"But democracy does require basic bonds of trust between its citizens. It doesn't – it doesn't work if we think the people who disagree with us are all motivated by malice, it doesn't work if we think that our political opponents are unpatriotic or trying to weaken America. Democracy grinds to a halt without a willingness to compromise or when even basic facts are contested or when we listen only to those who agree with us. Our public life withers when only the most extreme voices get all the attention. And most of all, democracy breaks down when the average person feels their voice doesn't matter; that the system is rigged in favor of the rich or the powerful or some special interest. [...] So, my fellow Americans, whatever you may believe, whether you prefer one party or no party, whether you supported my agenda or fought as hard as you could against it, our collective futures depends on your willingness to uphold your duties as a citizen, to vote, to speak out, to stand up for others, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable, knowing that each of us is only here because somebody somewhere stood up for us. We need every American to stay active in our public life and not just during election time so that our public life reflects the goodness and the decency that I see in the American people every single day."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Democratic Party (United States) politiciansColumbia University alumniAutobiographers from the United StatesAfrican AmericansHarvard University alumni
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Barack Obama
politician, lawyer, political writer
1961 · United States
1215 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Barack Obama →
Related Quotes
"Velike ribe male proĹľdiru."
"Ein Heute ist besser als zehn Morgen."
"I don't know where his vendetta comes from but we're not going to let him make his bones by lambasting Las Vegas, tha…"
"America understands that there is one party in this country that is favor of health care reform and one party that is…"
"Barack Obama loves to get attached from the Left on being too moderate on the War on Terrorism. And there have been o…"
"With health reform and the so-called “public option” reportedly on life support (although some activists strongly dis…"
"The antiwar movement aspired to create a transgressive politics that challenged the institutions that generate war an…"
"The irony is that Barack Obama would not even be president if it were not for the courage of persecuted dissidents su…"
"Surveying the fall in support for the governments of Barack Obama, New York City's progressive Mayor Bill de Blasio, …"
"If Barack Obama was a state he'd be California. I mean, think about it: diverse, open, smart, independent, oppose tra…"