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奥巴马2004年民主党全国代表大会主题演讲
时间：2004年7月27日
地点：波士顿
伊利诺伊州是多元文化交汇的地方，林肯的故乡，作为这个伟大的州的代表，今天我非常感激有机会在大会上致辞。今晚能够得到这个机会，我感到格外的荣耀，让我们承认，我出现在这个舞台上，本身就极不寻常。我的父亲是一个外国留学生，他在肯尼亚的一个小村庄出生长大，小时候甚至还放过羊。他上学的学校只有一个铁皮屋顶，而他的父亲，我的祖父，则是一个厨师，一个家佣。
但我的祖父对我父亲寄予厚望。凭借艰苦的工作和坚韧的毅力，父亲获得了来到一个神奇土地学习的机会：到美国留学。美国对于许多踏上这片国土的人而言，意味着自由和机遇。在这里留学期间，父亲与母亲相遇。我的母亲出生在世界的另一端，一个堪萨斯州的小镇。她的父亲在大萧条时期在石油工业和农场谋生计。二战时，日军偷袭珍珠港后的第二天，他就自愿应征入伍，在巴顿将军麾下，横扫欧洲。在后方的家中，外祖母一边抚养子女，一边在轰炸机装配线上工作。战争结束后，依据士兵福利法案, 他们通过联邦住宅管理局购置了一套房子，搬到西部，谋求更多的机会。
他们对自己的女儿也寄予厚望，两个来自不同大陆的家庭，共享着同一个梦想。我的父母不仅不可思议地彼此相爱，而且还对这个国家有着坚定不移的信念。他们给我起了一个非洲名字，巴拉克，意为“赐福”, 因为他们相信，在这个包容的国度中，这样的名字不会成为成功的阻碍。尽管他们生活并不宽裕，但是他们想让我能够接受最好的教育，因为在这样一个慷慨的国度中，富有不是发挥个人潜力的前提。现在他们都已不在人世，但是我知道，他们的在天之灵此时正在注视着我，无比骄傲。
今天我站在这里，对自己身上多元的血统心怀感激，并且知道父母的梦想将在我亲爱的女儿身上得以传承；我站在这里，深知自己的经历是一个更大的美国故事的一部分，更清楚自己要感谢那些先行者，否则我的故事不会发生。今夜我们在这里再次确认这个国家的伟大之处，并不在于鳞次栉比的摩天大厦，也不在于军事实力，更不在于经济实力。我们的自豪来自一个非常简单的前提，它在一个两百多年前起草的宣言中得到概括：“我们认为以下真理不言而喻，人人生而平等，造物主赐与他们以下不可剥夺的权利：生命、自由和对幸福的追求。”
这正是美国的智慧所在，一个存在于人民简单的信念之中，坚信点滴的奇迹一定会出现。当夜里我们为孩子掖好被褥，我们知道他们不会为衣食所累，不必为安全担忧。我们可以畅所欲言，自由的思考和表达，无需担心午夜不速之客的敲门声。当我们有了想法进行创业时，不需要去贿赂不需要去雇佣某些人物的子女。我们可以参加政治活动，不必恐惧因之被报复，我们可以去投票，知道我们的一票会被计算在内。至少大部分情况下如此（此处暗讽4年前2000大选中佛罗里达的计票风波）。
在今年的选举中，我们接受召唤，用行动彰显我们信奉的主张和肩负的责任，以之应对艰难的现实，去继承前辈的遗产，实现对子孙的承诺。我的国民，无论你是民主党，还是共和党，抑或无党派独立人士，今晚我想对大家说：我们需要做的事情还有很多，我们要去帮助在伊利诺伊州盖尔斯堡因洗衣机厂南迁至墨西哥而失去工作的工人，他们唯一的选择就是和自己的子女一起竞争每小时7美元的工作；我们要去帮助一位流着泪水的父亲，他失业丢掉保险后不知道怎样负担儿子每个月4500美元的医疗费；我们要帮助我在东圣路易斯遇到的年轻女士，她成绩出色，有愿望、有动力，却没有钱上大学。
请不要误会我，我在小镇和大都市的餐馆、办公楼的停车场遇到过的这些民众，他们并不指望政府来解决他们生活中的所有问题，他们知道自己要努力工作才能提高自己的生活质量。
走进芝加哥周边的城镇，百姓们会告诉你，不想看到自己辛苦工作后缴纳的税款被福利机构或五角大楼浪费。走进市中心的街区，百姓们会告诉你单独依靠政府不会让孩子受到很好的教育，他们知道父母要尽到父母的责任，孩子们如果要有所成就，就需要我们对他们以高标准要求，他们得努力学习、关掉电视，不要歧视那些愿意学习的孩子。百姓不指望政府包办一切，他们只是从心底里期望，政府能够重新调整施政重点，就可以让每一个孩子有实现自己梦想的机会，让机遇大门向每个人敞开。他们深知我们有能力做得更好，他们希望得到实现梦想的机会。
在这次选举中，我们向民众提供了这样一个机遇。我们党（民主党）选择了一个能够体现这个国家最宝贵价值观的人，他就是约翰·克里。约翰·克里理解社区、信仰和牺牲的含义，因为这些元素铸就了他的人生，他通过在越南战场上浴血奋战，通过担任检察官和副州长，通过在参议院20年的工作，将自己的人生奉献给国家。一次又一次，他知难而上、不畏艰险，出色的品行和履历使他成为我们中最出色的一位。
约翰·克里坚信，在美国，付出就会有回报，所以他不会给那些向海外转移工作的公司提供税收优惠，他会帮助那些在本土创造就业机会的企业。他坚信，普通百姓有权利享受同华盛顿政客一样好的医疗保险。约翰·克里认识到能源自主的重要，因为我们不用再被大石油公司的利润所绑架，不用担心海外油田被破坏。他坚信美国因受到宪法保护的自由而成为令世人艳羡的国度，他绝不会牺牲我们的基本自由，也不会用不同信仰来分裂我们。约翰·克里还坚信，在一个危险的世界里，我们要保存诉诸武力的选择，但是战争永远不应该是我们解决争端的第一选择。
前一段时间，我在伊利诺伊的东木林遇到一个名叫萨姆斯的年轻人。他相貌英俊，身材足有六呎二三（两米左右），他目光清澈，笑容可掬。他说自己加入了海军陆战队, 一周后就将赶赴伊拉克前线。当我倾听他入伍的原因时，他表示忠于自己的国家，信赖我们的领袖，自己感到奉献国家的责任感。当时我想，在他身上，有我们对一个年轻人渴求的一切，然后我问自己，当他为我们做出牺牲和贡献时，我们是否也有对他尽责。
我想到在这场战争中，有900多名军人阵亡，他们是普通百姓的儿子、女儿，是丈夫、妻子，是友人和邻居，他们永远也不会回到自己的故乡。我想到那些我遇到的经济困窘的烈士家属，那些家人虽然从战场归来，但是伤残却得不到应有的医疗服务。当我们把这些年轻人送上战场出生入死时，我们有责任确定有充分的理由做出这样的决定，确定他们在前线浴血奋战，后方的家人能够得到应有的照看，当他们返回时也得到充分的照料。在没有把握取得战场胜利、并在之后维持和平，同时赢得世界尊敬的情况下，永远、永远不要开战。
我们清楚地认识到，我们在这个世界上有着真正的敌人，而这些敌人必须被击败。约翰·克里清楚地知道这一点，就像当年他冒着生命危险在越南战场上保护自己的下属时一样，约翰·克里在需要动用武力保家护国时绝不会有丝毫犹豫。他对美国充满信心，而且他深知仅有部分公民实现生活的富足还远远不够，在著名的个人英雄主义之外，美国的精神中还有其他宝贵的元素。
这个元素，是相信我们作为个体，彼此相连相通，荣辱与共。如果芝加哥南部贫民区中的一个孩子缺乏良好的教育，即便他不是我的孩子，我仍然会关心和关注。如果一个老人无法负担医疗费，不得不在药费和房租间取舍时，即使他不是我的家人，也会令我的生活黯淡无光。如果一个阿拉伯裔家庭无端被捕没有律师没有经过正常的司法程序，这也是对我自由的一个威胁。这是让我们国家前进的根本动力，这让我们在追逐个人梦想的同时，也能携起手来为这个国家一起做贡献。“E pluribus unum.”（拉丁语，美国传统国徽上的铭言）“合众为一”。
然而就在此时此刻，仍然有人想要分裂我们，那些超控舆论进行负面宣传的大师相信未达目的可以不择手段。今晚我要对他们说，这世上没有自由派的美国和保守派的美国之分，只有一个团结的美利坚合众国！这世上没有黑人的美国和白人的美国，也没有拉丁裔的美国和亚裔美国之分，只有一个团结的美利坚合众国！那些政治说客想要把我们的国家割裂成红蓝两色，红色代表共和党，蓝色代表民主党。但我想说的是，即便在民主党中，我们也都信奉万能的主，在共和党多数的州里，我们也不喜欢联邦探员在图书馆中刺探我们的隐私；民主党中也有人执教少年棒球，共和党人也有同性恋朋友。有爱国人士支持伊拉克战争，也有爱国人士反对就伊出兵。我们都是一国之民，都曾宣誓效忠星条旗并愿意舍身保卫美利坚合众国。
说到底，这才是本次选举的意义所在：我们所参与的政治应该是愤世嫉俗还是充满希望? 约翰•克里号召我们要对未来满怀希望。约翰·爱德华兹（2004年大选民主党副总统候选人，克里的搭档）号召我们要对未来充满希望。这并不是说要盲目乐观，以为只要不谈论失业问题，这个问题就会自行消失；认为只要无视医保危机的存在，危机自己就会烟消云散。我所谈的是更为根本的问题。我们谈论的希望，存在于奴隶们围坐在火堆边吟唱自由的歌声中；我们谈论的希望，令移民们决定远涉重洋；我们谈论的希望，存在于勇敢巡逻在湄公河三角洲的海军上尉（意指克里）心中；这希望，让一个工人家庭出身的孩子勇于挑战自己的命运；这希望，让向我这样有着古怪名字的瘦小子相信美国有他的容身之地。这是无畏的希望 这希望是上帝赐予我们最好的礼物，使我们国家赖以生存的基石，因为我们相信最好的东西尚未出现，相信明天的日子会更好！我相信我们能够给失业者提供工作，给无家可归者以居所，将全国各地陷入暴力和绝望的年轻人拯救出来。我相信我们正处于历史的十字路口，我们能够做出正确的抉择，迎接我们面临的挑战。
今晚，如果你同我感到一样的活力，急迫感，感到同样的热情，感到一样的希望，如果我们都能行动起来，那么我毫不怀疑，全国上下，从佛罗里达到俄勒冈，从华盛顿到缅因州，人民将会在11月积极行动起来，约翰•克里将会宣誓就任总统，约翰•爱德华兹会宣誓成为副总统，而国家也将重振旗鼓，走出政治暗夜，迎接美好的明天！谢谢大家，上帝保佑。
原稿：
Keynote Address at the Democratic National Convention
Tuesday, July 27, 2004. Boston
OBAMA: On behalf of the great state of Illinois...... crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deepest 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 to the British.
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, that's shown as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before him.
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, my grandfather signed up for duty, joined Patton's army, marched across Europe. Back home my grandmother raised a 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 later moved west, all the way to Hawaii, 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're both passed away now. And yet I know that, on this night, they look down on me with great pride.
And I stand here today grateful for the persity of my heritage, aware that my parents' dreams live on in my two 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 be 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……a faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles; that we can tuck in our children at night and know that 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; that we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution; and that our votes will be counted -- or at least, most of the time.
This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our values and our 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 work 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 they're having to compete with their own children for jobs that pay 7 bucks an hour; more to do for the father I met who was losing his job and chocking back the tears wondering how he would pay $4,500 a months for the drugs his son needs without the health benefits that he counted on; more to do for the young woman in East St. Louis, and thousands more like her who have the grades, have the drive, have the will, but doesn't have the money to go to college.
Now, don't get me wrong, the people I meet in small towns and big cities and diners and office parks, they don't expect government to solves all of their problems. They know they have to work hard to get a head. 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 by 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 teach, 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. They know those things.
People don't expect -- people don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a slight 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. And that man is John Kerry.
John Kerry understands the ideals of community, faith and service because they've defined his life. From his heroic service to 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 offers 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 pide us.
And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world, war must be an option sometimes, but it should never be the first option.
You know, a while back, I met a young man named Seamus (ph) in a VFW hall in East Moline, Illinois. He was a good-looking kid, clear eyed, with an easy smile. He told me he'd joined the Marines and was heading to Iraq the following week.
And as I listened to him explain why he had enlisted -- the absolute faith he had in our country and its leaders, his devotion to duty and service -- I thought, this young man was all that any of us might ever hope for in a child. But then I asked myself: Are we serving Seamus (ph) as well as he's serving us?
I thought of the 900 men and women, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors who won't be returning to their own hometowns. I thought of the 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 nerves shattered, but 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 are 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. 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 that it's not enough for just some of us to prosper. For alongside our famous inpidualism, there's another ingredient in the American saga, a belief that we are all 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 their preion and having to choose between medicine and the rent that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandparent.
If there's an Arab-American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process that threatens my civil liberties.
It is that fundamental belief -- it is that fundamental belief -- I am my brother's keeper, I am my sisters' keeper -- that makes this country work.
It's what allows us to pursue our inpidual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family: "E pluribus unum," out of many, one.
Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to pide 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, 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, yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states.
There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq, and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq.
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 do we participate in 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 think about it, or health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it.
That's not what I'm talking. 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.
Hope in the face of difficulty, hope in the face of uncertainty, the audacity of hope: in the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation, a belief in things not seen, a belief that there are better days ahead.
I believe that we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road to opportunity.
I believe we can provide jobs for the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair.
I believe that we have a righteous wind at our backs, and 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 that I do, if you feel the same urgency that I do, if you feel the same passion that I do, if you feel the same hopefulness that 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 very much, everybody.
God bless you.