚存，希望就永不磨灭。我们将用那历经时间考验的不朽信条掷地有声地直面质疑：“是的，我们可以！”
对于“体裁”的概念, 不同的学者有不同的理解。目前, 体裁研究可分为两个主要学派:以John M.Swales和Vijay K.Bhatia为代表的斯威尔斯学派和以Jim R.Martin为代表的澳大利亚学派。Swales认为, 体裁是交际事件的一种分类, “包括具有共同交际目的的一组交际事件” (Swales, 1990) 。Martin把体裁看做是“我们作为特定文化中的成员, 所从事的一种阶段性的、有既定目标的、有目的的活动” (Martin, 1984) 。虽然两大学派对体裁的定义措辞不一, 但在本质上是一致的, 可归纳为以下几点: (1) 体裁是交际事件的一种类别。所谓交际事件就是按照特定目的和特定程式运用语言在社会生活中办事的实例。 (2) 交际目的是确定体裁的重要因素。它决定了体裁的存在, 形成了语篇的“图示结构”, 影响着语篇的内容和风格的选择。 (3) 体裁具有规约性。它是语言使用者共同遵守的程式化的社会交往工具, 具有重复性和习惯性, 其基本原则不可随意更改。 (4) 尽管体裁有其常规性和规约性, 但由于文化因素和语篇变量的不同, 属于同一体裁的语篇之间仍然存在某些差异, 内行人仍可在体裁规定的框架内发挥自己的创造性。
体裁分析是在传统的语域分析、语法修辞分析、交际分析的基础上, 综合语言学、心理学和社会学等的研究成果, 不断深化完善的结果。它克服了传统语篇分析方法的不足, 充分考虑语篇结构背后的社会文化因素和心理认知因素, 将语篇分析从简单描述扩展到深层解释, 力求对语言的宏观结构和交际功能做出深层解释, 对实现交际目的的特殊方式和语篇建构的规约性做出总体概括。体裁分析的根本宗旨即研究语篇的交际目的和语言使用策略, 它的最显著特征就在于它的解释性, 因此, 它能帮助读者解析语篇的组织模式, 从而挖掘特定语篇所具有的特定的客观认知结构, 帮助人们充分理解和认识语篇建构的内在规律, 深入了解和领悟作者的写作意图, 达到真正的交际目的和实现语篇的社会功能。
在体裁分析方法方面, 斯威尔斯学派以语步 (move) 和步骤 (step) 为出发点, 并多以学术和职业语篇作为分析对象。而澳大利亚学派的体裁分析是基于M.A.K.Halliday的系统功能语言学的理论框架发展起来的语言研究方法, 把体裁划分为讲故事、求职、与医生预约等交际事件, 重点分析这些交际事件的图示结构。Hasan的核心思想是“体裁结构潜势”理论, 她提出体裁分析的两大步骤, 首先从宏观上确定语篇的图示结构并加功能标签, 其次从微观方面分析不同功能标签下作者选用什么词汇、语法来实现这一功能。
二、奥巴马胜选演讲的图示结构和语言特点
奥巴马胜选演讲围绕是否变革展开, 其交际目的在于表达获胜的喜悦之情和对支持者的感激之情, 并指出未来政府工作的重担, 揭示美国变革的必要性, 激励美国公民为实现变革而共同努力。
奥巴马胜选演讲的图示结构可概括为:
Move1:Establishing the relationship with the audience (与观众建立联系)
Move2:Introducing the topic (介绍主题)
Step1:Using a series of conditional clauses to raising several questions (运用一系列条件句提出几个问题)
Step2:Answering the questions by enumerating facts (通过列举事实回答提出的问题)
Move3:Expressing gratitude to the supporters of this election (对本次大选的支持者表示感谢)
Step1:Expressing gratitude to his opponent (对自己的对手表示感谢)
Step2:Expressing gratitude to his partner (对自己的搭档表示感谢)
Step3:Expressing gratitude to his family (对自己的家人表示感谢)
Step4:Expressing gratitude to his campaign team (对自己的竞选团队表示感谢)
Move4:Supporting and developing the topic (支持和展开主题)
Step1:Describing the hardships of winning the election (描述赢得选举的艰辛)
Step2:Indicating situations at home and abroad (揭示国内外局势)
Step3:Encouraging people to face up with the diffi culties and take some measures (鼓励人们直面困难和采取行动)
Step4:Proposing the topic directly:America can change (直接提出主题:美国可以变革)
Move5:Concluding the topic (总结主题)
Step1:Look back the development of America in the past 106 years (回顾了过去106年间美国的发展)
Step2:Calling on the nation to work together to realize the change (号召全国民众协同努力以实现变革)
Move6:Ending the speech (结束演讲)
Step1:Thanks to the audience (感谢听众)
Step2:Prayers for God’s blessings and support (祈求上帝保佑)
每一语步的语言特征可描述为:
语步一旨在演讲者在演讲开始前与听众建立和谐、友好的关系, 营造融洽的氛围, 一般通过一些问候语来完成, 如“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen”。但是奥巴马使用的是“Hello, Chicago!”则更为简洁有力, 也更为口语化, 使听众倍感亲切, “Chicago”这一替代词的使用也不乏幽默, 能够彰显出新任总统乐观、开朗、有魄力的性格特征。
语步二介绍演讲主题。奥巴马首先用“If there is anyone out there who still doubts…, who still wonders…, who still questions…”这一排比句型提出几个问题吸引听众的注意力, 而且排比句式的气势可以激起听众的热情, 突出演讲的效果。然后用“It’s the answer told/spoken by…”这一句式列举事实回答了所提出的问题, 事实的列举使回答更令人信服, 更能赢得听众的赞同。最后引出主题——变革已经莅临美国, 显得顺理成章, 水到渠成。此外, “we can…, we did…”这一第一人称代词的使用使听众感受到自己和总统是站在一起的, 拉近了演讲者与挺重的距离。
语步三对大选的支持者表示感谢是胜选演讲庆祝晚会上不可缺少的组成部分。这一语步从功能层面上讲是抒情性的。奥巴马首先感谢的是对手麦凯恩对美国所做的奉献, 并赞扬其有君子风度, 对他赢得的一切表示祝贺, 这些友好的示意便会减少两个对手之间的摩擦, 为他以后的政治仕途铺平道路, 这点充分体现了奥巴马的政治智慧。其次, 奥巴马感谢了他的搭档——美国当选副总统乔·拜登, 感谢他为竞选做出的努力, 这更增进了两个搭档之间的情谊, 为以后两人顺利合作做好了铺垫。再次, 奥巴马感谢了他的亲人, 尤其是他对两个小女儿表达的爱, 让听众感受到奥巴马可亲可近、关爱儿女的一面, 引起了不少听众的共鸣, 人们不难想象到一个对家庭如此热爱, 对家庭如此负责的男人定能担当起统治、管理好国家的重任。最后, 奥巴马感谢了他的竞选团队, 并且给予了这个团队很高的评价, 称“这个团队是政治历史上最好的团队”, 因为是这个团队使竞选的胜利属于了他。
语步四, 支持和展开主题, 这是这篇演讲稿的核心语步。此语步承接语步三, 指出这次胜选不仅是自己个人的胜利, 真正的胜利属于“你们”。首先, 奥巴马指出这次当选来之不易, 选民为此付出了很多, 而这样做全都是为了美国的明天。接着, 奥巴马采用举例的手段指出目前国内外严峻的形势, 表明“前面的路还很长, 我们要攀爬的坡还很陡”, 并阐述了新政府的变革立场和态度, 力图激起国民的士气, 使国民对新政府充满信心, 号召全民共同努力, 发挥集体的力量, 共同实现变革。其中, 美国的传统价值观被多次提及, 如民主、自由、机会、建国历史等, 同时指出这些价值观是美国的宝藏, 是它们决定了美国可以变革, 就是力图激发听众的爱国情感和共同的价值观, 进一步坚定人们对美国梦实现的信心。而且, 这些价值观散布于全文, 已达到引起情感共鸣的功能。从功能层面上讲, 这一语步总体上是描述性的, 奥巴马试图列举有关国内外形势的诸多事实, 因此这一语步典型的言语行为是报告性的, 而非抒情性的。尽管这些对形势的估计是客观性的, 但它们仍不免掺杂了主观的成分, 这从“democracy”, “liberty”, “opportunity”这些褒义词的运用中可以看出。在描述客观事实的同时, 奥巴马还向美国人民发出呼吁, 多次用到“Let’s…”, 试图提醒听众和他本人应做的事和应承担的责任, 因此该语步又带有抒情的成分, 二者的结合使整篇号召全美上下共同努力实现其政治抱负的演讲更有说服力和感染力。
语步五, 旨在总结主题。这篇当选演讲的总结可谓新颖独特, 它通过一个106岁老妇人的经历将美国的历史和当前乃至未来成功地糅合在了一起, 即回顾了历史, 展现了现在, 又提出了对未来的期望。每回顾一次历史变革, 奥巴马都会在结尾加一句“Yes we can”, 这一简短有力的口语式语言极大增强了演讲的感染力, 激起了听众强烈的共鸣, 达到了演讲者与听众的感情交流, 这也预示着在美国未来的变革中, 美国人民同样能喊出“Yes we can”。
语步六, 表达了演讲者对听众的感谢, 标志着演讲内容的结束。奥巴马采用了西方国家特有的祝福方式“God bless you”, 反映了中西方文化的差异, 意图运用共同的信仰引起共鸣。
摘要：体裁分析是语篇分析发展的较高阶段, 人们可以通过体裁分析揭示不同体裁语篇独具的图示结构和语言表现形式, 探讨语篇的意义和功能。本文运用体裁分析理论, 分析了奥巴马胜选演讲的图示结构, 并总结了它在功能、释义、语言层面上的一些特征。
关键词：体裁,体裁分析,胜选演讲
参考文献
[1]、孙立华.国内体裁分析研究综述[J].学术论坛, 2009 (7) .
[2]、秦秀白.体裁教学法述评[J].外语教学与研究, 2000 (1) .
美国大选终见分晓，奥巴马胜选，入主白宫。
为什么奥巴马能成功胜选呢？
奥巴马之所以战胜麦凯恩，赢得选战决定性胜利，不仅仅是美国大选的天平倾向奥巴马，而且历史的天平也倾向奥巴马。的确，天时、地利、人和都有利于奥巴马问鼎白宫。奥巴马之所以胜选，并非是奥巴马具有天赋的美国领袖特质和条件，而是时势把奥巴马推上政治领袖舞台，是时势造英雄，时势造领袖的历史演绎结果。
奥巴马在竞选初期曾坦言：“我知道我不是竞逐这个（总统）办公室的最有可能的候选人。我不符合典型的血统，我还没有在华盛顿殿堂里的职业生涯。”但奥巴马深知深信的是，共和党布什政府八年所造成美国的严重危机困境亟需改变、必须改变；奥巴马所坚持所要做的是，给美国带来改变和革新，挽救美国脱离灾难性的困境。于是“变革”成了奥巴马常挂嘴边的竞选口号，赢得了美国求变求新的选民人心。再者，奥巴马年轻才干的清新形象，沉着冷静的稳健举止，机警灵敏的反应能力，出众的雄辩口才，火热的旺盛激情，掌控场面的出色能耐，富于煽情的爆发力和征服力，也都有助于他赢得人心。
奥巴马之所以胜选的根本原因之一，是共和党布什政府执政八年遭遇了空前的惨败，遭逢“9·11”大灾难，深陷伊拉克战争泥潭，惨遭金融危机重创；即将下台的布什政府几乎拖垮美国经济，殃及全球经济；这一切为美国政党轮替执政，为奥巴马上台主政，铺就了民主党时隔八年后重新执政和政治新星、时势英雄奥巴马入主白宫之路。
奥巴马之所以胜选的根本原因之二，是他的竞选对手麦凯恩不幸成了共和党布什政府的天然替罪羊，其必败无疑，这就决定了奥巴马必胜无疑。奥巴马的竞选对手麦凯恩之所以败选，并非他天生不具备美国领袖的特质和条件，而在于他天然地背负着共和党布什政府沉重的政治包袱，继承了布什总统的败政遗产。尽管麦凯恩一再宣称他不是布什总统，并猛力攻击布什总统以求切割，但身受战争灾难和经济灾害的美国大多数选民仍然不买麦凯恩的账，仍旧视麦凯恩是坚持布什总统路线图的战争斗士、狂人。麦凯恩真可谓选不逢时，无论如何也终未摆脱成为共和党布什政府替罪羊的厄运。真遗憾啊，麦凯恩为美国国家奋斗终身的72岁的“总统梦”终归破灭了。
奥巴马之所以胜选根本原因之三，是在美国大选进入决战阶段的关键时期，天助奥巴马般地爆发了华尔街金融海啸，酿成全国性金融灾难和全球性金融危机。这使得共和党布什政府危机四伏、四面楚歌。被视为继承布什政治经济政策衣钵的麦凯恩为此而因灾得祸。相反，金融灾难的发生，却使奥巴马因祸得福。在此次大选的关键时刻，遭受金融风暴和经济衰败，对前景日益悲观的美国选民，人心思变，思救的心理更加强烈。美国人民对老布什总统和小布什总统的共和党政府，不善治理经济，而且糟蹋经济的怨恨更深的同时，自然对善于管理经济的民主党，特别是克林顿总统执政八年，振兴了美国经济，更觉记忆犹新。有鉴于此，抛弃有可能重蹈共和党布什政府金融灾难、财政危机覆辙的麦凯恩，选举能够拯救美国经济的民主党奥巴马上台执政，就必然成为美国大多数选民的不二抉择。
奥巴马之所以胜选的根本原因之四，厌战、反战，求国家安全、求经济稳定的美国选民，害怕坚持强硬外交路线的狂热斗士麦凯恩把美国再次推进到更为可怕的战争深渊；因而选择
主张不必四面树敌，加强国际合作，积极使用外交手段，解决共同面临的国际问题的奥巴马，就必然成了大多数选民的愿望和行动。共和党布什政府单边主义的强权外交，通过战争输出民主的霸权主义，不仅耗费了美国的国力，葬送了数以千计美国官兵的生命，而且在世界上四面树敌。在已深陷伊拉克战争和阿富汗战争泥潭不能自拔的严峻形势下，麦凯恩却希望把伊拉克战争坚持下去，动辄威胁轰炸伊朗，甚至怀疑布什政府对朝鲜的外交手段能否奏效，扬言要把俄罗斯逐出八国集团，对中国采取强硬态度，坚持协防台湾。显然，麦凯恩的外交政策比近年已退缩的布什总统的外交政策更有过之而无不及。这不仅让美国大多数选民不喜欢他，甚至也让欧洲盟国敬而远之。相反，在全世界各地的民意测验中，民主党总统候选人奥巴马远比共和党候选人麦凯恩更受欢迎，在欧洲甚至出现了“奥巴马热”。
当今世界，尽管美国遭遇一连串的失败和危机，但美国仍然是全球最强大的国家。虽然美国一国独大、一国独霸的单极世界格局正在开始改变，但在一个相当长的时期内，尚不可能根本改变。也正因为如此，世界各国都十分关注美国大选。在一定的意义上说，美国大选不仅是美国一国的大选，似乎也是世界的大选。因为，美国大选的结果因党因人而异，具体的外交政策还是有所差别的。但有一点却是完全可以肯定的，也是世人所不可忽视的，这就是无论民主党还是共和党，无论奥巴马还是麦凯恩当选上台执政，美国国家利益即美国的全球霸权或称世界领导权、美国国家安全、美国人民的高消费水平，他们首先是要保障和维护的。为达到此目的，他们仍旧会不顾他国的国家利益和他国人民的牺牲而使用一切可能的手段，当然其中包括武力和战争。这一点，世界各国是不应也不能存在任何幻想的。
作为中国而言，为了中国国家利益、国家安全、现代化和民族复兴，奉行同美国长期友好、和平共处的原则，与美国保持和发展建设性的合作关系，应该也是必须坚持的国家战略。就奥巴马当选美国总统而言，中美两国关系会在现在的基础上更进一步向前发展。现在的中美关系，在共和党布什政府执政八年以来，已经发展成历史上最好的状态和水平。这是在前民主党克林顿政府改善了中美关系基础上的向上提升和发展的结果。相信，这次民主党奥巴马政府执政也必定会继承克林顿政府中美关系政策遗产，并在布什政府推进的中美关系基础上进一步向上提升和向前发展。这是中美关系发展的大趋势，是中美关系发展的历史潮流，是不可逆转的，是不以人的意志为转移的。
“Thank you.Thank you.Thank you so much.Tonight more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward.It moves forward because of you.It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the heights of hope.The belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people.Tonight in this election, you, the American people, remind us while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that the united states of America – the best is yet to come.[cheering] I want to thank every American who participated in this election [CHEERING] Whether you voted for the very first time or waiting in line for a very long time.By the way, we need to fix that.Whether you pounded the pavement or picked up the phone.Whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you mad your voice heard.And you made a difference.I just got off the phone with Governor Romney and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a hard-fought campaign.[CHEERING] We may have fought fiercely, but it’s only because we love this country deeply.And we care so stronly about its future.From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give back to Americans through public service.And that is a legacy that we honor and applaud tonight.[CHEERING] In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward.[CHEERING] I want to thank my friend and partner for the last four years, America’s happy warrior, the best vice president anybody could ever hope for: Joe Biden.I want to thank my friend and partner of the last 4 years, America’s happy warrior, the best Vice President anyone could ever hope for: Joe Biden.And I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me twenty years ago.Let say this publicly, Michelle I have never loved you more.I have never been prouder to watch the rest of America fall in love with you too as our nation’s first lady.Sasha and Malia before our very eyes you are growing up to become two strong smart beautiful young women, just like your mom.And im so proud of you guys.But I will say that for now one dog is probably enough.To the best campaign team and volunteers in the history of politics.The best.The best ever.Some of you were this time around.Some of you were new this time around and some of you have been at my side since the very beginning but all of you are family.No matter what you do or where you go from here, you will carry the memory of the history we made together and you will have the life long appreciation of a grateful president.Thank you for believing all the way, through every hill, through every valley.[applause] You lifted me up the whole way and I will always be grateful for everything that you’ve done and all the incredible work that you’ve put in.[applause] I know that political campaigns can sometime seem small, even silly, and that provides plenty of fodder for the synics who tell us that politics is nothing more than a contest of egos or the domain of special interests.But if you ever get the chance to talk to folks who turn out at rallies and crowded out along a ropline in a high school gym or saw folks working late at a campaign office in some tiny county far away from home, you’ll discover something else;you’ll hear the determination in the voice of a young field organizer who is working his way through college and wants to make sure every child has that same opportunity.[applause] You’ll hear the pride in the voice of a volunteer who is going door to door because her brother was finally hired when the local auto plant added another shift.[applause] You’ll hear the deep patriotism in the voice of a military spouse who is working the phones late at night to make sure that no one who fights for this country every has to fight for a job or a roof over their head when they come home.[applause] That’s why we do this.That’s what politics can be.That’s why elections matter.It’s not small, it’s big.It’s important.Democracy in a nation of 300-million can be noisy and messy and complicated.We have our own opinions, each of us has deeply held beliefs.And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country;it necisarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy.That won’t change after tonight and it shouldn’t.These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty.We can never forget that as we speak, people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter [applause] The chance to cast their ballots like we did today.But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America’s future.We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers.[applause] A country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation;with all the good jobs and new businesses that follow.A country that lives up to its legacy as a global leader in technology, discovery and innovation.With all the good jobs and businesses that follow, to live in America that isn’t burdened by debt, that isn’t weakened by inequality.That isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.We want to pass on a country that is saved and respected and admired around the world.A nation that is defended by the strongest military on earth and the best troops this world has ever known.But also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war to shape a peace.That is built on the promise of dignity of every human being.We believe in a generous America, in a compassionate America, in a tolerant America, open to the dreams of an immigrants daughter that studies in our schools and pledges to our flag.To the young boy on the south side of Chicago, who sees a light beyond the nearest street corner.To the furniture workers child in North Carolina who wants to become a engineer or a scientist.And engineer or an entrepreneur.A diplomat or even a president, that’s the future we hope for.That’s the vision we share, that’s where we need to go.Forward.That’s where we need to go.Now we will disagree sometimes fiercely on how to get there, as it has for more then two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts, it’s not always a straight line or a smooth path.By itself a recognition of our common hopes and dreams won’t end the gridlock.Or solve all our problems or substitute for the hard work of building consensus.And making the difficult compromises needed to move the country forward but that common bond is where we must begin.Our economy is recovering, our decade of war is ending.A long campaign is now over.[applause] And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you.I have learned from you and you have made me a better President.With your stories and your struggles, I returned to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead [applause] Tonight, you voted for action, not politics as usual.You elected us to focus on your jobs, not ours.And in the coming weeks and months, I am looking forward to reaching out and working with leaders of both parties to meet the challenges we can only solve together: reducing our deficit, reforming our tax code, fixing our immigration system, freeing ourselves from foreign oil, we’ve got more work to do.But that doesn’t mean your work is done.The role of citizen in our democracy does not end with your vote.America’s never been about what could be done for us, it’s about what can be done by us, together, through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government.That’s the principle we were founded on.This country has more wealth than any nation, but that’s not what makes us rich.We have the most powerful military in history but that’s not what makes us strong.Our university, our culture, are all the envy of the world but that’s not what keeps the world coming to our shores.What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on Earth, the belief that our destiny is shared, that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and the future generations so that the freedom so many Americans have fought for and died for comes with responsibilities as well as rights, and among those are love, and charity, and duty and patriotism.That’s what makes America great.I am hopeful tonight because I have seen that spirit at work in America.I’ve seen it in the family business whose owners would rather cut their own pay than lay off their neighbors, and in the workers who would rather cut back their hours than see a friend lose a job.I’ve seen it in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb, and in those SEALS who charged up the stairs into darkness and danger because they knew their was a buddy behind them watching their back.I’ve seen it on the shores of New Jersey and New York where leaders from every party and level of government have swept aside their differences to help a community rebuild from the wreckage of a terrible storm.And I saw it just the other day, in Mentor, Ohio wehre a father told the story of his eight-year-old daughter who’s long battle with leukemia nearly cost their family everything had it not been for healthc are reform passing just a few months before.The insurance company was about to stop paying for her care I had an opportunity to not just talk to the father but meet this incredible daughter of his, and when he spoke to the crowd listening to that father’ story, every parent in that room had tears in their eyes because we knew that little girl could be our own.And I know that every American wants her future to be just as bright.That’s who we are.That’s the country I’m so proud to lead as your president.And tonight, despite all the hardship we’ve been through, despite al lthe frustrations of Washington, I’ve never been more hopeful about our future I’ve never been more hopeful about America.And I ask you to sustain that hope.I’m not talking about blind optimism.The kind of hope that just ignores the enormity of the tasks ahead or the road blocks that stand in our path.I’m not talking about the wishful idealism that allows us to just sit on the sidelines or shirk from a fight.I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside of us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching to keep working, to keep fighting.America, I believe we can build on the progress we made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class I believe we can keep the promise of our founder.The idea that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white or Hispanic or asian, or native American, or young or old, or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it.I believe we can sieze this future together.Because we are not as divided as our politics suggest.We’re not as cynical as the pundents believe.We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions.And we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states.We are and forever will be the United States of America.With your help and God’s grace, we will continue our journey forward.And remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth.Thank you, America.God bless you.God bless these United States.” [CHEERING]
