第一篇：奥巴马感恩节演讲(英语汉语双译)
Hi, everybody.On behalf of all the Obamas – Michelle, Malia, Sasha, Bo, and the newest member of our family, Sunny – I want to wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.大家好！我代表我们家所有人——米歇尔、玛利亚、萨莎、波尔以及新添成员桑尼，祝愿大家有一个快乐舒适的感恩节。
We’ll be spending today just like many of you – sitting down with family and friends to eat some good food, tell some stories, watch a little football, and most importantly, count our blessings.我们今天会和家人朋友一起享用美味的食物、讲故事、看点足球比赛，最重要的是，感恩——就像你们大多数人一样。And as Americans, we have so much to be thankful for.作为美国人，我们有那么多值得感恩的东西。
We give thanks for the men and women who set sail for this land nearly four centuries ago, risking everything for the chance at a better life – and the people who were already here, our Native American brothers and sisters, for their generosity during that first Thanksgiving.我们对近400年前航行到这片土地的人们表达感谢，因为他们为了寻求更好的生活，甘冒一切风险。我们还要感激已经在这片土地上的，我们的原住民印第安兄弟姐妹们，感激他们在第一次感恩节上的慷慨大度。
We give thanks for the generations who followed – people of all races and religions, who arrived here from every country on Earth and worked to build something better for themselves and for us.我们对相继而来的世世代代的人们表达感激。来自世界各国的人们——来自不同民族并有着不同宗教信仰，齐心协力为他们自己和我们建筑起更美好的将来。
We give thanks for all our men and women in uniform – and for their families, who are surely missing them very much today.We’re grateful for their sacrifice too.我们对穿制服为我们服务的人们表达谢意，对今天必定无比想念他们的亲人表达谢意。我们感激他们的牺牲。
We give thanks for the freedoms they defend – the freedom to think what we want and say what we think, to worship according to our own beliefs, to choose our leaders and, yes, criticize them without punishment.People around the world are fighting and even dying for their chance at these freedoms.We stand with them in that struggle, and we give thanks for being free.我们感恩他们所捍卫的自由——让我们敢想敢说的自由、让我们选择信仰的自由、让我们选择自己的领导人的自由，以及，不受惩罚地批评领导人的自由。世界各国人民都在为有这些自由而奋斗甚至牺牲。我们和他们站在同一战线上，我们为自由而感恩。
And we give thanks to everyone who’s doing their part to make the United States a better, more compassionate nation – who spend their Thanksgiving volunteering at a soup kitchen, or joining a service project, or bringing food and cheer to a lonely neighbor.That big-hearted generosity is a central part of our American character.We believe in lending a hand to folks who need it.We believe in pitching in to solve problems even if they aren’t our problems.And that’s not a one-day-a-year belief.It’s part of the fabric of our nation.而且，我们感恩所有让美国成为更强大并且更富同情心的国家而尽责职守的人们——那些感恩节在救济所参加志愿服务的人，或者参加服务项目的人，或者给孤单的邻居送去食物和鼓励的人。这样的大度慷慨是我们美国人性格中的核心部分。我们愿意给需要的人以援手，我们愿意路见不平拔刀相助。这些不是一年一次的想法，这是我们国家的构成。
And we remember that many Americans need that helping hand right now.Americans who’ve lost their jobs and can’t get a new one through no fault of their own.Americans who’ve been trapped in poverty and just need that helping hand to climb out.Citizens whose prayers and hopes move us to act.我们牢记着许多美国人现在需要帮助。那些失去工作而且没有丝毫过错却找不到新工作的美国人，那些深陷贫困而且急需救援之手的美国人。正是这些公民的祈祷和希望促使我们行动。
We are a people who are greater together than we are on our own.That’s what today is about.That’s what every day should be about.No matter our differences, we’re all part of one American family.We are each other’s keeper.We are one nation, under God.That core tenet of our American experience has guided us from the earliest days of our founding – and it will guide us to a future that’s even brighter than today.我们是一个团结胜过单独行动的国家。今天如此，每天都如此。不管我们多么不同，我们都是美国大家庭的一份子。我们是彼此的守护者。我们是上帝庇佑的一个国家。我们美国历史实践出的这个核心信条将带领我们走向比今天更辉煌的未来，从建国初期到将来都是如此。Thank you, God bless you, and from my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.谢谢，上帝保佑你。还有我们全家想对大家表示感恩节快乐。
第二篇：奥巴马就职演讲(中英文双译)
亲爱的公民同胞们：
今天我站在这裡﹐面对眼前的任务﹐深感卑微。感谢你们给予我的信任﹐我也清楚前辈们為这个国家所作的牺牲。我要感谢布什总统对国家的服务﹐感谢他在两届政府过渡期间给予的慷慨协作。时至今日﹐已有44位美国总统宣誓就职。总统的宣誓有时面对的是国家的和平繁荣﹐有时面临的是狂风骤雨的紧张形势。在这种时刻﹐支持美国前进的不仅仅是领导人的能力和远见﹐更是美国人民对先驱者理想的坚定信仰﹐以及对美国建国宣言的忠诚。
过去是这样﹐我们这一代美国人也要如此。
我们都狠清楚﹐我们正处於危机之中。我们的国家正在对触角广泛的暴力和仇恨网络宣战。国家的经济也受到了严重的削弱﹐这是一些人贪婪和不负责任的后果﹐但在做出艰难选择和準备迎接新时代方面﹐我们出现了集体性的失误。家园失去了﹔工作丢掉了﹔商业萧条了。我们的医疗卫生耗资巨大﹔我们的学校让许多人失望﹔每天都能找到更多的证据表明我们利用能源的方式使得对手更加强大﹐并且威胁到了我们整个星球。
这些﹐是从数据和统计中可以看到的危机信号。而更难以衡量但同样意义深远的是美国人自信心的丧失──现在一种认為美国衰落不可避免﹐我们的下一代必须降低期待的恐惧正在吞噬着我们的自信。今天我要向你们说的是﹐我们面临的挑战是真实存在的。这些挑战狠多﹐也狠严重﹐它们不会轻易地或者在短时间内就得以克服。但记住这一点：美国终将渡过难关。
今天﹐我们聚集在这裡﹐是因為我们选择了希望而不是恐惧﹐团结而不是冲突与争执。
今天﹐我们在这裡宣佈要為无谓的抱怨、不实的承诺和指责画上句号﹐我们要打破牵制美国政治发展的陈旧教条。
我们仍是一个年轻的国家﹐但借用《圣经》的话说﹐摒弃幼稚的时代已经来临。是时候重树我们坚韧的精神﹔选择我们更好的歷史﹔弘扬那些珍贵的天赋和高尚的理念﹐并代代传承下去﹐即上帝赋予的信念：天下眾生皆平等﹐眾生皆自由﹐且均应有追求最大幸福的机会。
在重申我们国家伟大之处的同时﹐我们深知伟大从来不是上天赐予的﹐而是要靠我们努力争取。我们从不抄捷径﹐也不会退而求其次。我们的歷程不属於那些胆怯懦弱、享受安逸或追逐名利之人。这条歷程属於勇於承担风险者﹐属於实干家和创造者﹐他们中的一些人名留青史﹐但更多的人却在默默无闻地工作着。正是这些人带领我们走过了漫长崎嶇的旅途﹐带领我们走向富强和自由。
為了我们﹐他们背起简单的行囊漂洋过海寻找新的生活﹔為了我们﹐先辈们忍辱负重﹐用血汗浇铸工厂﹔為了我们﹐他们在诸如（独立战争时的)康科德、（南北战争时的)葛底斯堡、(二战时的）诺曼底和（越南战争时的）溪山等地作战并献出生命。
一次又一次﹐我们的先辈们战斗着、牺牲着、操劳着﹐只為了给我们带来更美好的生活。在他们眼中﹐美国的强盛与伟大超越了个人雄心﹐也超越了个人的出身、贫富和派别差异。
我们仍在继续着这一歷程。美国仍是世界上最繁荣、最强大的国家。危机的发生并未削弱我们工人的生產力﹐我们仍拥有善於创造发明的头脑﹐我们的商品和服务仍像上一週、一个月乃至一年前那样受到青睞。我们的能力并未被削弱。但是墨守成规、着眼小利、不肯做艰难决定的时代已经过去了。从今天开始﹐我们必须振奋起来﹐扫去心头阴霾﹐再次投入到重整国家的工作中来。
放眼望去﹐到处都有工作要做。国家的经济状况需要我们採取大胆迅速的行动﹐不光是為了创造新的就业﹐也是為增长奠定新的基础。我们将修建路桥、电网、数据线路﹐不仅仅是為了促进商业也是為了将我们紧密相连。我们将恢復科学应有的地位、并用科技的魔力提高医疗卫生水平、降低就医成本。我们将利用太阳、风以及大地所提供的能源来驱动汽车、开动工厂。我们将改造各级学校﹐让它们能适应新时代的要求。所有这一切我们都能做到。所有这一切我们都将做到。
现在﹐有人质疑我们的目标是不是太大了﹐他们说我们的系统无法承受过多的宏大计划。他们太健忘了。因為他们忘了这个国家曾经取得过怎样的成绩﹐他们已经忘了当想象力与共同目标以及必要的勇气结合到一起时﹐自由的人民所能发挥的能量。
这些怀疑论者不能理解美国正在发生的改变﹐曾长期耗费我们精力的陈腐政治争议已不被接受。如今
我们提出的问题不是美国政府规模是太大还是太小﹐而是它是否发挥应用的作用、是否能帮助美国家庭找到收入理想的工作、可以担负得起的医疗服务和足够安度晚年的退休储蓄。如果答案是肯定的﹐那麼我们要继续执行这些政策﹐如果答案是否定的﹐那麼我们就结束这些政策。我们当中所有管理公共资金的人要负起责任﹐要精打细算、革除陋习﹐并确保我们的工作受到公眾监督﹐唯有这样﹐人民与政府之间至关重要的信任才能得以恢復。
现在摆在我们面前的问题也并非市场究竟是股好的还是坏的力量。市场创造财富、提高自由度的力量无与伦比﹐然而当前危机提醒了我们﹐没有监管﹐市场可能成為脱韁之马﹐而且一个只追求繁荣的国家注定不能永葆荣华。一直以来﹐美国经济的成功并不仅仅依赖於国内生產总值的规模﹐还有我们经济繁荣所惠及的范围以及我们赋予每一个心怀渴望的人以机会的能力──这一点并非发自谁的慈悲之心﹐这是我们实现共同利益的最可靠途径。
至於共同防卫领域﹐我们拒绝在自身的安全与理想之间做出取舍的错误选择。我们的国父在面临着我们难以想像的困难之时还起草了宪法以保障法制与人权﹐世世代代的美国人用鲜血捍卫并丰富了这份宪法。它裡面蕴含的信念至今仍光照世界﹐我们不能出於一时之便将它放弃。我想对今天正在观看这个仪式的百姓和官员说--不论他们身处最繁华的都市还是像我父亲出生地那样的小村落--他们应该知道﹐无论男女老幼﹐只要他们致力於寻求和平和有尊严的未来﹐美国就是他们的朋友﹐而且我们已準备好再次在这条道路上担当领导。
我们在此回忆先辈﹐他们战胜了法西斯主义和共產主义﹐靠的不只是导弹和坦克﹐更是靠坚定的盟友和不移的信念。他们明白仅凭武力不足以保护我们﹐也不能让我们為所欲為。相反﹐他们知道我们国家实力的增长源於我们对自己力量的谨慎使用﹐我们的安全源於所开展事业的正义、我们的榜样力量以及谦卑与克己品质的融合。
我们将信守这一传统。在这些原则的指导下﹐我们能够应对这些需要投入更多努力、更多国与国的合作及理解的崭新挑战。我们将开始负责任地从伊拉克撤军﹐并在阿富汗打造来之不易的和平。我们将与老友与宿敌一道竭力化解核武威胁﹐并遏制地球变暖趋势。我们不会為自己的生活方式道歉﹐我们会坚定不移地捍卫它﹐对於那些想靠恐怖主义和滥杀无辜来达到目的的人﹐我们会对他们说：现在我们的精神力量更加强大﹐坚不可摧﹐你们不可能战胜我们﹐我们注定会打败你们。
这是因為我们知道﹐大杂烩的传统是美国的力量所在﹐而非我们的弱点。我们国家是由基督徒、穆斯林、犹太人、印度教徒和无神论者组成。地球各个角落的语言和文化匯聚成了美国﹐正是因為我们曾品尝过南北战争和种族隔离的苦酒﹐并且在经歷了这些黑色的篇章之后变得更加强大更加团结﹐因此我们毫不犹豫地相信旧日的仇恨终有一天会成為过去﹐种族的界线不久就会消失﹐而且随着世界变得越来越小﹐人类的共有品性将会自动显现。在引领一个和平新时代的到来方面﹐美国必须发挥自己的作用。
对穆斯林世界﹐我们正在共同利益和彼此尊重的基础上寻求一条新的前行道路。对全球那些想要播种冲突、将自己国家的问题怪罪於西方社会的领导人﹐你们应该知道你们的人民将根据你们建设什麼而不是摧毁了什麼来评价你们。对於那些通过腐败、欺骗、压制异见来统治的人﹐你们应该知道你们站在了歷史的对立面。但是如果你们愿意放开紧攥的拳头﹐美国会向你们伸出手。
对贫困国家的人民﹐我们保证将和你们合作﹐让你们的农场丰收﹐让水源清洁﹐滋补饿坏的身体﹐滋养飢饿的心灵。对那些与我们一样相对富裕的国家﹐我们说﹐不能再对外界的苦难漠不关心﹐更不能毫无顾忌地消耗世界的资源。世界已经改变﹐我们也必须随之改变。
当我们审视前方的道路时﹐我们以谦卑感激的心想起那些勇敢的美国同胞﹐他们正在遥远的沙漠和偏僻的山岭上巡逻。今天﹐我们应该聆听他们的声音﹐这也是长眠於阿灵顿国家公墓的先烈们每时每刻都在提醒我们的。我们尊敬他们,不仅是因為他们捍卫了我们的自由﹐更因為他们代表着奉献精神﹔他们致力於
寻找超越自身的生命真諦。而此时﹐在这个将界定一个时代的时刻﹐我们更需让这种精神长住我们心间。因為即使政府尽最大努力﹐尽最大义务﹐这个国家最终仍得依靠每个美国人的信念和决心。这种力量是洪灾泛滥时﹐陌生人间的温情善举﹔是人们寧可裁减工时也要保全朋友工作共同度过经济最困难时期的无私忘我﹔这是消防员们毅然冲入浓烟火海的无畏勇气﹐也是父母培养孩子的无私之心﹐孩子最终决定我们的命运。
或许﹐我们今日面临着全新的挑战﹐我们迎接挑战的工具完全陌生。但是﹐我们赖以走向成功的价值观──勤劳、诚实、勇敢、公正、宽容、好奇、忠诚和爱国──从未改变。这些价值观是真实的。它们是推动我们歷史进步的沉默的力量。我们所需的就是回归这些真实的价值。如今我们需要的是一个勇於负责的新时代。人人都需要认识到﹐我们对自己﹐对国家乃至整个世界﹐都负有责任。我们不会抱怨﹐而会欣然接受这份责任﹐坚信没有什麼能比承担艰巨的任务更让人的精神充实﹐更能塑造我们的性格。这是公民应尽的义务﹐应做的承诺。
这是我们信心的源泉──认识到上帝召唤我们对难以琢磨的命运进行塑造。
这是我们所崇尚的自由与信念的真諦──这就是為什麼今天﹐不同肤色﹐不同信仰的男女老幼在这个大草坪上匯聚一堂﹔这就是為什麼六十年前﹐一位黑人父亲走入餐厅甚至无人理睬﹐而今天他的儿子可以站在这裡﹐在你们面前许下最庄严的誓言。
所以让我们铭记这一天﹐铭记我们的身份和我们走过的道路。在我们的国家诞生那一年﹐先辈们在最寒冷的日子裡﹐围聚在结冰的河边靠微弱的篝火取暖。首都失守﹐敌军不断挺近﹐鲜血染红了白雪。就在革命的成果倍受质疑之时﹐我们的国父下令向人民宣读这样几句话：
“让这段话流传后世„„当一切陷入寒冬﹐万物俱灭﹐只有希望和勇气可以长存„„这座城市和这个国家﹐在共同的危机下团结起来﹐共同面对前方的艰难。”
这就是美国。面对我们共同的危机﹐在这艰难的寒冬﹐让我们牢记那些不朽的字句。怀着希望和勇气﹐让我们再一次冲破结冰的逆流﹐迎接任何可能来临的狂风骤雨。让我们的子孙传唱﹐当我们面对考验时﹐我们拒绝结束我们的旅程﹐我们没有回头﹐没有踟躕不前。我们在上帝的关爱下眺望远方﹐我们带着自由这个伟大的礼物﹐将它安全地传递给未来的世世代代。
线转换。
（Text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address on Tuesday, as prepared for delivery and released by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.）
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace.Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.So it has been.So it must be with this generation of Americans.That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood.Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.Homes have been lost;jobs shed;businesses shuttered.Our health care is too costly;our schools fail too many;and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics.Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land, a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real.They are serious and they are many.They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.But know this, America, they will be met.On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit;to choose our better history;to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given.It must be earned.Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less.It has not been the path for the faint-hearted--for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things--some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West;endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg;Normandy and Khe Sahn.
第三篇：奥巴马感恩节演讲
From my family to yours, I’d like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving.Like millions of Americans, Michelle, Malia, Sasha and I will spend the day eating great food, watching a little football, and reflecting on how truly lucky we are.As Americans, each of us has our own list of things and people to be thankful for.But there are some blessings we all share.We’re especially grateful for the men and women who defend our country overseas.To all the service members eating Thanksgiving dinner far from your families: the American people are thinking of you today.And when you come home, we intend to make sure that we serve you as well as you’re serving America.We’re also grateful for the Americans who are taking time out of their holiday to serve in soup kitchens and shelters, making sure their neighbors have a hot meal and a place to stay.This sense of mutual responsibility – the idea that I am my brother’s keeper;that I am my sister’s keeper – has always been a part of what makes our country special.And it’s one of the reasons the Thanksgiving tradition has endured.The very first Thanksgiving was a celebration of community during a time of great hardship, and we have followed that example ever since.Even when the fate of our union was far from certain – during a Civil War, two World Wars, a Great Depression – Americans drew strength from each other.They had faith that tomorrow would be better than today.We’re grateful that they did.As we gather around the table, we pause to remember the pilgrims, pioneers, and patriots who helped make this country what it is.They faced impossible odds, and yet somehow, they persevered.Today, it’s our turn.I know that for many of you, this Thanksgiving is more difficult than most.But no matter how tough things are right now, we still give thanks for that most American of blessings, the chance to determine our own destiny.The problems we face didn’t develop overnight, and we won’t solve them overnight.But we will solve them.All it takes is for each of us to do our part.With all the partisanship and gridlock here in Washington, it’s easy to wonder if such unity is really possible.But think about what’s happening at this very moment: Americans from all walks of life are coming together as one people, grateful for the blessings of family, community, and country.If we keep that spirit alive, if we support each other, and look out for each other, and remember that we’re all in this together, then I know that we too will overcome the challenges of our time.So today, I’m thankful to serve as your President and Commander-in-Chief.I’m thankful that my daughters get to grow up in this great country of ours.And I’m thankful for the chance to do my part, as together, we make tomorrow better than today.Thanks, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
第四篇：奥巴马2010年感恩节演讲
奥巴马2010年感恩节演讲
[ 2010-11-25 16:12 ] Presidential Proclamation--Thanksgiving Day November 23, 2010 The White House
A beloved American tradition, Thanksgiving Day offers us the opportunity to focus our thoughts on the grace that has been extended to our people and our country.This spirit brought together the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe--who had been living and thriving around Plymouth, Massachusetts for thousands of years--in an autumn harvest feast centuries ago.This Thanksgiving Day, we reflect on the compassion and contributions of Native Americans, whose skill in agriculture helped the early colonists survive, and whose rich culture continues to add to our Nation's heritage.We also pause our normal pursuits on this day and join in a spirit of fellowship and gratitude for the year's bounties and blessings.Thanksgiving Day is a time each year, dating back to our founding, when we lay aside the troubles and disagreements of the day and bow our heads in humble recognition of the providence bestowed upon our Nation? Amidst the uncertainty of a fledgling experiment in democracy, President George Washington declared the first Thanksgiving in America, recounting the blessings of tranquility, union, and plenty that shined upon our young country.In the dark days of the Civil War when the fate
of our Union was in doubt, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a Thanksgiving Day, calling for “the Almighty hand” to heal and restore our Nation.In confronting the challenges of our day, we must draw strength from the resolve of previous generations who faced their own struggles and take comfort in knowing a brighter day has always dawned on our great land.As we stand at the close of one year and look to the promise of the next, we lift up our hearts in gratitude to God for our many blessings, for one another, and for our Nation.This Thanksgiving Day, we remember that the freedoms and security we enjoy as Americans are protected by the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces.These patriots are willing to lay down their lives in our defense, and they and their families deserve our profound gratitude for their service and sacrifice.This harvest season, we are also reminded of those experiencing the pangs of hunger or the hardship of economic insecurity.Let us return the kindness and generosity we have seen throughout the year by helping our fellow citizens weather the storms of our day.As Americans gather for the time-honored Thanksgiving Day meal, let us rejoice in the abundance that graces our tables, in the simple gifts that mark our days, in the loved ones who enrich our lives, and in the gifts of a gracious God.Let us recall that our forebears met their challenges with hope and an unfailing spirit, and let us resolve to do the same.NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 25, 2010, as a National Day of Thanksgiving.I encourage all the people of the United States to come together--whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and neighbors--to give thanks for all we have received in the past year, to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and to share our bounty with others.2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord 2010, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.BARACK OBAMA
第五篇：奥巴马2012感恩节演讲
On behalf of the Obama family – Michelle, Malia, Sasha and Bo – I want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving.For us, like so many of you, this is a day full of family and friends;food and football.It's a day to fight the overwhelming urge to take a nap – at least until after dinner.But most of all, it’s a time to give thanks for each other, and for the incredible bounty we enjoy.That’s especially important this year.As a nation, we’ve just emerged from a campaign season that was passionate, noisy, and vital to our democracy.But it also required us to make choices – and sometimes those choices led us to focus on what sets us apart instead of what ties us together;on what candidate we support instead of what country we belong to.Thanksgiving is a chance to put it all in perspective – to remember that, despite our differences, we are, and always will be, Americans first and foremost.Today we give thanks for blessings that are all too rare in this world.The ability to spend time with the ones we love;to say what we want;to worship as we please;to know that there are brave men and women defending our freedom around the globe;and to look our children in the eye and tell them that, here in America, no dream is too big if they’re willing to work for it.We’re also grateful that this country has always been home to Americans who see these blessings not simply as gifts to enjoy, but as opportunities to give back.Americans who believe we have a responsibility to look out for those less fortunate – to pull each other up and move forward together.Right now, as we prepare to gather around our dinner tables, there are families in the northeast who don’t have that luxury.Many of them have lost everything to Hurricane Sandy – homes, possessions, even loved ones.And it will be a long time before life goes back to normal.But in the midst of so much tragedy, there are also glimmers of hope.Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen FEMA personnel, National Guard and first responders working around the clock in hard-hit communities.We’ve seen hospital workers using their lunch breaks to distribute supplies, families offering up extra bedrooms.the fire department advertising free hot showers.Buses full of volunteers coming from hundreds of miles away.Neighbors sharing whatever they have – food, water, electricity – and saying again and again how lucky they are to have a roof over their heads.It would have been easy for these folks to do nothing – to worry about themselves and leave the rest to someone else.But that’s not who we are.That’s not what we do.As Americans, we are a bold, generous, big-hearted people.When our brothers and sisters are in need, we roll up our sleeves and get to work – not for the recognition or the reward, but because it’s the right thing to do.Because there but for the grace of God go I.And because here in America, we rise or fall together, as one nation and one people.That’s something to be grateful for – today and every day.So to all the Americans doing your part to make our world a better place – it is my privilege to serve as your President.To all our servicemembers – it is my honor to be your Commander in Chief.And from our family to yours, happy Thanksgiving.
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