Time:1993 65438+1October 20th Location: Parliament Building.
Fellow citizens:
Today, we celebrate the miracle of American revival. Although this ceremony was held in the middle of winter, we brought spring to the earth, the oldest democracy in the world, and the vision and courage to rebuild America through our own words and the faces we showed to the world.
When the founders of our country bravely declared the independence of the United States to the world and showed their purpose to God, they knew that the United States must change if it wants to exist forever. Change is not to change, but to maintain American ideals-to change for life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Although we keep pace with the times, our mission will never change. Every generation of Americans, the Ministry of Education must define what it means to be an American. Today, a generation that grew up in the shadow of the cold war has assumed new responsibilities in the world. Although the world is bathed in the sunshine of freedom, it is still threatened by old hatred and new disasters.
We grew up in unprecedented prosperity and inherited the most powerful economy in the world. However, our economy has been weakened by the closure of enterprises, stagnant wage growth, increasing inequality and deepening differences among people.
When George Washington first read the oath I should have read just now, people rode horses and slowly spread the information all over the earth, then came to the ship and spread it all over the ocean. Now, the scenes and sounds of this ceremony are immediately broadcast to billions of people all over the world. Communication and commerce are global, and investment is mobile; Technology is almost magical; The ideal of improving life is now universal. Today, we Americans seek survival through peaceful competition with people all over the world. All kinds of far-reaching and powerful forces are shaking and transforming our world. The urgent task of today's era is whether we can make change our friend, not our enemy.
This new world has made millions of Americans who can compete and win a rich life. However, when most people work more and earn less, when some people can't work at all, when the burden of medical care costs makes many families unbearable, when large and small enterprises are on the verge of bankruptcy, when the fear of criminal activities makes law-abiding citizens unable to move freely, and when millions of poor children can't even imagine the kind of life we call on them to lead, we have not made change our friend. We know that we must face the harsh reality and take strong measures. But instead of doing so, we let it go, thus wasting our resources, destroying our economy and shaking our confidence.
We face amazing challenges, but we also have amazing strength. Americans have always been a people who are uneasy about the status quo, constantly pursuing and full of hope. Today, we must bring the foresight and strong will of our predecessors to our task. From revolution, civil war, Great Depression to civil rights movement, our people have always made up their minds to build the pillars of our history from previous crises.
Thomas Jefferson believed that in order to maintain the foundation of our country, we need to make exciting changes from time to time. My fellow Americans, our time is an era of change. Let's embrace this era!
Our democratic system should not only be envied by the world, but also be the driving force for national rejuvenation. In America, there is no mistake that cannot be corrected by the right things. Therefore, we pledge today to end this era of deadlock and laissez-faire, and a new era of American rejuvenation has begun.
If we want to revive America, we must summon up courage. We must do what our predecessors didn't have to do. We must invest more in people, in their jobs and in their future, and at the same time, we must reduce huge debts. Besides, in a world that needs to compete for every opportunity, we must do all this. This is not easy: it requires sacrifice. However, it can be done, and it can be fair and reasonable. We will not sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice. We must support our country as families support their children.
The founders of our country look at themselves through the eyes of future generations. We must do the same. Anyone who notices that a child is asleep knows what offspring mean. Future generations are the coming world-we stick to our ideals for it, we borrow this planet from it, and we have a sacred responsibility for it. We must do what America does best: provide more opportunities for all and let all take on more responsibilities.
It is time to get rid of the bad habit of asking the government and others for free. Let's take on more responsibilities not only for ourselves and our families, but also for the community and the country.
If we want to revive America, we must restore the vitality of our democratic system. This beautiful capital, like every capital since its own civilization, is often a place of intrigue and infighting. The great men struggle for power and profit, and worry endlessly about the rise and fall of officials, but forget those who sent us here with hard sweat to feed us.
Americans deserve better. Some people in this city want to do things better today. Therefore, I want all the people present to say: Let's make up our minds to reform politics so that the noise of power and privilege will no longer drown out the people's voices. Let's put aside our personal interests. Only in this way can we realize the pain of the United States and see the hope of officials. Let's make up our minds to make the government a place for "bold and lasting experiments" as franklin roosevelt said, and a government facing the future instead of nostalgia for the past. Let's give this capital back to its people.
If we want to revive America, we must meet all kinds of challenges at home and abroad. There is no longer a clear line between diplomacy and domestic affairs-the world economy, the world environment, the world AIDS crisis and the world arms race, all of which affect us all.
When we rebuild at home, we will not shrink from the challenges of this new world, and we will miss the next opportunity. We will make changes with our allies to avoid being swallowed up by them. When our important interests are challenged, or when the will and conscience of the international community are flouted, we will take action-using peaceful diplomatic means as much as possible and using force if necessary.
Today, brave Americans who have served our country in the Persian Gulf, Somalia and anywhere else have proved our determination.
However, our greatest strength is the power of our thoughts. These ideas are still in the embryonic stage in many countries. We are glad to see that these ideas are accepted all over the world. Our hopes and hearts are linked with the people who are building democracy and freedom on all continents. Their cause is also an American cause.
The American people call for the changes we celebrate today. You shouted in unison without equivocation. You voted in an unprecedented number. You have changed Congress, the presidency and the political process itself. Yes, it is you, my fellow Americans, who brought spring back to the earth.
Now, we must finish what we need to finish this season. Now, I will use all my strength to turn to this work. I ask Congress to join me in this work. No president, no congress, no government can accomplish this task alone. My fellow citizens, you must also play a role in the process of China's rejuvenation.
I challenge a new generation of young Americans to devote themselves to this season of dedication-to act according to your idealism, to help unfortunate children, to care for the poor, and to restore ties between divided communities. There is a lot to be done-enough indeed, so that millions of people who are still young in spirit can contribute.
In the process of dedication, we realized the simple but powerful truth of mutual need. We must care about each other. Today, we are not only praising the United States, but also dedicating ourselves once again to the American ideal: this ideal was born in the revolution and updated with the challenges of two centuries; This ideal has stood the test of knowledge, and everyone realizes that if it is not fate, lucky or unlucky people may swap places; This ideal has become lofty because of a belief that our country can achieve the deepest unity from the complexity, and this ideal is permeated with a belief that the long and heroic journey of the United States will continue forever. My fellow citizens, when we are about to enter the 2 1 century, let us start our work with vigorous energy and hopeful attitude, firm confidence and strict discipline until the work is completed. The Bible says, "We should not be discouraged from doing good. If we don't lose heart, we will harvest at the right time. "
On the top of this happy mountain, we heard the call of dedication from the valley. We heard the sound of the horn. We changed jobs. Now, with the help of God, we must respond to this call in our own way.
Thank you all. God bless you.
1 20th 1993
My fellow citizens:
Today, we celebrate the mystery of American renaissance.
The ceremony was held in the dead of winter. However, through what we say and the faces we show to the world, we promote spring. This spring's rebirth in the world's oldest democracy has brought vision and courage to reshape America.
When our founders boldly declared America's independence to the world and our goals to God, they knew that America had to change if it wanted to survive. Change is not for the sake of change, but for the sake of maintaining American ideals; Life, freedom, the pursuit of happiness. Although we advance with the music of the times, our mission is eternal. Every generation of Americans must define what it means to be an American.
On behalf of our country, I pay tribute to my predecessor, President Bush, who served the United States for half a century. I thank millions of men and women whose determination and sacrifice overcame the Great Depression, fascism and communism.
Today, a generation that grew up in the shadow of the cold war has assumed new responsibilities in a world that is warmed by the sunshine of freedom but still threatened by ancient hatred and new plagues.
We grew up in unparalleled prosperity, and the economy we inherited is still the strongest in the world, but it is weakened by the collapse of enterprises, stagnant wages, increasing inequality and profound differences among people.
When George Washington took the oath for the first time, I just took the oath to support it. The news spread slowly across the earth by riding a horse and across the ocean by boat. Now, the pictures and sounds of this ceremony are instantly played to billions of people all over the world.
Communication and commerce are global; Investment is liquid; Technology is almost magical; The ambition to pursue a better life has now become a common phenomenon. We make a living in peaceful competition with people all over the world.
Far-reaching and powerful forces are shaking and reshaping our world. The urgent question of our time is whether we can make change our friend, not our enemy.
This new world has enriched the lives of millions of Americans, in which they can compete and win. But when most people are working hard for less; When others can't work at all; When medical expenses destroyed many families and threatened the bankruptcy of many large and small enterprises; When the fear of crime deprives the freedom of law-abiding citizens; When millions of poor children can't even imagine the life we call them, we don't let change be our friend.
We know that we must face the harsh reality and take strong measures. But we didn't do it. On the contrary, we drift with the tide, which erodes our resources, destroys our economy and shakes our confidence.
Although our challenges are terrible, so are our advantages. Americans have always been a restless, exploring and hopeful people. We must bring the foresight and will of our predecessors to our task today.
From our revolution, civil war, the Great Depression to the civil rights movement, our people are always determined to rebuild the pillars of our history from these crises.
Thomas Jefferson believed that in order to maintain the foundation of our country, we need to make major changes from time to time. My fellow citizens, this is our time. Let's hug it.
Our democracy should not only be envied by the world, but also become the engine of our own rejuvenation. There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right in America.
Therefore, today, we promise to end the era of deadlock and drift; A new season of American renaissance has begun. To revive America, we must be brave. We must do what no one has done before. We must invest more in our own people, invest in their jobs, invest in their future, and reduce our huge debts. In a world where we must compete for every opportunity, we must do so. This is not easy; This requires sacrifice. But it can be done, and it is fair, not to sacrifice ourselves, but for ourselves. We must support our country as families support children.
Our founders look at themselves from the perspective of future generations. We can't do less. Anyone who has seen a child fall asleep in the eyes knows what future generations are. Future generations are the future world; This world is our ideal, we borrowed our planet from it, and we have a sacred responsibility for it. We must do what America does best: provide more opportunities for all and hold everyone accountable.
It's time to break the bad habit of getting something for nothing, whether from our government or from each other. Let's all take on more responsibilities, not only for ourselves and our families, but also for our community and our country. In order to revive America, we must revitalize our democracy.
This beautiful capital, like every capital since its own civilization, is often a place of intrigue and calculation. Powerful people struggle for power and profit, endlessly worry about who goes in and out, who goes up and down, but forget those who sent us here with hard work and sweat and paid our expenses.
Americans deserve better. Today, in this city, some people want to do better. Therefore, I want to say to all of you here, let's make up our minds to reform our politics so that power and privilege will no longer suppress the voice of the people. Let's put aside our personal interests so that we can feel the pain and see the hope of America. Let's make up our minds to make our government a place for what franklin roosevelt called "bold and persistent experiments", a government that faces the future instead of the past. Let's give this capital back to its people.
In order to revitalize America, we must meet the challenges at home and abroad. There is no longer a distinction between what is foreign and what is domestic; World economy, world environment, world AIDS crisis, world arms race; They affect us all.
Today, with the disappearance of the old order, the new world has become more free, but more unstable. The collapse of communism triggered old hostility and new dangers. Obviously, the United States must continue to lead the world for which we have made great efforts.
When the United States is rebuilding at home, we will not shrink from the challenges of this new world, nor will we miss the opportunities of this new world. We will work with our friends and allies to shape the change before it engulfs us.
When our vital interests are challenged or the will and conscience of the international community are flouted, we will take action; Use peaceful diplomacy as much as possible and use force if necessary. Today, brave Americans serve our country in the Persian Gulf, Somalia and anywhere else, which proves our determination.
But our greatest advantage is the power of our thoughts, which is still new in many countries. Around the world, we saw them being hugged, and we rejoiced. Our hopes, our hearts and our hands are with people who are building democracy and freedom on every continent. Their cause is the cause of America.
The American people have summoned the changes we celebrate today. You have raised your voices in a clear chorus. You've cast a historic vote. You have changed the face of Congress, the President and the political process itself. Yes, you, my fellow Americans, forced spring to come. Now, we must finish the work required this season.
I'm starting to work now with all the power in my office. I ask Congress to join me. However, no president, no congress, no government can undertake this task alone. My fellow Americans, you must also play your part in our revival. I challenge a new generation of young Americans to serve their country; Realize your idealism by helping problem children, accompanying those in need and reconnecting our divided community. There are so many things to do; In fact, it is enough for millions of people who are still young to dedicate themselves to service.
In service, we realize a simple but powerful fact that we need each other. We must care about each other. Today, we not only celebrate America; We rededicate ourselves to the idea of America.
An idea born in the revolution and updated in the challenge of two centuries. This idea is influenced by the realization that if it were not for fate, we lucky people and unfortunate people might become each other. This idea has become more noble because we firmly believe that our country can summon the strongest unity force from various things. I am convinced that America's long heroic journey must always be upward.
Therefore, my fellow Americans, at the dawn of the 2 1 century, let us start with energy and hope, faith and discipline, and let us work until our work is completed. The Bible says, "We should not lose heart in doing good, because if we don't lose heart, we will reap in due time."
From this joyous peak, we heard the call to serve in the valley. We heard the sound of the horn. We have changed guards. Now, with God's help, each of us must answer this call.
Thank you, and God bless you.