Obama Ipsum

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. And slowly, I came to realize that something was missing as well - that without an anchor for my beliefs, without a commitment to a particular community of faith, at some level I would always remain apart, and alone. And today, as my call for a time frame to remove our troops from Iraq has been echoed by the Iraqi government and even the Bush Administration, even after we learned that Iraq has a $79 billion surplus while we're wallowing in deficits, John McCain stands alone in his stubborn refusal to end a misguided war. So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America.

I learned that those things I was too weak to accomplish myself, He would accomplish with me if I placed my trust in Him. Ironically, this quintessentially American - and yes, conservative - notion of self-help found frequent expression in Reverend Wright's sermons. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict.

But we shouldn't use our humility as an excuse for inaction. There is no straight line to realize this promise.

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. Hope in the face of uncertainty. We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretense of liberalism.

And until we do, our conscience cannot rest. Like the anger within the black community, these resentments aren't always expressed in polite company. And in exchange, I'll ask for higher standards and more accountability. You can't truly stand up for Georgia when you've strained our oldest alliances. I know there are many - Muslim and non-Muslim - who question whether we can forge this new beginning.

Thank you.