The Beauty of Barack Obama's Speech

The political pundits, press, pols and critics who claim that Barack Obama's speech was great because he made all the right points, gave policy specifics and came out swinging at John McCain while at the same time praising his service to our country, have completely missed on their analysis. They paid too much attention to the words and not enough attention to the promise these words hold for America.

The beauty of Barack Obama's speech is found not only in the promises made, but the promise kept. All along Barack Obama has promised a new kind of politics. He has promised the politics of Hope. On Thursday, August 28, 2008, Barack Obama delivered on that promise.

That’s the promise of America - the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper.

That’s the promise we need to keep.

Yes, that promise of a new kind of politics was delivered in the form of words, but I saw those words translated in the eyes of the men and women who heard them. I saw that promise delivered as tears of joy streamed down the faces of young and old, black and white, male and female, gay and straight - faces that came to Denver from every corner of this country.

I felt that promise as I watched some reach for the heaven's opening themselves up, reaching for joy and hope and goodness - those feelings and qualities we find when we take care of one another.

I heard that promise delivered in the words of a college freshman when she said, "He has made it okay to be patriotic again. I've never felt this way in my entire life." I heard it again when I replied, "Neither have I."

I get it. I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don’t fit the typical pedigree, and I haven’t spent my career in the halls of Washington.

But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don’t understand is that this election has never been about me. It’s been about you.

Barack Obama does not stand on the precipice of greatness. America once again stands on the precipice of greatness. Greatness, however, is not something we let happen. It is something we make happen. And, we will make it happen. Together.

"We cannot walk alone," the preacher cried. "And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."

America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise - that American promise - and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.

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

We will make it happen together with Barack Obama and Joe Biden leading the way.