The most presidential lorem ipsum in history.
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're 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. And I found that I recognized in these folks a part of myself. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected.
But my personal story is not so unique. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.
They know those things. 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 I do, if you feel the same hopefulness that I do - if we do what we must do, then I have no doubts 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. It wasn't until after college, when I went to Chicago to work as a community organizer for a group of Christian churches, that I confronted my own spiritual dilemma. At times, that anger is exploited by politicians, to gin up votes along racial lines, or to make up for a politician's own failings. To Chairman Dean and my great friend Dick Durbin; and to all my fellow citizens of this great nation; That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people.
My parents shared not only an improbable love, they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. Today there are 12 million undocumented immigrants in America, most of them working in our communities, attending our churches, and contributing to our country. Consensus and compromise will not come easy. That's what compromise is about. He's still speaking to our Catholic friends - who are holding up a consistent ethic of life that goes beyond abortion - one that includes a respect for life and dignity whether it's in Iraq, in poor neighborhoods, in African villages or even on death row. But the truth is, that isn't all that I know of the man.
If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for their prescription drugs, and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandparent. I've gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the world's poorest nations. Why associate myself with Reverend Wright in the first place, they may ask? Why not join another church? And I confess that if all that I knew of Reverend Wright were the snippets of those sermons that have run in an endless loop on the television and You Tube, or if Trinity United Church of Christ conformed to the caricatures being peddled by some commentators, there is no doubt that I would react in much the same way That has been my experience at Trinity. It is that promise that has always set this country apart - that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well. They work hard and give back and keep going without complaint.
Thank you.