千里征尘

CHICAGO, IL: Herewith is the full textof president-elect Barack Obama's victory speech Tuesday before a crowdof some 125,000 cheering and teraful supporters:

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is aplace where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream ofour founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of ourdemocracy, tonight is your answer.

"It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools andchurches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waitedthree hours and four hours, many for the very first time in theirlives, because they believed that this time must be different; thattheir voice could be that difference.

"It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democratand Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay,straight, disabled and not disabled Americans who sent a message to theworld that we have never been a collection of Red States and BlueStates: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

"It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by somany to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve toput their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward thehope of a better day.

"It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we didon this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has cometo America.

"I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He foughtlong and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harderfor the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America thatmost of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for theservice rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate himand Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward toworking with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

"I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaignedfrom his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on thestreets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, theVice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

"I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding supportof my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family and thelove of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sashaand Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppythat's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longerwith us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family thatmade me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them isbeyond measure.

"To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist DavidAxelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history ofpolitics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for whatyou've sacrificed to get it done.

"But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to it belongs to you.

"I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn'tstart with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was nothatched in the halls of Washington it began in the backyards of DesMoines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches ofCharleston.

"It was built by working men and women who dug into what littlesavings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twentydollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people whorejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homesand their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep;from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorchingheat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions ofAmericans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than twocenturies later, a government of the people, by the people and for thepeople has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

"I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know youdidn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity ofthe task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know thechallenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime,two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

"Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americanswaking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan torisk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lieawake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make themortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college.There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schoolsto build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may notget there in one year or even one term, but America I have never beenmore hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you weas a people will get there.

"There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won'tagree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we knowthat government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honestwith you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especiallywhen we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work ofremaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221years block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

"What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must notend on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seekit is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannothappen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen withoutyou.

"So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service andresponsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harderand look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember thatif this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have athriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers in this country, we riseor fall as one nation; as one people.

"Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanshipand pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for solong. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who firstcarried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House a partyfounded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, andnational unity. Those are values we all share, and while the DemocraticParty has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure ofhumility and determination to heal the divides that have held back ourprogress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, 'Weare not enemies, but friends though passion may have strained it mustnot break our bonds of affection.' And to those Americans whose supportI have yet to earn I may not have won your vote, but I hear yourvoices, I need your help, and I will be your president too.

"And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, fromparliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in theforgotten corners of our world our stories are singular, but ourdestiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. Tothose who would tear this world down we will defeat you. To those whoseek peace and security we support you. And to all those who havewondered if America's beacon still burns as bright tonight we provedonce more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our themight of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduringpower of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyieldinghope.

"For that is the true genius of America that America can change. Ourunion can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hopefor what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

"This election had many firsts and many stories that will be toldfor generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman whocast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others whostood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for onething--Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

"She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there wereno cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like hercouldn't vote for two reasons because she was a woman and because ofthe color of her skin.

"And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout hercentury in America the heartache and the hope; the struggle and theprogress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people whopressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

"At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopesdismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach forthe ballot. Yes we can.

"When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across theland, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobsand a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

"When the bombs fell on our harbou and tyranny threatened the world,she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracywas saved. Yes we can.

"She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham,a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that'We Shall Overcome.' Yes we can.

"A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a worldwas connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, inthis election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote,because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and thedarkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

"America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is somuch more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves if our childrenshould live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so luckyto live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? Whatprogress will we have made?

"This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This isour time to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunityfor our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; toreclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that outof many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we aremet with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, wewill respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of apeople:

"Yes we can.

"hank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America." (AFP)