Obama Ipsum

Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. In the end, that's what this election is about. We need to heed the biblical call to care for "the least of these" and lift the poor out of despair. And occasionally it finds voice in the church on Sunday morning, in the pulpit and in the pews. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons.

I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible. That's not the judgment we need. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.

You can't truly stand up for Georgia when you've strained our oldest alliances. I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. This is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground, nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort - a sustained effort - to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.

Now let me be clear. And it puts the lie to the notion that the separation of church and state in America means faith should have no role in public life. It got hijacked. Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than ninety percent of the time? I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to take a ten percent chance on change. This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. Those are mutual interests.

We will all have to make concessions to achieve this. I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition.

Thank you.