数年后，遥想往事，你们也许会说，就是这一刻，在这个地方——美国人民记起希望究竟意味着什么。
几个月以来，我们因为谈论希望而遭到挖苦，甚至嘲弄。
但我们一直认为，希望不是盲目的乐观主义。希望不是忽视未来的艰巨任务或横亘在我们前行道路上的障碍。希望不是置身事外或从拼斗中退缩。希望是我们心中坚守一种东西：它告诉我们，不管遭遇多少艰难险阻，只要有勇气去争取，只要愿意付出努力和艰辛，更好的东西就会等待我们。
我在一个来自樟泉（Cedar Rapids）的年轻女士的眼中看到了希望：她白天全天在大学上课，晚上加夜班，但却仍然不能负担生病的妹妹的医疗费；但她仍相信这个国家会提供她实现梦想的机会。
我从一个来自新罕布什尔州的妇女的声音中听到了希望：她告诉我自从她的侄儿奔赴伊拉克战场她就一直感到忧虑；但是她每晚睡觉前都要为侄子的安全回归祈祷。
希望引领一群殖民者揭竿而起反对一个帝国；希望引领我们伟大的祖先解放了一个大陆，复活了一个民族；希望引领青年男女为了自由围坐在（不向黑人提供服务）的餐桌旁，引领他们勇敢地面对高压水龙，穿越（阿拉巴马州的）塞尔玛和蒙哥马利。
希望，希望引领我今天来到这里，——我的父亲来自肯尼亚，母亲来自堪萨斯，这样的故事只可能发生在美利坚合众国。希望是美利坚民族的基石，希望是我们执着的信仰：我们的命运不是被人写就，而是要由我们自己写就，由那些不愿意勉强接受这个世界并信心百倍地按照它应该变成的蓝图去改造它的男男女女们写就。txt电子书分享平台
更完善的联邦（15）
这就是我们从艾奥瓦开始的开拓，这也是我们要向新罕布什尔州和其他州传达的信息。我们顺利的时候没有忘记它，失利的时候也没有忘记它。这个信息可以帮助我们一块砖一块砖地、一条街道一条街道地、一只接一只布满老茧的手地去改变这个国家。团结起来，普通人也能铸就宏图伟业，因为我们不是红色的州或蓝色的州的组合，我们是美利坚合众州。在此刻，在这次选举中，我们乐于再次相信。谢谢，艾奥瓦。
英文原文
Remarks of Senator Barack Obama： Iowa Caucus Night Des Moines； IA ｜ January 03； 2008
Thank you； Iowa。
You know； they said this day would never e。
They said our sights were set too high。
They said this country was too divided； too disillusioned to ever e together around a mon purpose。
But on this January night … at this defining moment in history … you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do。 You have done what the state of New Hampshire can do in five days。 You have done what America can do in this New Year； 2008。 In lines that stretched around schools and churches； in small towns and big cities； you came together as Democrats； Republicans and Independents to stand up and say that we are one nation； we are one people； and our time for change has e。
You said the time has e to move beyond the bitterness and pettiness and anger that's consumed Washington； to end the political strategy that's been all about division and instead make it about addition … to build a coalition for change that stretches through Red States and Blue States。 Because that's how we'll win in November； and that's how we'll finally meet the challenges that we face as a nation。
We are choosing hope over fear。 We're choosing unity over division； and sending a powerful message that change is ing to America。
You said the time has e to tell the lobbyists who think their money and their influence speak louder than our voices that they don't own this government； we do； and we are here to take it back。
The time has e for a President who will be honest about the choices and the challenges we face； who will listen to you and learn from you even when we disagree； who won't just tell you what you want to hear； but what you need to know。 And in New Hampshire； if you give me the same chance that Iowa did tonight； I will be that president for America。
Thank you。
I'll be a President who finally makes health care affordable and available to every single American the same way I expanded health care in Illinois by bringing Democrats and Republicans together to get the job done。
I'll be a President who ends the tax breaks for panies that ship our jobs overseas and put a middle…class tax cut into the pockets of the working Americans who deserve it。
I'll be a President who harnesses the ingenuity of farmers and scientists and entrepreneurs to free this nation from the tyranny of oil once and for all。
And I'll be a President who ends this war in Iraq and finally brings our troops home； who restores our moral standing； who understands that 9/11 is not a way to scare up votes； but a challenge that should unite America and the world against the mon threats of the twenty…first century； mon threats of terrorism and nuclear weapons； climate change and poverty； genocide and disease。
Tonight； we are one step closer to that vision of America because of what you did here in Iowa。 And so I'd especially like to thank the organizers and the precinct captains； the volunteers and the staff who made this all possible。
更完善的联邦（16）
And while I'm at it； on 〃thank yous；〃 I think it makes sense for me to thank the love of my life； the rock of the Obama family； the closer on the campaign trail； give it up for Michelle Obama。
I know you didn't do this for me。 You did this…you did this because you believed so deeply in the most American of ideas … that in the face of impossible odds； people who love this country can change it。
I know this…I know this because while I may be standing here tonight； I'll never forget that my journey began on the streets of Chicago doing what so many of you have done for this campaign and all the campaigns here in Iowa … organizing； and working； and fighting to make people's lives just a little bit better。
I know how hard it is。 It es with little sleep； little pay； and a lot of sacrifice。 There are days of disappointment； but sometimes； just sometimes； there are nights like this … a night…a night that； years from now； when we've made the changes we believe in； when more families can afford to see a doctor； when our children…when Malia and Sasha and your children…inherit a planet that's a little cleaner and safer； when the world sees America differently； and America sees itself as a nation less divided and more united； you'll be able to look back with pride and say that this was the moment when it all began。
This was the moment when the improbable beat what Washington always said was inevitable。
This was the moment when we tore down barriers that have divided us for too long … when we rallied people of all parties and ages to a mon cause； when we finally gave Americans who'd never participated in politics a reason to stand up and to do so。
This was the moment when we finally beat back the politics of fear； and doubt； and cynicism； the politics where we tear each other down instead of lifting this country up。 This was the moment。
Years from now； you'll look back and you'll say that this was the moment … this was the place … where America remembered what it means to hope。
For many months； we've been teased； even derided for talking about hope。
But we always knew that hope is not blind optimism。 It's not ignoring the enormity of the task ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path。 It's not sitting on the sidelines or shirking from a fight。 Hope is that thing inside us that insists； despite all evidence to the contrary； that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it； and to work for it； and to fight for it。
Hope is what I saw in the eyes of the young woman in Cedar Rapids who works the night shift after a full day of college and still can't afford health care for a sister who's ill； a young woman who still believes that this country will give her the chance to live out her dreams。
Hope is what I heard in the voice of the New Hampshire woman who told me that she hasn't been able to breathe since her nephew left for Iraq； who still goes to bed each night praying for his safe return。
Hope is what led a band of colonists to rise up against an empire； what led the greatest of generations to free a continent and heal a nation； what led young women and young men to sit at lunch counters and brave fire hoses and march through Selma and Montgomery for freedom's cause。
Hope…hope…is what led me here today … with a father from Kenya； a mother from Kansas； and a story that could only happen in the United States of America。 Hope is the bedrock of this nation； the belief that