Tribu Aninipay
Tribu Aninipay was founded by the Carado family in the year 2000. The tribe name is taken from a kind of grass which grows abundantly in a rocky and mountainous area in Panay where a certain tribe inhabits. The tribesmen then identified themselves as Tribu Aninipay due to the thick growth of grass in their area. The tribe has 48 warriors and 30 drummers with 20 support staff and they are presently managed by Randy Ramon Carado. Tribe choreographers are Martine Ilaud and Noel John Perez. The tribe was able to bag the 2nd place in the 2000 competition and they were also awarded the Best in Discipline on the same year. They were also the Most Colorful tribe in the 2003 competition. Last year, the tribe grabbed the Best Costume special award.
Tribu Atub-Atub
The tribe was founded in May 5, 1971 and was organized by Joaquin Santiago Sr. and family to show their devotion and reverence to the Holy Child Jesus, whom they believed to have unceasingly blessed them. It has a long list of achievements since it first joined the festival. It has reaped the Championship award for the years 1978, 1983, 1988, 2000, 2003 and 2004. It also garnered the 1st runner-up in the Aliwan Dance Competition in 2003. The tribe was again the Grand Champion for the 2nd Aliwan National Dance Parade Competition in 2004. Atub-Atub has also performed in the Independence Day celebration in Intramuros and at WOW Philippines best of the regions showcase. The tribe manager is Ma. Elena Santiago and choreographers are Ria Española and Butch Jamantoc. Atub-Atub is composed of 85 warriors and 35 drummers/musicians with 24 support staff.
Tribu Bantu
Bantu tribe was conceptualized and formed by husband and wife tandem, July and Carlene Gomez on July 24, 2003 and had its first performance in the Dinagyang Festival last 2004. The tribe got its name from a place in Africa which has an abundance of crops such as banana and has its people believing in spirits found in stones. The tribe has 60 warriors with 15 back up dancers, 40 drummers and 30 support staff dancers with July Gomez as the tribe manager, and Teofilo Zamora as tribe choreographer.
Tribu Binhi
Tribu Binhi which used to be known as Tribu Dagyaw-ta, was founded in 2003 by Brgy. Captain Saysay Roque, Rufino Villaflor, and Joel Aquino. Its members reside at Brgy. Rizal-Estanzuela and other neighboring barangays. Now, Tribu Binhi is composed of students from Melchor Nava National High School. The tribe is composed of 78 warriors, 30 drummers, and 10 support staff. Their manager is Rufino Villaflor, tribe choreographers are Eric Tagana and Alan Vinzon. The tribe got the 12th place in 2004 and 9th place in 2005.
Tribu Familia Sagrada
The tribe was founded in 2003 by Robmar Tan Buensuceso. It has 54 warriors, 30 back-up dancers, 42 drummers and 40 support staff. The tribe manager is Robmar Buensuceso and the tribe choreographers are Tope Ariete, Symon Panes and Tata Lanzar. The tribe won Best in Headdress in 2003; 3rd Runner-up in 2004 and was 6th place in 2005.
Tribu Himala
Himala tribe was founded in 1979 and was an off-shoot of Tribu Hamili. The founders are Danilo Edwin and Henry Drilon. The tribe has 48 warriors, 30 drummers and 50 support staff with Danilo Drilon as the tribe manager and Doni Anthony Drilon, as the tribe choreographer. The tribe got the 3rd place in 1996 and won Best Costume in 1981 and 1994.
Tribu Silak
Tribu Silak’s manager is Helen Deguma. Tribu Silak is made up of students from Iloilo City National High School and was originally called Tribu Lunok when it was organized in 1998 by the late Ronnie Baretta. It was 2nd runner up in the Dinagyang Festival 1998, 1st runner-up and best in choreography in 1999; 1st runner-up and best in performance in 2000; 1st runner-up and best in discipline in 2002 and 2nd runner-up and best in discipline in 2004. In 2005, they changed their name to Silak and garnered the best in choreography, performance and music awards. They were 1st runner-up in 2006 and 3rd runner-up in 2007. The tribe has 60 warriors/dancers, 40 back-up dancers, 50 drummers, 1 tribe leader, 13 props men, 1 banner bearer and 10 lifters. Choreographer is Rey Vincent Jaena, musical directors are Rustico Ledesma, Cris Sally and Alexis Puljanan. Costume designers are Nil Capinianes and Arthur Jusa. Tribe leader is Daves Gabion.
Tribu Molave
Tribu Molave was founded in 1979 by Jaime Canlas. It was previouslay called Tribu Barangayan and was changed to Molave in 1980. The name came from the Molave tree. The tribe has 72 warriors, 42 drummers/musicians and 30 support staff with Jaime Canlas as the tribe manager and Cayetano Leal as the choreographer. The tribe was champion in 3rd Runner-up in 1999, 2nd Runner-up in 2000 and champion from 2001-2002 in the Barangay Category. They also got the Best in Costume and Performance awards in the same year. They were awarded Best in Head Dress in last year’s festival.
Tribu Baryohanon
Tribu Baryohanon is being managed by Jona Dalton with Coriemer Vergara as choreographer. The tribe is based in Brgy. Bo. Obrero, La Paz and started joining the Dinagyang Ati competition in 2005. They are composed of 48 warriors, 15 dancers and 30 drummers with the Bo. Obrero barangay council as its support staff.
Tribu Kalubihan
The tribe was organized in 2002 and won the Best Headdress and Most Unique awards in the same year. There are 60 warriors with 1 tribe leader and 2 side leaders, 30 drummers and 53 support staff for this year. Tribe manager is Ronelo Juesca and choreographer is Shiela Montero-Kamiya.
Tribu Pana-ad
Tribu Pana-ad was founded in 1987 by Carlos Ebro, Jr., Melvin Villanueva, Mario Magno, Robmar Buensuceso and Vicbay Molina (deceased). The tribe name means a promise or sacred vow. The tribe has 60 warriors, 40 drummers and 25 support staff with Carlos Ebro, Jr. as the tribe manager and Mark Erfe as the tribe choreographer. The tribe was 1st Runner-up in 1998, Over-all Champion in 1999, 2nd Runner-up in 2000, 1st Runner-up in 2001, 3rd Runner-up in 2002, 2nd Runner-up in 2003, 3rd Runner-up in 2004 and was 1st Runner-up in 2005.
Tribu Pag-asa
Tribu Pag-asa was founded in 2002 by Andres Gomez, Jr. The tribe’s name means hope and their previous name was Kongo/Kanyao. The tribe has 63 warriors, 40 drummers and 20 support staff with Andres Gomez, Jr. as the tribe manager and choreographer.
Tribu Pari-anon
Tribu Pari-anon was founded in 2001 by Oscar Vijuan and was derived from the old name of Molo which was Parian. The tribe has 60 warriors, 30 drummers and 20 support staff. Tribe manager is Oscar Vijuan and choreographer is Eric Caton. They were 3rd Runner-up in the Open Category in 2001 and placed 2nd in 2002. They also got the Best in Music award in the same year. They were the 1st Runner-up and got the Best in Costume, Best in Headress and Most Unique awards in 2004 and was 3rd Runner-up and Most Colorful in Dinagyang 2005.
Tribu Ivatan
Tribu Ivatan hails from Batanes and has Joel Diasnes as its tribe manager. Tribe choreographer is Robert Lapating. The tribe has 90 warriors, 29 drummers and 25 support staff.
Tribu ni San Pedro
Tribu ni San Pedro is composed of students from Fort San Pedro National High School and is managed by their principal, Mrs. Belinda Dinopol. The name was chosen to pay tribute to the school and to represent the name of the foremost apostle and saint, who is believed by Christians as the keeper of Heaven’s gate. The tribe has 95 warriors, 55 drummers and 30 back-up dancers. They are being choreographed by Mr. Edwin Duero.
Tribu Ilonganon
Tribu Ilonganon, a term coined from the word “Ilonggo” which means a native of Iloilo, is the pride of Jalandoni Memorial National High School (formerly Lapuz High School.) Their entry name under Kasadyahan was Tribu Lapus-Lapus derived from the name of the district where the school is situated - Lapuz. They first joined the Ati competition in 2005 and was the 2nd Runner-up. In 2006, it was declared Champion of the Dinagyang Festival and got the Presidential Trophy; it was also awarded Best in Performance, Choreography and Choreographer on that same year. The tribe was again declared Champion in 2007 and won the Best in Performance and Costume awards. The tribe is composed of 50 warriors, 45 drummers, 15 lead dancers and 108 support staff. Tribe manager is Dr. Blesilda Floro and choreographer is Rommel Flogen.
Tribu Paghidaet
Tribu Paghidaet is from La Paz National High School, and was managed by Helen Deguma assisted by Ramil Huyatid and Celso Guion. The school has always been an avid supporter of the Dinagyang Festival and has joined the Kasadyahan for a number of years. The year 1999 was the school’s maiden year in joining the Dinagyang competition; they were the Second runner-up. In 2000 and 2004, they won 3rd Place, they were again Second runner-up in 2001 and garnered back to back Championships in 2002 and 2003. The tribe was judged as First runner-up and Best in Discipline in 2006 in the Kasadyahan Competition. In 2007, under the management of Azucena Falales, they were First Runner-up in the dinagyang Competition and garnered the Best in Choreography and Choreograper, Music and Street Dancing awards. The name was adopted because Lapazenians believe that the Lady of Peace and Good Voyage is the strong force that blows on the tribe’s sails. This year, the tribe has 55 warriors, 65 drummers and 65 star dancers. The choreographer is Ramil Huyatid assisted by Errol Jave Villalobos and Gerlyn Francisco. Tribe musician is Raymund Ferolino. The tribe is led by Ronel Francisco.
Tribu ANG TAGA-JARO
Ang Taga-Jaro is managed by Jesusita Agudo and Anthony Portugalete as tribe artistic director. The performers are the students of Jaro National High School. The tribe used to be called Tribu Salognon, Salog being the old name of Jaro. They had their maiden performance in 2004 and was 3rd runner-up in 2005 and garnered the Most Colorful Costume award. In 2006, it was Champion of the Best Tribe Competition with a special award of Most Educational/Informational Booth. It also placed 2nd runner-up in the Best Tribe Warrior category. It was declared 2nd runner-up in 2007’s Dinagyang Ati competition. The tribe has warriors/dancers, drummers, and support staff.
Tribu Hamili
Tribu Hamili was founded in 1969 by Francis Segovia. The previous name of the tribe was Sacred and was changed to Hamili in 1972 which means the same thing. The tribe has 48 warriors, 30 drummers and 20 support staff with Francis Segovia as the present tribe manager and Don Demetita as choregrapher. The tribe got the 3rd place from 1970-1974, they were declared champion in the years 1975,1976 and 1998, they won 2nd place in 1999 and 4th place in 2002.
Tribu Angola
The tribe’s previous name was Tribu Ambala. It was formed by Rodrigo Geraga in 1974. Ambala is the legendary cannibal tribe of Zambales. The founder wanted to depict them not as cannibals but as a tribe that gives honor to Señor Santo Niño. Then in 1989, the tribe’s name was changed to Angola. The tribe is composed of 65 warriors, 30 drummers and 25 support staff. The tribe manager is Rodrigo Geraga and choreographer is Roel Labto. Angola was 4th Runner-up in Dinagyang 2000 and they were the Best in Discipline in 2001.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
President Barack Obama's inaugural speech
OBAMA: My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
