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email story last updated: 1/20/2005 Full Text of President George W Bush's 2nd Inaugural Speech (Washington-AP, January 20, 2005) _ Released by the White House, here i s the full text of the president's inauguration speech. Vice President Cheney, Mr Chief Justice, President Carter, President Bus h, President Clinton, reverend clergy, distinguished guests, fellow citi zens: On this day, prescribed by law and marked by ceremony, we celebrate the d urable wisdom of our Constitution, and recall the deep commitments that unite our country. I am grateful for the honor of this hour, mindful of the consequential times in which we live, and determined to fulfill the oath that I have sworn and you have witnessed. At this second gathering, our duties are defined not by the words I use, but by the history we have seen together. For a half century, America de fended our own freedom by standing watch on distant borders. After the s hipwreck of communism came years of relative quiet, years of repose, yea rs of sabbatical - and then there came a day of fire. We have seen our vulnerability - and we have seen its deepest source. For as long as whole regions of the world simmer in resentment and tyranny - prone to ideologies that feed hatred and excuse murder - violence will gather, and multiply in destructive power, and cross the most defended borders, and raise a mortal threat. There is only one force of history t hat can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretens ions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant, and th at is the force of human freedom. We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival o f liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of fr eedom in all the world. America's vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one. From the d ay of our Founding, we have proclaimed that every man and woman on this earth has rights, and dignity, and matchless value, because they bear th e image of the Maker of Heaven and earth. Across the generations we have proclaimed the imperative of self-government, because no one is fit to be a master, and no one deserves to be a slave. Advancing these ideals i s the mission that created our Nation. Now it is the urgent requirement of our nation's security , and the calling of our time. So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth o f democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, wit h the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world. This is not primarily the task of arms, though we will defend ourselves a nd our friends by force of arms when necessary. Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of l aw and the protection of minorities. And when the soul of a nation final ly speaks, the institutions that arise may reflect customs and tradition s very different from our own. America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find the ir own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way. The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generat ions. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it. America's influence is not unlimited, but fortunately for the oppressed, America' s influence is considerable, and we will use it confidently in freedom's cause. My most solemn duty is to protect this nation and its people against furt her attacks and emerging threats. Some have unwisely chosen to test Amer ica's resolve, and have found it firm. We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nati on: The moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and free dom, which is eternally right. America will not pretend that jailed diss idents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and servit ude, or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies. We will encourage reform in other governments by making clear that succes s in our relations will require the decent treatment of their own people . America's belief in human dignity will guide our policies, yet rights must be more than the grudging concessions of dictators; they are secure d by free dissent and the participation of the governed. In the long run , there is no justice without freedom, and there can be no human rights without human liberty. Some, I know, have questioned the global appeal of liberty - though this time in history, four decades defined by the swiftest advance of freedom ever seen, is an odd time for doubt. Americans, of all people, should n ever be surprised by the power of our ideals. Eventually, the call of fr eedom comes to every mind and every soul. We do not accept the existence of permanent tyranny because we do not accept the possibility of perman ent slavery. Today, America speaks anew to the peoples of the world: All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand f or your liberty, we will stand with you. Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: Americ a sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country. The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Li ncoln did: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselv es; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it." The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know: To s erve your people you must learn to trust them. Start on this journey of progress and justice, and America will walk at your side. And all the allies of the United States can know: we honor your friendshi p, we rely on your counsel, and we depend on your help. Division among f ree nations is a primary goal of freedom's enemies. The concerted effort of free nations to promote democracy is a prelude to our enemies' defea t Today, I also speak anew to my fellow citizens: From all of you, I have asked patience in the hard task of securing Ameri ca, which you have granted in good measure. Our country has accepted obl igations that are difficult to fulfill, and would be dishonorable to aba ndon. Yet because we have acted in the great liberating tradition of thi s nation, tens of millions have achieved their freedom. By our efforts, we have lit a fire as well - a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power , it burns those who fight its progress, and one day this untamed fire o f freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world. A few Americans have accepted the hardest duties in this cause - in the q uiet work of intelligence and diplomacy ... the idealistic work of helpi ng raise up free governments ... the dangerous and necessary work of fig hting our enemies. Some have shown their devotion to our country in deat hs that honored their whole lives - and we will always honor their names and their sacrifice. All Americans have witnessed this idealism, and some for the first time. I ask our youngest citizens to believe the evidence of your eyes. You ha ve seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs. Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself - and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country, but to its character. America has need of idealism and courage, because we have essential work at home - the unfinished work of American freedom. In a world moving tow ard liberty, we are determined to show the meaning and promise of libert y In America's ideal of freedom, citizens find the dignity and security of economic independence, instead of laboring on the edge of subsistence. T his is the broader definition of liberty that motivated the Homestead Ac t, the Social Security Act, and the GI Bill of Rights. And now we will extend this vision by reforming great institutions to serve the needs o f our time. To give every American a stake in the promise and future of our country, we wi...
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