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the long, rugged path towards prosperity
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"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 short-cuts 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."
- Barack Obama