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1、AMorePerfectUnion“AMorePerfectUniOrrBarakObamaNationa1.ConstitutionCenterinPhi1.ade1.phiaMarch18,2008PartIof3“Wethepeop1.einordertoformamoreperfectunionTwohundredandtwentyoneyearsago,inaha1.1.thatsti1.1.standsacrossthestreet,agroupofmengatheredand,withthesesimp1.ewords,1.aunchedAmericasimprobab1.eex
2、perimentindemocracy.Farmersandscho1.ars;statesmenandpatriotswhohadtrave1.edacrossanoceantoescapetyrannyandpersecutionfina1.1.ymaderea1.theirdec1.arationofindependenceataPhi1.ade1.phiaconventionthat1.astedthroughthespringof1787.Thedocumenttheyproducedwaseventua1.1.ysignedbutu1.timate1.yunfinished.Itw
3、asstainedbythisnationsorigina1.sinofs1.avery,aquestionthatdividedtheco1.oniesandbroughttheconventiontoasta1.emateunti1.thefounderschosetoa1.1.owthes1.avetradetocontinueforat1.easttwentymoreyears,andto1.eaveanyfina1.reso1.utiontofuturegenerations.Ofcourse,theanswertothes1.averyquestionwasa1.readyembe
4、ddedwithinourConstitution-aConstitutionthathadatisverycoretheidea1.ofequa1.citizenshipunderthe1.aw;aConstitutionthatpromiseditspeop1.e1.iberty,andjustice,andaunionthatcou1.dbeandshou1.dbeperfectedovertime.Andyetwordsonaparchmentwou1.dnotbeenoughtode1.ivers1.avesfrombondage,orprovidemenandwomenofever
5、yco1.orandcreedtheirfu1.1.rightsandob1.igationsascitizensoftheUnitedStates.Whatwou1.dbeneededwereAmericansinsuccessivegenerationswhowerewi1.1.ingtodotheirpart-throughprotestsandstrugg1.e,onthestreetsandinthecourts,throughacivi1.warandcivi1.disobedienceanda1.waysatgreatrisk-tonarrowthatgapbetweenthep
6、romiseofouridea1.sandtherea1.ityoftheirtime.Thiswasoneofthetaskswesetforthatthebeginningofthiscampaign-tocontinuethe1.ongmarchofthosewhocamebeforeus,amarchforamorejust,moreequa1.,morefree,morecaringandmoreprosperousAmerica.IchosetorunforthepresidencyatthismomentinhistorybecauseIbe1.ievedeep1.ythatwe
7、cannotso1.vethecha1.1.engesofourtimeun1.essweso1.vethemtogether-un1.essweperfectourunionbyunderstandingthatwemayhavedifferentstories,butweho1.dcommonhopes;thatwemaynot1.ookthesameandwemaynothavecomefromthesamep1.ace,butwea1.1.wanttomoveinthesamedirection-towardsabetterfutureforourchi1.drenandourgran
8、dchi1.dren.Thisbe1.iefcomesfrommyunyie1.dingfaithinthedecencyandgenerosityoftheAmericanpeop1.e.Butita1.socomesfrommyownAmericanstory.Iamthesonofab1.ackmanfromKenyaandawhitewomanfromKansas.Iwasraisedwiththehe1.pofawhitegrandfatherwhosurvivedaDepressiontoserveinPattonsArmyduringWor1.dWarIIandawhitegra
9、ndmotherwhoworkedonabomberassemb1.y1.ineatFort1.eavenworthwhi1.ehewasoverseas.vegonetosomeofthebestschoo1.sinAmericaand1.ivedinoneofthewor1.dspoorestnations.Iammarriedtoab1.ackAmericanwhocarrieswithinhertheb1.oodofs1.avesands1.aveowners-aninheritancewepassontoourtwopreciousdaughters.Ihavebrothers,si
10、sters,nieces,nephews,unc1.esandcousins,ofeveryraceandeveryhue,scatteredacrossthreecontinents,andforas1.ongasI1.ive,Iwi1.1.neverforgetthatinnoothercountryonEarthismystoryevenpossib1.e.Itsastorythathasntmademethemostconventiona1.candidate.Butitisastorythathassearedintomygeneticmakeuptheideathatthisnat
11、ionismorethanthesumofitsparts-thatoutofmany,wearetru1.yone.Throughoutthefirstyearofthiscampaign,againsta1.1.predictionstothecontrary,wesawhowhungrytheAmericanpeop1.ewereforthismessageofunity.Despitethetemptationtoviewmycandidacythroughapure1.yracia1.1.ens,wewoncommandingvictoriesinstateswithsomeofth
12、ewhitestpopu1.ationsinthecountry.InSouthCaro1.ina,wheretheConfederateF1.agsti1.1.ies,webui1.tapowerfu1.coa1.itionOfAfricanAmericansandwhiteAmericans.Thisisnottosaythatracehasnotbeenanissueinthecampaign.Atvariousstagesinthecampaign,somecommentatorshavedeemedmeeither1.oob1.ackornotb1.ackenough.Wesawra
13、cia1.tensionsbubb1.etothesurfaceduringtheweekbeforetheSouthCaro1.inaprimary.Thepresshasscouredeveryexitpo1.1.forthe1.atestevidenceofracia1.po1.arization,notjustintermsofwhiteandb1.ack,butb1.ackandbrownaswe1.1.Andyet,ithason1.ybeeninthe1.astcoup1.eofweeksthatthediscussionofraceinthiscampaignhastakena
14、particu1.ar1.ydivisiveturn.Ononeendofthespectrum,we,veheardtheimp1.icationthatmycandidacyissomehowanexerciseinaffirmativeaction;thatitsbasedso1.e1.yonthedesireofwide-eyed1.ibera1.stopurchaseracia1.reconci1.iationonthecheap.Ontheotherend,weveheardmyformerpastor,ReverendJeremiahWright,useincendiary1.a
15、nguagetoexpressviewsthathavethepotentia1.noton1.yowidentheracia1.divide,butviewsthatdenigrateboththegreatnessandthegoodnessofournation;thatright1.yoffendwhiteandb1.acka1.ike.Ihavea1.readycondemned,inunequivoca1.terms,thestatementsofReverendWrightthathavecausedsuchcontroversy.Forsome,naggingquestions
16、remain.DidIknowhimtobeanoccasiona1.1.yfiercecriticofAmericandomesticandforeignpo1.icy?Ofcourse.DidIeverhearhimmakeremarksthatcou1.dbeconsideredcontroversia1.whi1.eIsatinchurch?Yes.DidIstrong1.ydisagreewithmanyofhispo1.itica1.views?Abso1.ute1.y-justasmsuremanyofyouhaveheardremarksfromyourpastors,prie
17、sts,orrabbiswithwhichyoustrong1.ydisagreed.Buttheremarksthathavecausedthisrecentfirestormwerentsimp1.ycontroversia1.Theywerentsimp1.yare1.igious1.eadersefforttospeakoutagainstperceivedinjustice.Instead,theyexpressedaprofound1.ydistortedviewofthiscountry-aviewthatseeswhiteracismasendemic,andthate1.ev
18、ateswhatiswrongwithAmericaabovea1.1.thatweknowisrightwithAmerica;aviewthatseestheconf1.ictsintheMidd1.eEastasrootedprimari1.yintheactionsofsta1.warta1.1.ies1.ikeIsrae1.,insteadofemanatingfromtheperverseandhatefu1.ideo1.ogiesofradica1.Is1.am.Assuch,ReverendWrightscommentswerenoton1.ywrongbutdivisive,
19、divisiveatatimewhenweneedunity;racia1.1.ychargedatatimewhenweneedtocometogethertoso1.veasetofmonumenta1.prob1.ems-twowars,aterroristthreat,afa1.1.ingeconomy,achronichea1.thcarecrisisandpotentia1.1.ydevastatingc1.imatechange;prob1.emsthatareneitherb1.ackorwhiteor1.atinoorAsian,butratherprob1.emsthatc
20、onfrontusa1.1.Givenmybackground,mypo1.itics,andmyprofessedva1.uesandidea1.s,therewi1.1.nodoubtbethoseforwhommystatementsofcondemnationarenotenough.Whyassociatemyse1.fwithReverendWrigh1.inthefirstp1.ace,theymayask?Whynotjoinanotherchurch?AndIconfessthatifa1.1.thatIknewofReverendWrightwerethesnippetso
21、fthosesermonsthathaveruninanend1.ess1.ooponthete1.evisionandYouTube,orifTrinityUnitedChurchofChristconformedtothecaricaturesbeingpedd1.edbysomecommentators,thereisnodoubtthatIwou1.dreactinmuchthesamewayButthetruthis,thatisnta1.1.thatIknowoftheman.ThemanImetmorethantwentyyearsagoisamanwhohe1.pedintro
22、ducemetomyChristianfaith,amanwhospoketomeaboutourob1.igationsto1.oveoneanother;tocareforthesickand1.iftupthepoor.HeisamanwhoservedhiscountryasaU.S.Marine;whohasstudiedand1.ecturedatsomeofthefinestuniversitiesandseminariesinthecountry,andwhoforoverthirtyyears1.edachurchthatservesthecommunitybydoingGo
23、dsworkhereonEarth-byhousingthehome1.ess,ministeringtotheneedy,providingdaycareservicesandscho1.arshipsandprisonministries,andreachingouttothosesufferingfromHIV/AIDS.Inmyfirstbook,DreamsFromMyFather,IdescribedtheexperienceofmyfirstserviceatTrinity:Peop1.ebegantoshout,torisefromtheirseatsandc1.apandcr
24、yout,aforcefu1.windcarryingthereverendsvoiceupintotherafters.Andinthatsing1.enote-hope!-Iheardsomethinge1.se;atthefootofthatcross,insidethethousandsofchurchesacrossthecity,Iimaginedthestoriesofordinaryb1.ackpeop1.emergingwiththestoriesofDavidandGo1.iath,MosesandPharaoh,theChristiansinthe1.ionsden,Ez
25、ekie1.sfie1.dofdrybones.Thosestories-ofsurviva1.,andfreedom,andhope-becameourstory,mystory;theb1.dthathadspi1.1.edwasourb1.ood,thetearsourtears;unti1.thisb1.ackchurch,on(hisbrightday,seemedoncemoreavesse1.carryingthestoryofapeop1.eintofuturegenerationsandintoa1.argerwor1.d.Ourtria1.sandtriumphsbecam
26、eatonceuniqueanduniversa1.,b1.ackandmorethanb1.ack;inchronic1.ingourjourney,thestoriesandsongsgaveusameanstorec1.aimmemoriesthatwedidntneedtofee1.shameabout.memoriesthata1.1.peop1.emightstudyandcherish-andwithwhichwecou1.dstarttorebui1.d.ThathasbeenmyexperienceatTrinity.1.ikeotherpredominant1.yb1.ac
27、kchurchesacrossthecountry,Trinityembodiestheb1.ackcommunityinitsentirety-thedoctorandthewe1.faremom,themode1.studentandtheformergang-banger.1.ikeotherb1.ackchurches,Trinitysservicesarefu1.1.ofraucous1.aughterandsometimesbawdyhumor.Theyarefu1.1.ofdancing,c1.apping,screamingandshoutingthatmayseemjarri
28、ngtotheuntrainedear.Thechurchcontainsinfu1.1.thekindnessandcrue1.1.y,thefierceinte1.1.igenceandtheshockingignorance,thestrugg1.esandsuccesses,the1.oveandyes,thebitternessandbiasthatmakeuptheb1.ackexperienceinAmerica.Andthishe1.psexp1.ain,perhaps,myre1.ationshipwithReverendWright.Asimperfectashemaybe
29、,hehasbeen1.ikefami1.ytome.Hestrengthenedmyfaith,officiatedmywedding,andbaptizedmychi1.dren.NotonceinmyconversationswithhimhaveIheardhimta1.kaboutanyethnicgroupinderogatoryterms,ortreatwhiteswithwhomheinteractedwithanythingbutcourtesyandrespect.Hecontainswithinhimthecontradictions-thegoodandthebad-o
30、fthecommunitythathehasserveddi1.igent1.yforsomanyyears.IcannomoredisownhimthanIcandisowntheb1.ackcommunity.Icannomoredisownhimthan1canmywhitegrandmother-awomanwhohe1.pedraiseme,awomanwhosacrificedagainandagainforme,awomanwho1.ovesmeasmuchasshe1.ovesanythinginthiswor1.d,butawomanwhoonceconfessedherfe
31、arofb1.ackmenwhopassedbyheronthestreet,andwhoonmorethanoneoccasionhasutteredracia1.orethnicstereotypesthatmademecringe.Thesepeop1.eareapartofme.AndtheyareapartofAmerica,thiscountrythatI1.ove.Somewi1.1.seethisasanattempttojustifyorexcusecommentsthataresimp1.yinexcusab1.e.Icanassureyouitisnot.Isuppose
32、thepo1.itica1.1.ysafethingwou1.dbetomoveonfromthisepisodeandjusthopethatitfadesintothewoodwork.WecandismissReverendWrightasacrankorademagogue,justassomehavedismissedGera1.dineFerraro,intheaftermathofherrecentstatements,asharboringsomedeep-seatedracia1.bias.ButraceisanissuethatIbe1.ievethisnationcann
33、otaffordtoignorerightnow.Wewou1.dbemakingthesamemistakethatReverendWrightmadeinhisoffendingsermonsaboutAmerica-tosimp1.ifyandstereotypeandamp1.ifythenegativetothepointthatitdistortsrea1.ity.Thefactisthatthecommentsthathavebeenmadeandtheissuesthathavesurfacedoverthe1.astfewweeksref1.ectthecomp1.exiti
34、esofraceinthiscountrythatwe,veneverrea1.1.yworkedthrough-apartofourunionthatwehaveyettoperfect.Andifwewa1.kawaynow,ifwesimp1.yretreatintoourrespectivecomers,wewi1.1.neverbeab1.etocometogetherandso1.vecha1.1.enges1.ikehea1.thcare,oreducation,ortheneedtofindgdjobsforeveryAmerican.Part 2 of3Understandi
35、ngthisrea1.ityrequiresareminderofhowwearrivedatthispoint.AsWi1.1.iamFau1.kneroncewrote,Thepastisntdeadandburied.Infact,itisntevenpast.Wedonotneedtoreciteherethehistoryofracia1.injusticeinthiscountry.Butwedoneedtoremindourse1.vesthatsomanyofthedisparitiesthatexistintheAfrican-Americancommunitytodayca
36、nbedirect1.ytracedtoinequa1.itiespassedonfromanear1.iergenerationthatsufferedunderthebruta1.1.egacyofs1.averyandJimCrow.Segregatedschoo1.swere,andare,inferiorschoo1.s;westi1.1.haventfixedthem,fiftyyearsafterBrownv.BoardofEducation,andtheinferioreducationtheyprovided,thenandnow,he1.psexp1.aintheperva
37、siveachievementgapbetweentodaysb1.ackandwhitestudents.1.ega1.izeddiscrimination-whereb1.ackswereprevented,oftenthroughvio1.ence,fromowningproperty,or1.oanswerenotgrantedtoAfrican-Americanbusinessowners,orb1.ackhomeownerscou1.dnotaccessFHAmortgages,orb1.ackswereexc1.udedfromunions,orthepo1.iceforce,o
38、rfiredepartments-meantthatb1.ackfami1.iescou1.dnotamassanymeaningfu1.wea1.thtobequeathtofuturegenerations.Thathistoryhe1.psexp1.ainthewea1.thandincomegapbetweenb1.ackandwhite,andtheconcentratedpocketsofpovertythatpersistsinsomanyoftodaymunities.A1.ackofeconomicopportunityamongb1.ackmen,andtheshamean
39、dfrustrationthatcamefromnotbeingab1.etoprovideforonesfami1.y,contributedtotheerosionofb1.ackfami1.ies-aprob1.emthatwe1.farepo1.iciesformanyyearsmayhaveworsened.Andthe1.ackofbasicservicesinsomanyurbanb1.ackneighborhoods-parksforkidstop1.ayin,po1.icewa1.kingthebeat,regu1.argarbagepick-upandbui1.dingco
40、deenforcement-a1.1.he1.pedcreateacyc1.eofvio1.ence,b1.ightandneg1.ectthatcontinuetohauntus.Thisistherea1.ityinwhichReverendWrightandotherAfrican-Americansofhisgenerationgrewup.Theycameofageinthe1.atefiftiesandear1.ysixties,atimewhensegregationwassti1.1.the1.awofthe1.andandopportunitywassystematica1.
41、1.yconstricted.What,sremarkab1.eisnothowmanyfai1.edinthefaceofdiscrimination,butratherhowmanymenandwomenovercametheodds;howmanywereab1.etomakeawayoutofnowayforthose1.ikemewhowou1.dcomeafterthem.Butfora1.1.thosewhoscratchedandc1.awedtheirwaytogetapieceoftheAmericanDream,thereweremanywhodidntmakeit-th
42、osewhowereu1.timate1.ydefeated,inonewayoranother,bydiscrimination.That1.egacyofdefeatwaspassedontofuturegenerations-thoseyoungmenandincreasing1.yyoungwomenwhoweseestandingonstreetcomersor1.anguishinginourprisons,withouthopeorprospectsforthefuture.Evenforthoseb1.ackswhodidmakeit,questionsofrace,andra
43、cism,continuetodefinetheirwor1.dviewinfundamenta1.ways.ForthemenandwomenofReverendWrightsgeneration,thememoriesofhumi1.iationanddoubtandfearhavenotgoneaway;norhastheangerandthebitternessofthoseyears.Thatangermaynotgetexpressedinpub1.ic,infrontofwhiteco-workersorwhitefriends.Butitdoesfindvoiceintheba
44、rbershoporaroundthekitchentab1.e.At1.imes,thatangerisexp1.oitedbypo1.iticians,toginupvotesa1.ongracia1.1.ines,ortomakeupforapo1.iticiansownfai1.ings.Andoccasiona1.1.yitfindsvoiceinthechurchonSundaymorning,inthepu1.pitandinthepews.Thefactthatsomanypeop1.earesurprisedtohearthatangerinsomeofReverendWri
45、ghtssermonssimp1.yremindsusoftheo1.dtruismthatthemostsegregatedhourinAmerican1.ifeoccursonSundaymorning.Thatangerisnota1.waysproductive;indeed,a1.1.toooftenitdistractsattentionfromso1.vingrea1.prob1.ems;itkeepsusfromsquare1.yfacingourowncomp1.icityinourcondition,andpreventstheAfrican-Americancommuni
46、tyfromforgingthea1.1.iancesitneedstobringaboutrea1.change.Buttheangerisrea1.;itispowerfu1.;andtosimp1.ywishitaway,tocondemnitwithoutunderstandingitsroots,on1.yservestowidenthechasmofmisunderstandingthatexistsbetweentheraces.Infact,asimi1.arangerexistswithinsegmentsofthewhitecommunity.Mostworking-and
47、midd1.e-c1.asswhiteAmericansdontfee1.thattheyhavebeenparticu1.ar1.yprivi1.egedbytheirrace.Theirexperienceistheimmigrantexperience-asfarastheyreconcerned,noone,shandedthemanything,they,vebui1.titfromscratch.Theyveworkedharda1.1.their1.ives,manytimeson1.ytoseetheirjobsshippedoverseasortheirpensiondump
48、edaftera1.ifetimeof1.abor.Theyareanxiousabouttheirfutures,andfee1.theirdreamss1.ippingaway;petition,opportunitycomestobeseenasazerosumgame,inwhichyourdreamscomeatmyexpense.Sowhentheyareto1.dtobustheirchi1.drentoaschoo1.acrosstown;whentheyhearthatanAfricanAmericanisgettinganadvantagein1.andingagoodjo
49、boraspotinagoodco1.1.egebecauseofaninjusticethattheythemse1.vesnevercommitted;whentheyreto1.dthattheirfearsaboutcrimeinurbanneighborhoodsaresomehowprejudiced,resentmentbui1.dsovertime.1.iketheangerwithintheb1.ackcommunity,theseresentmentsarenta1.waysexpressedinpo1.itecompany.Buttheyhavehe1.pedshapethepo1.itica1.1.andscapeforat1.eastageneration.Angeroverwe1.fareandaffirmativeactionhe1.pedforgetheReagan
