Obama Ipsum

Now let me be clear. They must be pursued - and they must be defeated. I would not be running for President if I didn't believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco.

Again and again, we've seen him make tough choices when easier ones were available. I was not raised in a particularly religious household. And that's what we have to restore.

I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. Let me also address the issue of Iraq. All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time.

And so long as we're not doing everything in our personal and collective power to solve them, we know the conscience of our nation cannot rest. And this helps explain, perhaps, my relationship with Reverend Wright. That's the change we need right now.

Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely - just as I'm sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed. As the Holy Koran tells us, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." That is what I will try to do - to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.

Thank you, God Bless you, and God Bless the United States of America.