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The day after Pearl Harbor my grandfather signed up for duty; joined Patton's army, marched across Europe. And in time, I came to see faith as more than just a comfort to the weary or a hedge against death, but rather as an active, palpable agent in the world and in my own life. It comes from Deuteronomy 30 when Moses talks to his followers about the challenges they'll find when they reach the Promised Land without him. And Ashley asks him why he's there. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. It is easy to point fingers - for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought by Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history from within its borders as well as beyond.
But the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren't simply controversial. They are full of dancing, clapping, screaming and shouting that may seem jarring to the untrained ear. This has bred more fear and mistrust. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes subjugating one another to serve their own interests. Now, that must be our work here on Earth.
Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place, America, that shone as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before. When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world. It was because of these newfound understandings that I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity one day and affirm my Christian faith. I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.
This time we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can't learn; that those kids who don't look like us are somebody else's problem. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all. It will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.
John Kerry knows this. The pundits, the pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. Today there are 12 million undocumented immigrants in America, most of them working in our communities, attending our churches, and contributing to our country. Last time we took up immigration reform, it failed. They all have different stories and reasons. That together, our dreams can be one.
Thank you.