A Worn Path :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A Tattered Trail   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"A Worn Path† by Eudora Welty, is the tale of the unstoppable love and care of a grandmother for her grandchild. The main character in the story, Phoenix Jackson, is an old black woman who makes a long journey into town to get medicine for her ill grandson. Despite the many obstacles Phoenix encounters along her journey, determination helps her to continue. I will analyze â€Å" A Worn Path† by Eudora Welty in terms of symbolism and characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, I will analyze â€Å"A Worn Path† by Eudora Welty in terms of symbolism. One way symbolism was shown in the story was by the obstacles Phoenix encounters along her journey. The first obstacle Phoenix faces is when she gets herself tangled in a bush, and she does not want to tear her dress. Phoenix begins to take to the bush saying, â€Å"Thorns, you doing your appointed work. Never want to let folks pass, no sir† (Welty 389). Eventually, she frees herself from the bush. â€Å" Old eyes thought you was a pretty little green bush† (Welty 389). This shows that you should not judge from the outside and that things are not always, what they seem to be. Another obstacle she faces is when she meets the barbed wire fence. She begins to speak to herself, â€Å" she could not pay for having her arm or leg sawed off if she got caught fast where she was†(Welty 390). Again, determination helps her to continue. Phoenix’s name also shows symbolism. â€Å"As Wesley 2 most critics have noted, Phoenix Jackson’s first name links her to the Egyptian myth of the bird that renews itself periodically from its own ashes†(Bartel 45). In addition, like her name, Phoenix seems ageless. When she stops to drink water from the spring she says, â€Å"Nobody know who made this well, for it was here when I was born†(Welty 391). When she encounters the hunter and he asks her how old she is she says, â€Å"There is no telling, mister, â€Å"said, â€Å"no telling† (Welty 392). Again her age is emphasized when she goes to the doctor’s office and the nurse ask her why she never went to school. â€Å"I never did go to school, I was too old at the Surrender† (Welty 394).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Secondly, I will analyze â€Å"A Worn Path†, by Eudora Welty in terms of characters. The main character in the story is Phoenix Jackson.

Geoffrey of Monmouths Life of Merlin Essay -- Geoffrey Monmouth Life

Geoffrey of Monmouth's Life of Merlin Geoffrey of Monmouth’s â€Å"Life of Merlin† is a text that makes its readers struggle with finding criteria for madness. What does it even mean to be â€Å"mad?† Madness seems to define a person only when he or she does something to stray from the normality of any given group of people. Breaking societal norms often leaves people open to criticism and suspicion. In order to be sane and mentally healthy, one has to abide by all explicit and implicit rules of society. â€Å"Life of Merlin† is about a man that abandons feudal society, and all of its rules, in hopes of finding a better place to live. A better place to live, for him, is one that is purely good. Violent and deceitful people are ultimately the factors that drive him away, causing him to be termed as â€Å"mad.† I argue that Merlin is a character with extreme extra worldly perception. Many would think extra worldly perception to be a privilege, but this essay serves to contradict the positive effects that extra worldly perception can have. I will show why he is perceptive, rather than mad, as well as explain why this type of perception can be detrimental to one’s life. When a person has too much perception he can often live in a world of fear and discontent, one that is only curable by the restructuring of an entire society. To begin, Merlin’s reasons for leaving feudal society are too logical to call him â€Å"mad.† One place where logic can be heard is where Merlin says, â€Å"Surely a malignant fate cannot have been so vindictive as to take from me all these my companions, men such that many a king and many a distant kingdom have stood in fear of them till now† (55). What Merlin is addressing is the fact that someone is to blame fo... ...s left with after reading the text. While Merlin seems to have a good start towards creating a more peaceful society, it does not seem that it will prove to be completely peaceful. Of course anything is better to him than living in the city, and it only seems to get better when he is encountered with people much like himself. A text like â€Å"Life of Merlin† makes me question whether a peaceful society is within grasp. Even in current times, countries are at war and people lie to and cheat one another. Have we become more violent and deceptive with time? In order to create a peaceful environment, the idea of competition might have to be removed. Competition, one thing that is instinctive in all creatures, is a driving force of all human action. Merlin seems to strive towards the ideal, but it remains questionable as to whether or not his ideal is within grasp.

Personal Financial Management Essay

1. You need to hire a receptionist that will be handling cash. What steps would you take to make sure you hire the right person? Inquire about previous cash handling experience, ask about their personal financial management, how they handle their personal finances. 2. Why should you teach your employees the importance of personal financial management? What are some creative ways of doing this? How employees handle their income reflects their work performance, if someone is having financial issues it will most likely cause them to be stressed at the work place. It is important to teach employees how to handle their finances so the overall performance of the company is not affected. Some ways to do this is by having workshops, company meetings, games, or a company lunch. Any setting where a financial manger could come in and answer any questions an employee might have as to how to manage their finances better. 3. What specific steps can you take to improve your spending habits? Some ways I could improve my spending habits would be to assist my want versus need. I can admit that at times I do unnecessary spending. I should make a budget of how much I spend and how much I earn and try to be fugal in my spending habits.

Flowers for Algernon and The Garden of Eden Essay

Daniel Keyes’s fictional story, â€Å"Flowers for Algernon†, drew on themes, patterns of events, and character types from the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden. Both stories had a mutual theme: Ignorance is bliss. Both stories also shared a similar pattern of events. Charlie Gordon, the protagonist in â€Å"Flowers for Algernon†, and Adam and Eve, the main characters in the Garden of Eden, all started out in a state of innocence, unaware of evil, until they were encouraged to become smarter. After they had gained intelligence, their eyes were opened to all of the badness in the world, and they suffered the consequences. There were also similarities in the characters in both stories, such as between the Serpent and Miss Kinnian and between Eve and Algernon. Daniel Keyes rendered the material new by changing the setting, the characters, and the events of the story to something much more modern. In â€Å"Flowers for Algernon†, Charlie wanted to become smart, but once he did, he realized that people used to make fun of him, and most people stopped talking to him as often as they used to, either because they were scared of him or couldn’t understand him. Algernon died, and Charlie lost all of his intelligence. In the Garden of Eden, God warned Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they didn’t listen. The serpent convinced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, and then Eve convinced Adam to eat it as well. When they ate the fruit, they gained knowledge and wisdom, became aware of evilness, and realized they were naked. God condemned them to a life of suffering and eventually death. The common theme of these two stories is ignorance is bliss. Sometimes it’s better to know nothing than something. The pattern of events in â€Å"Flowers for Algernon† mirror those of the Garden of Eden. In the Garden of Eden, God created Adam and Eve. They were completely innocent and pure, but not perfect. God warned them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The evil serpent convinced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit anyway. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge, their eyes were opened, and they gained knowledge and wisdom, but they were also exposed to evil, and they felt naked. Their state of innocence was lost. When God found out about this, He punished Adam and Eve. In â€Å"Flowers for Algernon†, Charlie Gordon had a disability and lacked intelligence. Miss Kinnian persuaded Charlie to go through with the operation. He agreed to undergo the surgery that the doctors thought would triple his intelligence, even though he was aware of the risks involved. The operation made Charlie incredibly smart, but it also made him aware that people made fun of him. At one point, Charlie stated that he felt as if he was naked. His intelligence eventually deteriorates, and Algernon dies. In both stories, the main characters start off in a state of ignorance, are persuaded to increase their intelligence, decide to gain knowledge, despite knowing the risks involved, and then they have to pay the consequences. Some of the characters in â€Å"Flowers for Algernon† and the Garden of Eden are very similar. For example, Charlie, Adam, and Eve are similar because they are the main characters, they started out in a state of ignorance, and they all received knowledge. Secondly, the serpent and Miss Kinnian are alike because they both persuaded the main characters to become smarter. Lastly, Eve and Algernon were both the first characters to acquire knowledge. Daniel Keyes rendered the material new by changing the setting, the characters, and the events. The Garden of Eden happened in the beginning, while â€Å"Flowers for Algernon† took place in the 20th century. Instead of a talking snake encouraging somebody to eat magical fruit, Daniel Keyes used Miss Kinnian to persuade Charlie to do the operation. Thirdly, in the Garden of Eden, the forbidden fruit gave knowledge to Adam and Eve, but in Flowers for Algernon, an operation caused Charlie to become more intelligent. Themes, patterns of events, and character types found in Flowers for Algernon mirror those found in the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden. The stories both share the same theme: Ignorance is bliss. They both have similar patterns of events: The main characters start out in a state of innocence and ignorance, then they are persuaded to increase their intelligence. The main characters agreed, despite the risks involved. The main characters had to face the consequences of receiving knowledge. Adam, Eve, and Charlie, the serpent and Miss Kinnian, and Eve and Algernon all mirror each other. Daniel Keyes modernized the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden by changing the  setting, the characters, and the events, although the overall theme, patterns of events, and types of characters are similar in both stories.

Discussing the importance of partnerships in a child care setting

A practitioners job is not only to ensure the safety of the children and to plan structured day to day activities but also to ensure that various partnerships and created within the child care setting. â€Å"Professional relationships are absolutely vital to the smooth running of an early years setting.† Early Years Foundation Level 4, Unit 5 (Respecting each other) – Professional relationships page 69.Depending on the child care environment practitioners can work with one or two assistants depending on the age group and adult to child ratio. Maintaining a happy and trusted partnership within in a team in a classroom can then benefit ways the classroom run and undertake various tasks together.Knowing your teams strengths and having trust in each other not only encourages mirror behaviour with children in the child care setting but allows practitioners and assistants to develop further in current or new skills. â€Å"In order to build on your relationship with others it 's important that you respect and value your own strengths, skills and knowledge as well as recognising the contribution made by other.† Early Years Foundation Level 4 Unit 5 (Respecting each other) – Professional relationships page 69.For some children then partnership they create with a practitioner could be one of the main interactions they have with an adult through the day. i.e. focusing on child who spend alot of time with maids or nanny's.Having good partnerships with collegues allows a practitioner to establish a  good and effective working relationship to ensure that everyone works together as part of a team. This is to essentially benefit the children.As well as a good partnership with collegues adults need to interact well with children in the environment as well. Practitioners should involve children in decisions â€Å"Ask them what they would like to do, listen to their ideas and incorporate as many of these ideas as possible into your daily routine.â₠¬  Early Years Foundation Level 4 Unit 10 (Supporting every child) – Working together page 127. Incorporating a child's ideas help build a partnership, loyalty and trust between them and the practitioner. â€Å"By involving the children in all stages of planning you will ensure that they feel valued, that their opinions and ideas are relevant and, most importantly, you will ensure that the activities you provide are meaningful and interesting to the children.† Early Years Foundation Level 4 – Unit 10 (Supporting every child) – Working together page 127.A practitioner will try and create a secure attatchment between them and the children. Even with all the observation no-one will know a child better than their own parents. Creating a bond with parents is essential upon the first meeting. If a practitioner creates a relationship with a child's parents it can portray a sense of trust to the child. If parents have a positive attitude towards the practitioner , assistants and the child care setting this can only be a positive for the child to observe and therefore for the child to possibly mirror.A secure attatchment is essential in any child care setting however a practitioner needs to be able to reassure parents/carers that although their child may have a secure attatchment to a member in the class or have a key person. Their child will still always be encourages to socialise with friends, play independatly and generally become a member of the classroom as a whole. This is to ensure that parents dont start to panic that their child is becoming dependant on one key person.All children at any age specifically babies and early years children rely on the continuity of a special relationship between the practitioner and the child. They are the foundations of mental and physical development. Therefore practitioners should continuously ensure that every child feels loved, valued, cared for and thought about. â€Å"A part of the role of the e ffective practitioner is to bring together their commitments of respect and working with parents as partners, in order to reinforce positive relationships with all the children in their care.† Early Years Foundation Level 4 Unit 8 Key person ( Shared care) page 101.Working with a group of children and their parents it's important to acknowledge that every family is unique. This could depend on numerous things i.e culture, language barrier, nationality a child's upbringing and their personal environment.â€Å"Although practitioners may be experts in the field of children's learning and development they must remember that parents are experts on their own child.† (Unit 6, Repeating diversity, page 75)Effective communication is extremely essential in a child care setting with the children, the team of practitioners and also importantly the parents. Unfortunately there will be some things that parents miss out on when they entrust a practitioner to take care of their child. It's important to make them feel as involved in any activity or achievement their child may have been involved in.When language barriers occur or not being in contact with a parent. A practitioner needs to find another way of relaying information.Many child care settings use weekly communication books to pass on important information, or even if the child may have received a sticker to attach that in the communication book. According to the age of the child this could allow for the child to explain their personal achievement thus making it that more personal.Although communication diaries have advantages, it's important for a practitioner to keep balance with written communication and talking face to  face. Practitioners should try and retain any relationships they have with parents allowing them to feel a sense of comfort that you are flexible plus there as and when needed, for any type of discussion they may want to have, in case they have any questions or concerns. (REVISE)â₠¬ It is important for Early Years practitioners and parents to both realise the importance of learning from one another. Each holds vital information, knowledge and expertise which, if shared can contribute to and enhance a child's learning and development.† (Unit 6, learning together, page 82)Working with early years children a practitioner may not only work with assistants and parents / carers but practitioners may also work in partnership with other professionals.All children have various day to day home lives, it's paramount to try and adopt any routine to a child's (child) care setting where possible, creating this continuity will promote a child to feel safe, valued and secure.

The Expansion of the Right to Vote throughout History

Throughout history, the right to vote has expanded and expanded. There are several examples of this in history, such as African Americans and women earning the right to suffrage. All of these movements stem down to the formation of the National Republicans, or Democrats. During Andrew Jackson’s presidency, this party made it possible for even the poorest man to gain the right to vote. However, this movement was the subject of much controversy, as many doubted the abilities of the â€Å"common man†.One side in this argument was the supporters of the Democrats. They argued that ownership of property should not determine the right to vote. In document one of the DBQ paper, Nathan Sanford, who supported Jackson, argued that not ownership of property, but a man’s morality, should give him the right to vote. A different perspective, but the same basic agreement, is that of a French nobleman named Alexis de Tocqueville. He stated that the heads of government were often completely talentless, and seemed to end up in their positions from wealthiness alone.These supporters definitely had their reasons to be for this movement, but there were many who had reasons to oppose it. In her cynical and brutally honest book â€Å"Domestic Manners of the Americans†, Frances Trollope recalls the election of 1828. She states that most people were overlooking that he was â€Å"in every way calculated to do honour to the office† and simply opposing him because Jackson represented a less wealthy, more realistic portion of America. She even went as far to say that Jackson won the election of 1828 solely for that reason.James Kent of New York stated that the property requirement was simply the price to pay for the privilege of voting. He called the poor lazy, and stated that the movement was just a way for the poor to â€Å"share the plunder of the rich†. Both sides definitely had their reasons, as these opinions show. As for my opinion, I definit ely support the movement. As for the supporters, I find next to no valid arguments against them other than â€Å"everyone’s poor for a reason†.And as I may agree with that statement to a certain extent, it does not validate the ignorant generalizations made by James Kent, calling the poor lazy and greedy (from what I’ve seen, it seems to be the other way around). As for Trollope, while it may be true that the reasons for Jackson’s support were unjust, it seems to happen on the wealthy party’s side just about as much as vice versa. However, as it has become clear by giving suffrage to blacks, women, and 18, 19, and 20 year olds, this movement still continues today, and isn’t ending anytime soon. The Expansion of the Right to Vote throughout History Throughout history, the right to vote has expanded and expanded. There are several examples of this in history, such as African Americans and women earning the right to suffrage. All of these movements stem down to the formation of the National Republicans, or Democrats. During Andrew Jackson’s presidency, this party made it possible for even the poorest man to gain the right to vote. However, this movement was the subject of much controversy, as many doubted the abilities of the â€Å"common man†.One side in this argument was the supporters of the Democrats. They argued that ownership of property should not determine the right to vote. In document one of the DBQ paper, Nathan Sanford, who supported Jackson, argued that not ownership of property, but a man’s morality, should give him the right to vote. A different perspective, but the same basic agreement, is that of a French nobleman named Alexis de Tocqueville. He stated that the heads of government were often completely talentless, and seemed to end up in their positions from wealthiness alone.These supporters definitely had their reasons to be for this movement, but there were many who had reasons to oppose it. In her cynical and brutally honest book â€Å"Domestic Manners of the Americans†, Frances Trollope recalls the election of 1828. She states that most people were overlooking that he was â€Å"in every way calculated to do honour to the office† and simply opposing him because Jackson represented a less wealthy, more realistic portion of America. She even went as far to say that Jackson won the election of 1828 solely for that reason.James Kent of New York stated that the property requirement was simply the price to pay for the privilege of voting. He called the poor lazy, and stated that the movement was just a way for the poor to â€Å"share the plunder of the rich†. Both sides definitely had their reasons, as these opinions show. As for my opinion, I definit ely support the movement. As for the supporters, I find next to no valid arguments against them other than â€Å"everyone’s poor for a reason†.And as I may agree with that statement to a certain extent, it does not validate the ignorant generalizations made by James Kent, calling the poor lazy and greedy (from what I’ve seen, it seems to be the other way around). As for Trollope, while it may be true that the reasons for Jackson’s support were unjust, it seems to happen on the wealthy party’s side just about as much as vice versa. However, as it has become clear by giving suffrage to blacks, women, and 18, 19, and 20 year olds, this movement still continues today, and isn’t ending anytime soon.

Barack Obama - Announcement of Presidential Candidacy

Barack Obama Official Announcement of Candidacy for US President Delivered 10 February 2007, Springfield, Illinois You know, we all made this journey for a reason. Its humbling to see a crowd like this, but in my heart I know you didnt just come here for me. Youcame here because you believe in what this country can be. In the face of war, you believe there can be peace. In the face of despair, you believe there can be hope. In the face of a politics that shut you out, thats told you to settle, thats divided us for too long, you believe that we can be one people, reaching for whats possible, building that more perfect union. Thats the journey were on today. But let me tell you how I came to be here. As most of you know, Im not a native of this great state. I I moved to Illinois over two decades ago. I was a young man then, just a year out of college. I knew no one in Chicago when I arrived, was without money or family connections. But a group of churches had offered me a job as a community organizer for the grand sum of 13,000 dollars a year. And I accepted the job, sight unseen, motivated then by a single, simple, powerful idea: that I might play a small part in building a better America. My work took me to some of Chicagos poorest neighborhoods. I joined with pastors and lay-people to deal with communities that had been ravaged by plant closings. I saw that the problems people faced werent simply local in nature, that the decisions to close a steel mill was made by distant executives, that the lack of textbooks and computers in a school could be traced to skewed priorities of politicians a thousand miles away, and that when a child turns to violence I came to realize that theres a hole in that boys heart that no government alone can fill. It was in these neighborhoods that I received the best education that I ever had, and where I learned the meaning of my Christian faith. After three years of this work, I went to law school, because I wanted to understand how the law should work for those in need. I became a civil rights lawyer, and taught constitutional law, and after a time, I came to understand that our cherished rights of liberty and equality depend on the active participation of an awakened electorate. It was with these ideas in mind that I arrived in this capital city as a state Senator. It It was here, in Springfield, where I saw all that is America converge farmers and teachers, businessmen and laborers, all of them with a story to tell, all of them seeking a seat at the table, all of them clamoring to be heard. I made lasting friendships here, friends that I see here in the audience today. It was here It was here where we learned to disagree without being disagreeable; that its possible to compromise so long as you know those principles that can never be compromised; and that so long as were willing to listen to each other, we can assume the best in people instead of the worst. Thats why we were able to reform a death penalty system that was broken; thats why we were able to give health insurance to children in need; thats why we made the tax system right here in Springfield more fair and just for working families; and thats why we passed ethics reform that the cynics said could never, ever be passed. It was here, in Springfield, where North, South, East, and West come together that I was reminded of the essential decency of the American people where I came to believe that through this decency, we can build a more hopeful America. And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a house divided to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America. Now Now, listen, I I thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. [to audience chanting Obama] Look, I Irecognize that there is a certain presumptuousness in this, a certain audacity, to this announcement. I know that I havent spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But Ive been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change. The genius of our Founders is that they designed a system of government that can be changed. And we should take heart, because weve changed this country before. In the face of tyranny, a band of patriots brought an empire to its knees. In the face of secession, we unified a nation and set the captives free. In the face of Depression, we put people back to work and lifted millions out of poverty. We welcomed immigrants to our shores. We opened railroads to the west. We landed a man on the moon. And we heard a Kings call to let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Weve done this before: Each and every time, a new generation has risen up and done whats needed to be done. Today we are called once more, and it is time for our generation to answer that call. For that is our unyielding faith that in in the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it. Thats what Abraham Lincoln understood. He had his doubts. He had his defeats. He had his skeptics. He had his setbacks. But through his will and his words, he moved a nation and helped free a people. Its because of the millions who rallied to his cause that were no longer divided, North and South, slave and free. Its because men and women of every race, from every walk of life, continued to march for freedom long after Lincoln was laid to rest, that today we have the chance to face the challenges of this millennium together, as one people as Americans. All of us know what those challenges are today: a war with no end, a dependence on oil that threatens our future, schools where too many children arent learning, and families struggling paycheck to paycheck despite working as hard as they can. We know the challenges. Weve heard them. Weve talked about them for years. Whats stopped us from meeting these challenges is not the absence of sound policies and sensible plans. Whats stopped us is the failure of leadership, the smallness the smallness of our politics the ease with which were distracted by the petty and trivial, our chronic avoidance of tough decisions, our preference for scoring cheap political points instead of rolling up our sleeves and building a working consensus to tackle the big problems of America. For the past six years weve been told that our mounting debts dont matter. Weve been told that the anxiety Americans feel about rising health care costs and stagnant wages are an illusion. Weve been told that climate change is a hoax. Weve been told that tough talk and an ill-conceived war can replace diplomacy, and strategy, and foresight. And when all else fails, when Katrina happens, or the death toll in Iraq mounts, weve been told that our crises are somebody elses fault. Were distracted from our real failures, and told to blame the other Party, or gay people, or immigrants. And as people have looked away in disillusionment and frustration, we know whats filled the void: the cynics, the lobbyists, the special interests whove turned our government into a game only they can afford to play. They write the checks and you get stuck with the bill. They get the access while you get to write a letter. They think they own this government, but were here today to take it back. The time for that kind of politics is over. It is through. Its time to turn the page right here and right now. Now look [Audience chants ObamaObamaObama] Okay. Alright. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Look, look, we have made some progress already. I was proud to help lead the fight in Congress that led to the most sweeping ethics reforms since Watergate. But Washington has a long way to go, and it wont be easy. Thats why well have to set priorities. Well have to make hard choices. And although government will play a crucial role in bringing about the changes that we need, more money and programs alone will not get us to where we need to go. Each of us, in our own lives, will have to accept responsibility for instilling an ethic of achievement in our children, for adapting to a more competitive economy, for strengthening our communities, and sharing some measure of sacrifice. So let us begin. Let us begin this hard work together. Let us transform this nation. Let us be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age. Lets set high standards for our schools and give them the resources they need to succeed. Lets recruit a new army of teachers, and give them better pay and more support in exchange for more accountability. Lets make college more affordable, and lets invest in scientific research, and lets lay down broadband lines through the heart of inner cities and rural towns all across America. We can do that. And as our economy changes, lets be the generation that ensures our nations workers are sharing in our prosperity. Lets protect the hard-earned benefits their companies have promised. Lets make it possible for hardworking Americans to save for retirement. Lets allow our unions and their organizers to lift up this countrys middle-class again. We can do that. Lets be the generation that ends poverty in America. Every single person willing to work should be able to get job training that leads to a job, and earn a living wage that can pay the bills, and afford child care so their kids can have a safe place to go when they work. We can do this. And lets be the generation that finally, after all these years, tackles our health care crisis. We can control costs by focusing on prevention, by providing better treatment to the chronically ill, and using technology to cut the bureaucracy. Lets be the generation that says right here, right now: We will have universal health care in America by the end of the next Presidents first term. We can do that. Lets be the generation that finally frees America from the tyranny of oil. We can harness homegrown, alternative fuels like ethanol and spur the production of more fuel-efficient cars. We can set up a system for capping greenhouse gases. We can turn this crisis of global warming into a moment of opportunity for innovation, and job creation, and an incentive for businesses that will serve as a model for the world. Lets be the generation that makes future generations proud of what we did here. Most of all, lets be the generation that never forgets what happened on that September day and confront the terrorists with everything weve got. Politics doesnt have to divide us on this anymore; we can work together to keep our country safe. Ive worked with the Republican Senator Dick Lugar to pass a law that will secure and destroy some of the worlds deadliest weapons. We can work together to track down terrorists with a stronger military. We can tighten the net around their finances. We can improve our intelligence capabilities and finally get homeland security right. But lets also understand that ultimate victory against our enemies will only come by rebuilding our alliances and exporting those ideals that bring hope and opportunity to millions of people around the globe. We can do those things. But all of this cannot come to pass until we bring an end to this war in Iraq. Most of you know Most of you know that I opposed this war from the start. I thought it was a tragic mistake. Today we grieve for the families who have lost loved ones, the hearts that have been broken, and the young lives that could have been. America, it is time to start bringing our troops home. Its time Its time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone elses civil war. Thats why I have a plan that will bring our combat troops home by March of 2008. Let the Iraqis know Letting the Iraqis know that we will not be there forever is our last, best hope to pressure the Sunni and Shia to come to the table and find peace. And theres one other thing that its not too late to get right about this war, and that is the homecoming of the men and women, our veterans, who have sacrificed the most. Let us honor their courage by providing the care they need and rebuilding the military they love. Let us be the generation that begins that work. I know there are those who dont believe we can do all these things. I understand the skepticism. After all, every four years, candidates from both Parties make similar promises, and I expect this year will be no different. All of us running for President will travel around the country offering ten-point plans and making grand speeches; all of us will trumpet those qualities we believe make us uniquely qualified to lead this country. But too many times, after the election is over, and the confetti is swept away, all those promises fade from memory, and the lobbyists and special interests move in, and people turn away, disappointed as before, left to struggle on their own. Thats why this campaign cant only be about me. It must be about us. It must be about what we can do together. This campaign must be the occasion, the vehicle, of your hopes, and your dreams. It will take your time, your energy, and your advice to push us forward when were doing right, and let us know when were not. This campaign has to be about reclaiming the meaning of citizenship, restoring our sense of common purpose, and realizing that few obstacles can withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change. By ourselves, this change will not happen. Divided, we are bound to fail. But the life of a tall, gangly, self-made Springfield lawyer tells us that a different future is possible. He tells us that there is power in words. He tells us that theres power in conviction. That beneath all the differences of race and region, faith and station, we are one people. He tells us that theres power in hope. As Lincoln organized the forces arrayed against slavery, he was heard to say this: Of strange, discordant, and even hostile elements, we gathered from the four winds, and formed and fought to battle through. ¹ That is our purpose here today. That is why I am in this race not just to hold an office, but to gather with you to transform a nation. I want I want to win that next battle for justice and opportunity. I want to win that next battle for better schools, and better jobs, and better health care for all. I want us to take up the unfinished business of perfecting our union, and building a better America. And if you will join with me in this improbable quest, if you feel destiny calling, and see as I see, the future of endless possibility stretching out before us; if you sense, as I sense, that the time is now to shake off our slumber, and slough off our fears, and make good on the debt we owe past and future generations, then I am ready to take up the cause, and march with you, and work with you today. Together we can finish the work that needs to be done, and usher in a new birth of freedom on this Earth. Thank you very much everybody lets get to work! I love you. Thank you. Hello Springfield! Look at all of you. Look at all of you. Goodness. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Giving all praise and honor to God for bringing us here today. Thank you so much. I am I am so grateful to see all of you. You guys are still cheering back there? [to audience on left.] Let me Let me begin by saying thanks to all you whove traveled, from far and wide, to brave the cold today. I know its a little chilly but Im fired up.