Vice President Cheney, Mr. Chief , President Carter, President Bush, President , members of the United States , reverend clergy, distinguished guests, fellow :
On this day, prescribed by and marked by ceremony, we the durable wisdom of our and recall the deep commitments unite our country. I am for the honour of this , mindful of the consequential times which we live and determined fulfil the oath that I sworn and you have witnessed.
this second gathering, our duties defined not by the words use, but by the history have seen together. For a -century, America defended our own freedom standing watch on distant borders. the shipwreck of communism came of relative quiet, years of , years of sabbatical -- and there came a day of .
We have seen our vulnerability, we have seen its deepest . For as long as whole of the world simmer in and tyranny -- prone to that feed hatred and excuse -- violence will gather, and in destructive power, and cross most defended borders and raise mortal threat.
There is only force of history that can the reign of hatred and and expose the pretensions of and reward the hopes of decent and tolerant. And that the force of human freedom.
are led, by events and sense, to one conclusion: The of liberty in our land depends on the success of in other lands. The best for peace in our world the expansion of freedom in the world.
America's vital interests our deepest beliefs are now . From the day of our , we have proclaimed that every and woman on this Earth rights, and dignity and matchless because they bear the image the maker of heaven and .
Across the generations, we have the imperative of self-government, because one is fit to be master, and no one deserves be a slave. Advancing these is the mission that created nation. It is the honourable of our fathers. Now it the urgent requirement of our 's security and the calling of time.
So it is the of the United States to and support the growth of movements and institutions in every and culture, with the ultimate of ending tyranny in our .
This is not primarily the of arms, though we will ourselves and our friends by of arms when necessary. Freedom, its nature, must be chosen defended by citizens and sustained the rule of law and protection of minorities. And when soul of a nation finally , the institutions that arise may customs and traditions very different our own.
America will not our own style of government the unwilling. Our goal instead to help others find their voice, attain their own freedom make their own way.
The objective of ending tyranny is concentrated work of generations. The of the task is no for avoiding it. America's influence not unlimited, but fortunately for oppressed, America's influence is considerable, we will use it confidently freedom's cause.
My most solemn is to protect this nation its people from further attacks emerging threats. Some have unwisely to test America's resolve and found it firm.
We will clarify the choice before every and every nation -- the choice between oppression, which is wrong, and freedom, which is right. America will not pretend jailed dissidents prefer their chains, that women welcome humiliation and or that any human being to live at the mercy bullies.
We will encourage reform other governments by making clear success in our relations will the decent treatment of their people. America's belief in human will guide our policies. Yet, must be more than the concessions of dictators; they are by free dissent and the of the governed. In the run, there is no justice freedom, and there can be human rights without human liberty.
, I know, have questioned the appeal of liberty -- though time in history, four decades by the swiftest advance of ever seen, is an odd for doubt. Americans, of all , should never be surprised by power of our ideals. Eventually, call of freedom comes to mind and every soul. We not accept the existence of tyranny because we do not the possibility of permanent slavery. will come to those who it.
Today, America speaks anew the peoples of the world:
who live in tyranny and can know: The United States not ignore your oppression, or your oppressors. When you stand your liberty, we will stand you.
Democratic reformers facing repression, or exile can know: America you for who you are -- future leaders of your country.
The rulers of outlaw can know that we still as Abraham Lincoln did: "Those deny freedom to others deserve not for themselves; and, under rule of a just God, long retain it."
The leaders governments with long habits of need to know: To serve people you must learn to them. Start on this journey progress and justice, and America walk at your side.
And the allies of the United can know: We honour your , we rely on your counsel, we depend on your help. among free nations is a goal of freedom's enemies. The effort of free nations to democracy is a prelude to enemies' defeat.
Today, I also anew to my fellow citizens:
all of you, I have patience in the hard task securing America, which you have in good measure. Our country accepted obligations that are difficult fulfil and would be dishonourable abandon. Yet because we have in the great liberating tradition this nation, tens of millions achieved their freedom.
And as kindles hope, millions more will it. By our efforts, we lit a fire as well -- fire in the minds men. It warms those who its power, it burns those fight its progress, and one this untamed fire of freedom reach the darkest corners of world.
A few Americans have the hardest duties in this -- in the quiet work intelligence and diplomacy ... the work of helping raise up governments ... the dangerous and work of fighting our enemies. have shown their devotion to country in deaths that honoured whole lives, and we will honour their names and their .
All Americans have witnessed this and some for the first . I ask our youngest citizens believe the evidence of your . You have seen duty and in the determined faces of soldiers. You have seen that is fragile, and evil is , and courage triumphs. Make the to serve in a cause than your wants, larger than , and in your days you add not just to the of our country but to character.
America has need of and courage because we have work at home -- the work of American freedom. In world moving toward liberty, we determined to show the meaning promise of liberty.
In America's of freedom, citizens find the and security of economic independence, of labouring on the edge subsistence. This is the broader of liberty that motivated the Act, the Social Security Act the GI Bill of Rights. now we will extend this by reforming great institutions to the needs of our time.
give every American a stake the promise and future of country, we will bring the standards to our schools and an ownership society. We will the ownership of homes and , retirement savings and health insurance -- our people for the of life in a free .
By making every citizen an of his or her own , we will give our fellow greater freedom from want and and make our society more and just and equal.
In 's ideal of freedom, the public depends on private character -- integrity and tolerance toward others the rule of conscience in own lives. Self-government relies, in end, on the governing of self.
That edifice of character built in families, supported by with standards, and sustained in national life by the truths Sinai, the Sermon on the , the words of the Koran the varied faiths of our . Americans move forward in every by reaffirming all that is and true that came before -- of justice and conduct are the same yesterday, today forever.
In America's ideal of , the exercise of rights is by service and mercy and heart for the weak. Liberty all does not mean independence one another. Our nation relies men and women who look a neighbour and surround the with love.
Americans, at our , value the life we see one another and must always that even the unwanted have . And our country must abandon the habits of racism because cannot carry the message of and the baggage of bigotry the same time.
From the of a single day, including day of dedication, the issues questions before our country are . From the viewpoint of centuries, questions that come to us narrowed and few. Did our advance the cause of freedom? did our character bring credit that cause?
These questions that us also unite us, because of every party and background, by choice and by birth, bound to one another in cause of freedom. We have divisions, which must be healed move forward in great purposes -- I will strive in faith to heal them.
Yet divisions do not define America. felt the unity and fellowship our nation when freedom came attack, and our response came a single hand over a heart. And we can feel same unity and pride whenever acts for good, and the of disaster are given hope, the unjust encounter justice, and captives are set free.
We forward with complete confidence in eventual triumph of freedom. Not history runs on the wheels inevitability; it is human choices move events. Not because we ourselves a chosen nation; God and chooses as he wills.
have confidence because freedom is permanent hope of mankind, the in dark places, the longing the soul. When our Founders a new order of the , when soldiers died in wave wave for a union based liberty, when citizens marched in outrage under the banner "Freedom " -- they were acting on ancient hope that is meant be fulfilled.
History has an and flow of justice, but also has a visible direction by liberty and the author liberty.
When the Declaration of was first read in public the Liberty Bell was sounded celebration, a witness said, "It as if it meant something." our time it means something .
America, in this young century, liberty throughout all the world to all the inhabitants thereof. in our strength -- tested, not weary -- we are for the greatest achievements in history of freedom.
May God you, and may he watch the United States of America.