AmericanRhetoric.

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JessieJackson
DemocraticNationalConventionAddress

Delivered18July1984,SanFrancisco

AUTHENTICITYCERTIFIED:Textversionbelowtranscribeddirectlyfromaudio

Thankyouverymuch. TonightwecometogetherboundbyourfaithinamightyGod,withgenuinerespectandlove forourcountry,andinheritingthelegacyofagreatParty,theDemocraticParty,whichisthe besthopeforredirectingournationonamorehumane,just,andpeacefulcourse. Thisisnotaperfectparty.Wearenotaperfectpeople.Yet,wearecalledtoaperfect mission.Ourmission:tofeedthehungrytoclothethenakedtohousethehomelessto teachtheilliteratetoprovidejobsforthejoblessandtochoosethehumanraceoverthe nuclearrace. Wearegatheredherethisweektonominateacandidateandadoptaplatformwhichwill expand,unify,direct,andinspireourPartyandthenationtofulfillthismission.My constituencyisthedesperate,thedamned,thedisinherited,thedisrespected,andthe despised.Theyarerestlessandseekrelief.Theyhavevotedinrecordnumbers.Theyhave investedthefaith,hope,andtrustthattheyhaveinus.TheDemocraticPartymustsendthem asignalthatwecare.Ipledgemybestnottoletthemdown. Thereisthecallofconscience,redemption,expansion,healing,andunity.Leadershipmust heedthecallofconscience,redemption,expansion,healing,andunity,fortheyarethekeyto achievingourmission.Timeisneutralanddoesnotchangethings.Withcourageand initiative,leaderschangethings.

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Nogenerationcanchoosetheageorcircumstanceinwhichitisborn,butthroughleadership itcanchoosetomaketheageinwhichitisbornanageofenlightenment,anageofjobs,and peace,andjustice. Onlyleadershipthatintangiblecombinationofgifts,thediscipline,information, circumstance,courage,timing,willanddivineinspirationcanleadusoutofthecrisisin whichwefindourselves.Leadershipcanmitigatethemiseryofournation.Leadershipcan partthewatersandleadournationinthedirectionofthePromisedLand.Leadershipcanlift theboatsstuckatthebottom. Ihavehadtherareopportunitytowatchsevenmen,andthentwo,pourouttheirsouls,offer theirservice,andhealandheedthecallofdutytodirectthecourseofournation.Thereisa properseasonforeverything.Thereisatimetosowandatimetoreap.There'satimeto competeandatimetocooperate. IaskforyourvoteonthefirstballotasavoteforanewdirectionforthisPartyandthis nationavoteofconviction,avoteofconscience.ButIwillbeproudtosupportthenominee ofthisconventionforthePresidencyoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Thankyou. Ihavewatchedtheleadershipofourpartydevelopandgrow.MyrespectforbothMr.Mondale andMr.Hartisgreat.Ihavewatchedthemstrugglewiththecrosswindsandcrossfiresof beingpublicservants,andIbelievetheywillbothcontinuetotrytoserveusfaithfully. Iamelatedbytheknowledgethatforthefirsttimeinourhistoryawoman,Geraldine Ferraro,willberecommendedtoshareourticket. Throughoutthiscampaign,I'vetriedtoofferleadershiptotheDemocraticPartyandthe nation.If,inmyhighmoments,Ihavedonesomegood,offeredsomeservice,shedsome light,healedsomewounds,rekindledsomehope,orstirredsomeonefromapathyand indifference,orinanywayalongthewayhelpedsomebody,thenthiscampaignhasnotbeen invain. Forfriendswholovedandcaredforme,andforaGodwhosparedme,andforafamilywho understood,Iameternallygrateful. If,inmylowmoments,inword,deedorattitude,throughsomeerroroftemper,taste,or tone,Ihavecausedanyonediscomfort,createdpain,orrevivedsomeone'sfears,thatwas notmytruestself.Iftherewereoccasionswhenmygrapeturnedintoaraisinandmyjoybell lostitsresonance,pleaseforgiveme.Chargeittomyheadandnottomyheart.Myhead solimitedinitsfinitudemyheart,whichisboundlessinitsloveforthehumanfamily.Iam notaperfectservant.Iamapublicservantdoingmybestagainsttheodds.AsIdevelopand serve,bepatient:Godisnotfinishedwithmeyet. Thiscampaignhastaughtmemuchthatleadersmustbetoughenoughtofight,tender enoughtocry,humanenoughtomakemistakes,humbleenoughtoadmitthem,strong enoughtoabsorbthepain,andresilientenoughtobouncebackandkeeponmoving.

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Forleaders,thepainisoftenintense.Butyoumustsmilethroughyourtearsandkeepmoving withthefaiththatthereisabrightersidesomewhere. IwenttoseeHubertHumphreythreedaysbeforehedied.HehadjustcalledRichardNixon fromhisdyingbed,andmanypeoplewonderedwhy.AndIaskedhim.Hesaid,"Jesse,from thisvantagepoint,thesunissettinginmylife,allofthespeeches,thepoliticalconventions, thecrowds,andthegreatfightsarebehindmenow.Atatimelikethisyouareforcedtodeal withyourirreducibleessence,forcedtograpplewiththatwhichisreallyimportanttoyou.And whatI'veconcludedaboutlife,"HubertHumphreysaid,"Whenallissaidanddone,wemust forgiveeachother,andredeemeachother,andmoveon." OurpartyisemergingfromoneofitsmosthardfoughtbattlesfortheDemocraticParty's presidentialnominationinourhistory.Butourhealthycompetitionshouldmakeusbetter,not bitter.Wemustusetheinsight,wisdom,andexperienceofthelateHubertHumphreyasa balmforthewoundsinourParty,thisnation,andtheworld.Wemustforgiveeachother, redeemeachother,regroup,andmoveone.Ourflagisred,whiteandblue,butournationis arainbowred,yellow,brown,blackandwhiteandwe'reallpreciousinGod'ssight. Americaisnotlikeablanketonepieceofunbrokencloth,thesamecolor,thesametexture, thesamesize.Americaismorelikeaquilt:manypatches,manypieces,manycolors,many sizes,allwovenandheldtogetherbyacommonthread.Thewhite,theHispanic,theblack, theArab,theJew,thewoman,thenativeAmerican,thesmallfarmer,thebusinessperson,the environmentalist,thepeaceactivist,theyoung,theold,thelesbian,thegay,andthedisabled makeuptheAmericanquilt. Eveninourfracturedstate,allofuscountandfitsomewhere.Wehaveproventhatwecan survivewithouteachother.Butwehavenotproventhatwecanwinandmakeprogress withouteachother.Wemustcometogether. FromFannieLouHamerinAtlanticCityin1964totheRainbowCoalitioninSanFrancisco todayfromtheAtlantictothePacific,wehaveexperiencedpainbutprogress,asweended Americanapartheidlaws.Wegotpublicaccommodations.Wesecuredvotingrights.We obtainedopenhousing,asyoungpeoplegottherighttovote.WelostMalcolm,Martin, Medgar,Bobby,John,andViola.Theteamthatgotusheremustbeexpanded,not abandoned. Twentyyearsago,tearswelledupinoureyesasthebodiesofSchwerner,Goodman,and ChaneyweredredgedfromthedepthsofariverinMississippi.Twentyyearslater,our communities,blackandJewish,areinanguish,anger,andpain.Feelingshavebeenhurton bothsides.Thereisacrisisincommunications.Confusionisintheair.Butwecannotaffordto loseourway.Wemayagreetoagreeoragreetodisagreeonissueswemustbringback civilitytothesetensions. WearecopartnersinalongandrichreligioushistorytheJudeoChristiantraditions.Many blacksandJewshaveasharedpassionforsocialjusticeathomeandpeaceabroad.Wemust seekarevivalofthespirit,inspiredbyanewvisionandnewpossibilities.Wemustreturnto higherground.

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WeareboundbyMosesandJesus,butalsoconnectedwithIslamandMohammed.These threegreatreligions,Judaism,Christianity,andIslam,wereallborninthereveredandholy cityofJerusalem. WeareboundbyDr.MartinLutherKingJr.andRabbiAbrahamHeschel,cryingoutfromtheir gravesforustoreachcommonground.Weareboundbysharedbloodandsharedsacrifices. Wearemuchtoointelligent,muchtooboundbyourJudeoChristianheritage,muchtoo victimizedbyracism,sexism,militarism,andantiSemitism,muchtoothreatenedashistorical scapegoatstogoondividedonefromanother.Wemustturnfromfingerpointingtoclasped hands.Wemustshareourburdensandourjoyswitheachotheronceagain.Wemustturnto eachotherandnotoneachotherandchoosehigherground. Twentyyearslater,wecannotbesatisfiedbyjustrestoringtheoldcoalition.Oldwineskins mustmakeroomfornewwine.Wemusthealandexpand.TheRainbowCoalitionismaking roomforArabAmericans.They,too,knowthepainandhurtofracialandreligiousrejection. Theymustnotcontinuetobemadepariahs.TheRainbowCoalitionismakingroomfor HispanicAmericanswhothisverynightarelivingunderthethreatoftheSimpsonMazzolibill andfarmworkersfromOhiowhoarefightingtheCampbellSoupCompanywithaboycottto achievelegitimateworkers'rights. TheRainbowismakingroomfortheNativeAmerican,themostexploitedpeopleofall,a peoplewiththegreatestmoralclaimamongstus.Wesupportthemastheyseekthe restorationoftheirancientlandandclaimamongstus.Wesupportthemastheyseekthe restorationoflandandwaterrights,astheyseektopreservetheirancestralhomelandand thebeautyofalandthatwasoncealltheirs.Theycanneverreceiveafairshareforallthey havegivenus.Theymustfinallyhaveafairchancetodeveloptheirgreatresourcesandto preservetheirpeopleandtheirculture. TheRainbowCoalitionincludesAsianAmericans,nowbeingkilledinourstreetsscapegoats forthefailuresofcorporate,industrial,andeconomicpolicies. TheRainbowismakingroomfortheyoungAmericans.Twentyyearsago,ouryoungpeople weredyinginawarforwhichtheycouldnotevenvote.Twentyyearslater,youngAmerica hasthepowertostopawarinCentralAmericaandtheresponsibilitytovoteingreat numbers.YoungAmericamustbepoliticallyactivein1984.Thechoiceiswarorpeace.We mustmakeroomforyoungAmerica. TheRainbowincludesdisabledveterans.ThecolorschemefitsintheRainbow.Thedisabled havetheirhandicaprevealedandtheirgeniusconcealedwhiletheablebodiedhavetheir geniusrevealedandtheirdisabilityconcealed.Butultimately,wemustjudgepeoplebytheir valuesandtheircontribution.Don'tleaveanybodyout.IwouldratherhaveRooseveltina wheelchairthanReaganonahorse. TheRainbowismakingroomforsmallfarmers.Theyhavesufferedtremendouslyunderthe Reaganregime.Theywilleitherreceive90percentparityor100percentcharity.Wemust addresstheirconcernsandmakeroomforthem.TheRainbowincludeslesbiansandgays.No Americancitizenoughtbedeniedequalprotectionfromthelaw.

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Wemustbeunusuallycommittedandcaringasweexpandourfamilytoincludenew members.Allofusmustbetolerantandunderstandingasthefearsandanxietiesofthe rejectedandthepartyleadershipexpressthemselvesinmanydifferentways. Toooftenwhatwecallhateasifitweresomedeeplyrootedphilosophyorstrategyis simplyignorance,anxiety,paranoia,fear,andinsecurity.Tobestrongleaders,wemustbe longsufferingasweseektorightthewrongsofourPartyandournation.Wemustexpand ourParty,healourParty,andunifyourParty.Thatisourmissionin1984. Weareoftenremindedthatweliveinagreatnationandwedo.Butitcanbegreaterstill. TheRainbowismandatinganewdefinitionofgreatness.Wemustnotmeasuregreatness fromthemansiondown,butthemangerup.Jesussaidthatweshouldnotbejudgedbythe barkwewearbutbythefruitthatwebear.Jesussaidthatwemustmeasuregreatnessby howwetreattheleastofthese. PresidentReagansaysthenationisinrecovery.Those90,000corporationsthatmadeaprofit lastyearbutpaidnofederaltaxesarerecovering.The37,000militarycontractorswhohave benefitedfromReagan'smorethandoublingofthemilitarybudgetinpeacetime,surelythey arerecovering.Thebigcorporationsandrichindividualswhoreceivedthebulkofathree year,multibilliontaxcutfromMr.Reaganarerecovering.Butnosuchrecoveryisunderway fortheleastofthese. Risingtidesdon'tliftallboats,particularlythosestuckatthebottom.Fortheboatsstuckat thebottomthere'samiseryindex.ThisAdministrationhasmadelifemoremiserableforthe poor.Itsattitudehasbeencontemptuous.Itspoliciesandprogramshavebeencrueland unfairtoworkingpeople.TheymustbeheldaccountableinNovemberforincreasinginfant mortalityamongthepoor.InDetroitoneofthegreatcitiesofthewesternworld,babiesare dyingatthesamerateasHonduras,themostunderdevelopednationinourhemisphere.This Administrationmustbeheldaccountableforpoliciesthathavecontributedtothegrowing povertyinAmerica.Therearenow34millionpeopleinpoverty,15percentofournation.23 millionareWhite11millionBlack,Hispanic,Asian,andothersmostlywomenandchildren. Bytheendofthisyear,therewillbe41millionpeopleinpoverty.Wecannotstandidlyby. Wemustfightforachangenow. UnderthisregimewelookatSocialSecurity.The'81budgetcutsincludedninepermanent SocialSecuritybenefitcutstotaling20billionoverfiveyears.Smallbusinesseshavesuffered underReagantaxcuts.Only18percentoftotalbusinesstaxcutswenttothem82percentto bigbusinesses.HealthcareunderMr.Reaganhasalreadybeensharplycut.Educationunder Mr.Reaganhasbeencut25percent.UnderMr.Reagantherearenow9.7millionfemalehead families.Theyrepresent16percentofallfamilies.Halfofallofthemarepoor.70percentof allpoorchildrenliveinahouseheadedbyawoman,wherethereisnoman.UnderMr. Reagan,theAdministrationhascleaneduponly6of546prioritytoxicwastedumps.Farmers' realnetincomewasonlyabouthalfitslevelin1979.

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ManysaythattheraceinNovemberwillbedecidedintheSouth.PresidentReaganis dependingontheconservativeSouthtoreturnhimtooffice.ButtheSouth,Itellyou,is unnaturallyconservative.TheSouthisthepoorestregioninournationand,therefore,[has] theleasttoconserve.InhisappealtotheSouth,Mr.Reaganistryingtosubstituteflagsand prayerclothsforfood,andclothing,andeducation,healthcare,andhousing. Mr.Reaganwillaskustopray,andIbelieveinprayer.Ihavecometothiswaybythepower ofprayer.Butthen,wemustwatchfalseprophecy.Hecutsenergyassistancetothepoor, cutsbreakfastprogramsfromchildren,cutslunchprogramsfromchildren,cutsjobtraining fromchildren,andthensaystoanemptytable,"Letuspray."Apparently,heisnotfamiliar withthestructureofaprayer.YouthanktheLordforthefoodthatyouareabouttoreceive, notthefoodthatjustleft.Ithinkthatweshouldpray,butdon'tprayforthefoodthatleft. Prayforthemanthattookthefoodtoleave.Weneedachange.Weneedachangein November. UnderMr.Reagan,themiseryindexhasrisenforthepoor.Thedangerindexhasrisenfor everybody.Underthisadministration,we'velostthelivesofourboysinCentralAmericaand Honduras,inGrenada,inLebanon,innuclearstandoffinEurope.UnderthisAdministration, onethirdofourchildrenbelievetheywilldieinanuclearwar.Thedangerindexisincreasing inthisworld.AllthetalkaboutthedefenseagainstRussiatheRussiansubmarinesarecloser, andtheirmissilesaremoreaccurate.Weliveinaworldtonightmoremiserableandaworld moredangerous. WhileReaganomicsandReaganismistalkedaboutoften,sooftenwemisstherealmeaning. Reaganismisaspirit,andReaganomicsrepresentstherealeconomicfactsoflife.In1980, Mr.GeorgeBush,amanwithreasonableaccesstoMr.Reagan,didananalysisofMr. Reagan'seconomicplan.Mr.GeorgeBushconcludedthatReagan'splanwas''voodoo economics.''Hewasright.ThirdpartycandidateJohnAndersonsaid"acombinationof militaryspending,taxcuts,andabalancedbudgetby'84wouldbeaccomplishedwithblue smokeandmirrors."Theywerebothright. Mr.Reagantalksaboutadynamicrecovery.There'ssomemeasureofrecovery.Threeanda halfyearslater,unemploymenthasinchedjustbelowwhereitwaswhenhetookofficein 1981.Therearestill8.1millionpeopleofficiallyunemployed11millionworkingonlypart time.Inflationhascomedown,butlet'sanalyzeforamomentwhohaspaidthepriceforthis superficialeconomicrecovery. Mr.Reagancurbedinflationbycuttingconsumerdemand.Hecutconsumerdemandwith consciousandcallousfiscalandmonetarypolicies.HeusedtheFederalbudgettodeliberately induceunemploymentandcurbsocialspending.Hethenweighedandsupportedtight monetarypoliciesoftheFederalReserveBoardtodeliberatelydriveupinterestrates,againto curbconsumerdemandcreatedthroughborrowing.Unemploymentreached10.7percent.We experiencedskyrocketinginterestrates.Ourdollarinflatedabroad.Therewererecordbank failures,recordfarmforeclosures,recordbusinessbankruptciesrecordbudgetdeficits,record tradedeficits.

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Mr.Reaganbroughtinflationdownbydestabilizingoureconomyanddisruptingfamilylife.He promisedhepromisedin1980abalancedbudget.Butinsteadwenowhavearecord200 billiondollarbudgetdeficit.UnderMr.Reagan,thecumulativebudgetdeficitforhisfouryears ismorethanthesumtotalofdeficitsfromGeorgeWashingtontoJimmyCartercombined.I tellyou,weneedachange. Howishepayingfortheseshorttermjobs?Reagan'seconomicrecoveryisbeingfinancedby deficitspending200billiondollarsayear.Militaryspending,amajorcauseofthisdeficit,is projectedoverthenextfiveyearstobenearly2trilliondollars,andwillcostabout40,000 dollarsforeverytaxpayingfamily.WhentheGovernmentborrows200billiondollarsannually tofinancethedeficit,thisencouragestheprivatesectortomakeitsmoneyoffofinterest ratesasopposedtodevelopmentandeconomicgrowth. Evenmoneyabroad,wedon'thaveenoughmoneydomesticallytofinancethedebt,soweare nowborrowingmoneyabroad,fromforeignbanks,governmentsandfinancialinstitutions:40 billiondollarsin19837080billiondollarsin198440percentofourtotalover100billion dollars50percentofourtotalin1985.By1989,itisprojectedthat50percentofall individualincometaxeswillbegoingjusttopayforinterestonthatdebt.TheUnitedStates usedtobethelargestexporterofcapital,butunderMr.Reaganwewillquitelikelybecome thelargestdebtornation. Abouttwoweeksago,onJulythe4th,wecelebratedourDeclarationofIndependence,yet everydaysupplysideeconomicsismakingournationmoreeconomicallydependentandless economicallyfree.FivetosixpercentofourGrossNationalProductisnowbeingeatenupwith PresidentReagan'sbudgetdeficits.Todependonforeignmilitarypowerstoprotectour nationalsecuritywouldbefoolish,makingusdependentandlesssecure.Yet,Reaganomics hasusincreasinglydependentonforeigneconomicsources.Thisconsumerledbutdeficit financedrecoveryisunbalancedandartificial.WehaveachallengeasDemocratstopointa wayout. Democracyguaranteesopportunity,notsuccess. Democracyguaranteestherighttoparticipate,notalicenseforeitheramajorityoraminority todominate. ThevictoryfortheRainbowCoalitioninthePlatformdebatestodaywasnotwhetherwewon orlost,butthatweraisedtherightissues.Wecouldaffordtolosethevoteissuesarenon negotiable.Wecouldnotaffordtoavoidraisingtherightquestions.Ourselfrespectandour moralintegritywereatstake.Ourheadsareperhapsbloody,butnotbowed.Ourbackis straight.Wecangohomeandfaceourpeople.Ourvisionisclear. Whenwethink,onthisjourneyfromslaveshiptochampionship,thatwehavegonefromthe planksoftheBoardwalkinAtlanticCityin1964tofightingtohelpwritetheplanksinthe platforminSanFranciscoin'84,thereisadeepandabidingsenseofjoyinoursoulsinspite ofthetearsinoureyes.Thoughtherearemissingplanks,thereisasolidfoundationupon whichtobuild.

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Ourpartycanwin,butwemustprovidehopewhichwillinspirepeopletostruggleand achieveprovideaplanthatshowsawayoutofourdilemmaandthenleadtheway. In1984,myheartismadetofeelgladbecauseIknowthereisawayoutjustice.The requirementforrebuildingAmericaisjustice.Thelinchpinofprogressivepoliticsinournation willnotcomefromtheNorththey,infact,willcomefromtheSouth. ThatiswhyIargueoverandoveragain.WelookfromVirginiaaroundtoTexas,there'sonly oneblackCongresspersonoutof115.Nineteenyearslater,we'relockedoutoftheCongress, theSenateandtheGovernor'smansion.Whatdoesthislargeblackvotemean?WhydoIfight towinsecondprimariesandfightgerrymanderingandannexationandatlarge[elections]. Whydowefightoverthat?BecauseItellyou,youcannotholdsomeoneintheditchunless youlingertherewiththem.Unlessyoulingerthere. Ifyouwantachangeinthisnation,youenforcethatVotingRightsAct.We'llget12to20 Black,Hispanics,femaleandprogressivecongresspersonsfromtheSouth.Wecansavethe cotton,butwe'vegottofightthebollweevils.We'vegottomakeajudgment.We'vegotto makeajudgment. ItisnotenoughtohopeERAwillpass.HowcanwepassERA?IfBlacksvoteingreat numbers,progressiveWhiteswin.It'stheonlywayprogressiveWhiteswin.IfBlacksvotein greatnumbers,Hispanicswin.WhenBlacks,Hispanics,andprogressiveWhitesvote,women win.Whenwomenwin,childrenwin.Whenwomenandchildrenwin,workerswin.Wemustall comeuptogether.Wemustcomeuptogether. Thankyou. Forallofourjoyandexcitement,wemustnotsavetheworldandloseoursouls.Weshould nevershortcircuitenforcingtheVotingRightsActateverylevel. Whenoneofusrise[s],all ofuswillrise.Justiceisthewayout.Peaceisthewayout.Weshouldnotactasifnuclear weaponryisnegotiableanddebatable. Inthisworldinwhichwelive,wedroppedthebombonJapanandfeltguilty,butin1984 otherfolks[have]alsogotbombs.Thistime,ifwedropthebomb,sixminuteslaterwe,too, willbedestroyed.It'snotaboutdroppingthebombonsomebody.Itisaboutdroppingthe bomboneverybody.Wemustchoosetodevelopmindsoverguidedmissiles,andthinkitout andnotfightitout.It'stimeforachange. Ourforeignpolicymustbecharacterizedbymutualrespect,notbygunboatdiplomacy,big stickdiplomacy,andthreats.Ournationatitsbestfeedsthehungry.Ournationatitsworst, atitsworst,willminetheharborsofNicaragua,atitsworstwilltrytooverthrowtheir government,atitsworstwillcutaidtoAmericaneducationandincreasetheaidtoEl Salvadoratitsworst,ournationwillhavepartnershipswithSouthAfrica.That'samoral disgrace.It'samoraldisgrace.It'samoraldisgrace.

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WelookatAfrica.WecannotjustfocusonApartheidinSouthernAfrica.Wemustfightfor tradewithAfrica,andnotjustaidtoAfrica.Wecannotstandidlybyandsaywewillnotrelate toNicaraguaunlesstheyhaveelectionsthere,andthenembracemilitaryregimesinAfrica overthrowingdemocraticgovernmentsinNigeriaandLiberiaandGhana.Wemustfightfor democracyallaroundtheworldandplaythegamebyonesetofrules. Peaceinthisworld.OurpresentformulaforpeaceintheMiddleEastisinadequate.Itwillnot work.Thereare22nationsintheMiddleEast.Ournationmustbeabletotalkandactand influenceallofthem.WemustbuilduponCampDavid,andmeasurehumanrightsbyone yardstick.Inthatregionwehavetoomanyinterestsandtoofewfriends. Thereisawayoutjobs.PutAmericabacktowork.WhenIwasachildgrowingupin Greenville,SouthCarolina,theReverendSampleusedtopreacheverysooftenasermon relatingtoJesus.Andhesaid,"IfIbeliftedup,I'lldrawallmenuntome."Ididn'tquite understandwhathemeantasachildgrowingup,butIunderstandalittlebetternow.Ifyou raiseuptruth,it'smagnetic.Ithasawayofdrawingpeople. WithallthisconfusioninthisConvention,thebrightlightsandpartiesandbigfun,wemust raiseupthesimpleproposition:Ifweliftupaprogramtofeedthehungry,they'llcome runningifweliftupaprogramtostudywarnomore,ouryouthwillcomerunningifwelift upaprogramtoputAmericabacktowork,andanalternativetowelfareanddespair,theywill comeworking. Ifwecutthatmilitarybudgetwithoutcuttingourdefense,andusethatmoneytorebuild bridgesandputsteelworkersbacktowork,andusethatmoneyandprovidejobsforour cities,andusethatmoneytobuildschoolsandpayteachersandeducateourchildrenand buildhospitalsandtraindoctorsandtrainnurses,thewholenationwillcomerunningtous. AsIleaveyounow,wevoteinthisconventionandgetreadytogobackacrossthisnationin acoupleofdays.Inthiscampaign,I'vetriedtobefaithfultomypromise.Ilivedinold barrios,ghettos,andreservationsandhousingprojects.Ihaveamessageforouryouth.I challengethemtoputhopeintheirbrainsandnotdopeintheirveins.Itoldthemthatlike Jesus,I,too,wasbornintheslum.Butjustbecauseyou'rebornintheslumdoesnotmean theslumisborninyou,andyoucanriseaboveitifyourmindismadeup.Itoldthemin everyslumtherearetwosides.WhenIseeabrokenwindowthat'stheslummyside.Train someyouthtobecomeaglazierthat'sthesunnyside.WhenIseeamissingbrickthat's theslummyside.Letthatchildintheunionandbecomeabrickmasonandbuildthat'sthe sunnyside.WhenIseeamissingdoorthat'stheslummyside.Trainsomeyouthtobecome acarpenterthat'sthesunnyside.AndwhenIseethevulgarwordsandhieroglyphicsof destitutiononthewallsthat'stheslummyside.Trainsomeyouthtobecomeapainter,an artistthat'sthesunnyside. Weleavethisplacelookingforthesunnysidebecausethere'sabrightersidesomewhere.I'm moreconvincedthaneverthatwecanwin.Wewillvaultuptheroughsideofthemountain. Wecanwin.IjustwantyoungAmericatodomeonefavor,justonefavor.Exercisetheright todream.Youmustfacerealitythatwhichis.

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Butthendreamofarealitythatoughttobethatmustbe.Livebeyondthepainofreality withthedreamofabrighttomorrow.Usehopeandimaginationasweaponsofsurvivaland progress.Uselovetomotivateyouandobligateyoutoservethehumanfamily. YoungAmerica,dream.Choosethehumanraceoverthenuclearrace.Burytheweaponsand don'tburnthepeople.Dreamdreamofanewvaluesystem.Teacherswhoteachforlife andnotjustforalivingteachbecausetheycan'thelpit. Dreamoflawyersmoreconcernedaboutjusticethanajudgeship.Dreamofdoctorsmore concernedaboutpublichealththanpersonalwealth.Dreamofpreachersandpriestswhowill prophesyandnotjustprofiteer.Preachanddream! Ourtimehascome.Ourtimehascome.Sufferingbreedscharacter.Characterbreedsfaith.In theend,faithwillnotdisappoint.Ourtimehascome.Ourfaith,hope,anddreamswillprevail. Ourtimehascome.Weepinghasenduredfornights,butnowjoycomethinthemorning.Our timehascome.Nogravecanholdourbodydown.Ourtimehascome.Noliecanliveforever. Ourtimehascome.Wemustleaveracialbattlegroundandcometoeconomiccommon groundandmoralhigherground.America,ourtimehascome.Wecomefromdisgraceto amazinggrace.Ourtimehascome.Givemeyourtired,givemeyourpoor,yourhuddled masseswhoyearntobreathefreeandcomeNovember,therewillbeachangebecauseour timehascome.

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