Dear teachers, dear classmates, good morning, everyone!
The title of my speech today is: let the youth to become the most gloriousmemories.
From our play sound, the time from our naughty smile gently glides, betweenbetween us unprepared takes us into the youth.
I often think: what is youth? Would like the born the sun is shiningbright, or like the river pentium waves of passion, or will be like the eaglethat soar the skies free?
I think that youth is a finish a lot of songs, she will be romanticfeelings and severe reality intertwined, will be everybody's heart dial. She, ismoving, like spring flowers, summer is warm; Like the autumn, winter daybusines. Youth, how beautiful!
Youth, if we figure always beautiful natural and unrestrained, behavioralways make public and unique personality. We want to make the dream of youthflying high, we want to make your life full of brilliance. So now we shouldseize every little dream, not because a little frustrated and stop chasingsteps. Even if we don't have the ability to superman and great wisdom, we mustalso believe that as long as you work hard, there will be the future.
World-famous bridge expert MAO yisheng, born in poverty, 7 annual revenuesprimary school, 10 years old in high school, at the age of 15 into theuniversity, he studied hard, collected in the library information nearlythousands of words, there are exactly 200 this reading notes, walks to theUnited States, after only a year, get a master's degree as the Dr Ricky firstengineering institute of technology, was only 24 years old, he can say to theglory of the youth set off to perfection. Zhou enlai as huangpu militaryacademy, director of the political department of only 25 years old, at the ageof 29 and led the nanchang uprising shocked the Chinese and foreign, become ageneration of outstanding statesman, revolutionist. Newton discovered gravity,23, 26 relativity, Einstein... Youth, is the eternal monument of their life!
Youth, spring flowers. The journey of life has just begun, is waiting forour sun, wind and rain, we are fully cherish this wonderful time! Let youth tobecome the most brilliant memory!
this is a glass of water, tasteless, right? however if you add sugar, it will taste sweet, but if you add vinegar, it will become bitter. the same is true with our life____ the flavor is created by our choices.
if kindness is added to a strange you will have a friend; but if hostility is added, you will have an enemy. if love is added to a pile of red bricks you will have a home, but if hatred is add to those bricks , you will have an concentration camp.
so my dear friends, never complain that life is boring and the world is disappointing. if don’t like the taste of your life, change the ingredients.
three year ago, i weighed more than 100 hundred kilograms which caused significant embarrassment and frustration in my life. like always failing my p.e examinations, like always being laughed at by girls, like being terrified to speak in public. it was my grandmother’s encouragement that revived from my passive attitude to become confident in myself. she said “ my dear, if you can’t change you figure, why not treat it as your own style. so i began to cautiously employ the new way of thinking. by choosing to change my outlook on life, i developed the confidence to make a difference and finally i found a totally new world.
so my dear friend, if faith, hope, love, endurance are added to your life, you will find the confidence to conquer your limitation and embrace new challenges. and hopefully with my speech included, you will have a fantastic speech contest.
ladies and gentlemen , good afternoon! i‘m very glad to stand here and give you a short speech. today my topic is ―youth‖. i hope you will like it , and found the importance in your youth so that more cherish it. first i want to ask you some questions: 1、do you know what is youth? 2、how do you master your youth? youth youth is not a time of life, it is a state of mind ;
it is not rosy cheeks , red lips and supple knees, it is a matter of the emotions : it is the freshness ;
it is the freshness of the deep springs of life . youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite , for adventure over the love of ease. this often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20 . nobody grows old merely by a number of years . we grow old by deserting our ideals. years wrinkle the skin , but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul . worry , fear , self –distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust . whether 60 of 16 , there is in every human being ?s heart the lure of wonders, the unfailing childlike appetite of what‘s next and the joy of the game of living . in the center of your heart and my heart there‘s a wireless station : so long as it receives messages of beauty , hope ,cheer, courage and power from men and from the infinite, so long as you are young . when the aerials are down , and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old ,even at 20 , but as long as your aerials are up ,to catch waves of optimism , there is hope you may die young at 80. thank you!
acquires new meaning in today's era (时代) of change. The road to successstarts from the beginning, and our world is one full of competitions, If onlychildren have never had any setback, in the long run they won't bear any setbackor failure in life. Some setback early on may make them ready for verychallenging issues at a later date.
有些人认为只有孩子不需要挫折的经验，是trmes变了，只有儿童不应受到严格的要求。在他们看来，经历挫折使这些敏感的孩子感到被压迫者(战败者)。因此，只有对不起孩子精神上有害其心理wellWeing(心理健康)。但有些人却持相反的意见。他们声称，挫折经验，有利于独生子女。鼓励儿童实践弱点的技能和能力的工作，并完成其目标，让他们用实际和竞争激烈的社会。通过一些挫折走向可能会有助于他们对未来的个人性格形成。
在我看来，挫折的经验，应紧急主张(倡导)。挫折经验，取得今天的时代(时代)变革的新的意义。从一开始的成功之路开始，我们的世界是一个充满竞争，如果只有孩子从未有过任何挫折，从长远来说，他们将不承担任何挫折或失败的生活。早期的一些挫折就可能使其成为非常具有挑战性的在日后的问题做好准备。
Every time I stood in the bright rising star under the red flag, can not help but heart is surging. Motherland, ah, motherland! Your diligence and courage, unyielding national spirit of independence in the East, has created one of the wonders of the world, one brilliant achievement. , China's manned space program has been developing by leaps and bounds, every successful launch, I will be excited, because they dream of carrying into space in my heart, round our dream of flying the Chinese people. Million the year is no longer just a dream the dream of the 21st century, the Chinese people has finally fulfilled his dream of flying. We not only want a stable foothold on the motherland, we have to walk through the universe! At 21:10:04 on September 25, 20xx, Shenzhou VII launch. At 16:41:00 on September 21, China's astronauts Zhai Zhigang opening the door the orbital module of Shenzhou VII manned spacecraft, so the vast space we finally left the Chinese people's footprints. 20xx Olympic and Paralympic Games successfully held the world on attention, which fully demonstrates our strong strength. We do our best athletes, solidarity, made one remarkable achievement. However, the arrival of the pride and honor, while a catastrophic disaster coming to us also.
May 12, 20xx, bearing in mind the history of the day, live the life of the number of disappeared in an instant. The earthquake, shook the Chinese people each. With our determination and courage, emergency toward the disaster areas, risking their lives, searching for the ruins of a desire for the survival of both eyes, looking for our loved ones. Finally, the difficulties one by one the children in your feet turn into nothing. Among these, the number of heroic sons and daughters of TV drama to your shaking earth spirits tell the true story, this is for your children! It was with you, we have the courage, have confidence. We are grateful to you!
he values Americans live by may seem strange to you. As a result, you mightfind their actions confusing, even unbelievable. This is my opinion aboutAmerican Value. Whether you agree with me or not - or is willing to accept asvalid any generalizations about Americans - my observations arethought-provoking.
Americans do not believe in the power of fate, and they look at people whodo as being backward, primitive, or naive. In the American context, to be"fatalistic" is to be superstitious, lazy, or unwilling to take initiative.Everyone should have control over whatever in the environment might potentiallyaffect him or her. The problems of one's life are not seen as having resultedfrom bad luck as much as having come from one's laziness and unwillingness totake responsibility in pursuing a better life.
In the American mind, change is seen as indisputably good, leading todevelopment, improvement, progress. Many older, more traditional culturesconsider change disruptive and destructive; they value stability, continuity,tradition, and ancient heritage - none of which are considered very important inthe United States.
Time is of utmost importance to most Americans. It is something to be on,kept, filled, saved, used, spent, wasted, lost, gained, planned, given, evenkilled. Americans are more concerned with getting things accomplished on timethan they are with developing interpersonal relations. Their lives seemcontrolled by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting theirdiscussions off abruptly to make their next appointment on time. This philosophyhas enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity Is highlyvalued In their country.
Equality is so cherished in the U.S. that it is seen as having a religiousbasis. Americans believe that all people are created equal and that all shouldhave an equal opportunity to succeed. This concept of equality is strange toseven-eighths of the world which views status and authority as desirable, evenif they happen to be near the bottom of the social order. Since Americans liketo treat foreigners "Just like anybody else", newcomers to the U.S. shouldrealize that no insult or personal indignity is intended if they are treated ina less than-deferential manner by waiters in restaurants, clerks in stores andhotels, taxi drivers, and other service personnel.
Americans view themselves as highly individualistic in their thoughts andactions. They resist being thought of as representatives of any homogeneousgroup. When they do join groups, they believe they are special. Just a littledifferent from other members of the same group. In the U.S. you will find peoplefreely expressing a variety of opinions anywhere and anytime. Yet, in spite ofthis independence, almost all Americans end up voting for one of their two majorpolitical parties. Individualism leads to privacy, which Americans see asdesirable. The word privacy does not exist in many non-Western languages. If Itdoes, it is likely to have a negative connotation, suggesting loneliness orforced isolation. It is not uncommon for Americans to say, and almost tobelieve: "If I don't have half an hour a day to myself, I go stark-ravingmad!"
Americans take credit only for what they accomplish as individuals. Theyget no credit for having been born into a rich family but pride themselves inhaving climbed the ladder of success, to whatever level, all by themselves. Inan English-language dictionary, there are more than 100 composite words thathave the word "self" as a prefix: self-aware. self-confident, self-conscious,self-contented, self-control, self-criticism, self-deception, self-defeating,self-denial. The equivalent of these words cannot be found in most otherlanguages. It is an indicator of how highly Americans regard the self-made manor woman.
Many other countries have developed subtle, sometimes highly ritualistic,ways of informing others of unpleasant information. Americans prefer the directapproach. They are likely to be completely honest in delivering their negativeevaluations, and to consider, anything other than the most direct and openapproach to be "dishonest" and "insincere". Anyone in the U.S. who uses anintermediary to deliver the message will also be considered "manipulative" and"untrustworthy". If you come from a country where saving face is important, beassured that Americans are not trying to make you lose face with theirdirectness.
As a matter of fact, the major American Value is distinct from Chinese. Weought to accept it when we communicate with Americans. Thus, we need makeourselves think globally and act locally.
president clinton, senator clinton, president carter and mrs. carter, president bush and mother governor and mrs. huckabee, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: laura and i are really pleased to be a part of this happy and historic occasion. on this day of dedication, we honor the man from hope, arkansas, who became the 42nd president of the united states. mr. president, congratulations.
this presidential library chronicles a vivid era in american history, for the benefit of future generations. it will contribute to the vitality of this fine city and to the great state of arkansas. the collections here record the dedication and hard work of thousands, who brought talent and idealism to public service. and at the center of that era, at the head of that administration, was an able and energetic american. president bill clinton led our country with optimism and a great affection for the american people, and that affection has been returned. he gave all to his job, and the nation gave him two terms.
in the early 1990s, the american people saw a young, well-spoken, relatively unknown governor rise to national prominence. yet for decades here in arkansas, the signs of destiny were clear. when young william entered a new school in the 4th grade, a classmate recalls, "he didn't mean to, but he just took the place over." when governor clinton declared his candidacy for president in this city, his close friends were not surprised in the least. they'd always known that bill clinton's moment in history would come.
arkansas is a state that knows political skill when you see it. a fellow in saline county was asked by his son why he liked governor clinton so much. he said, son, he'll look you in the eye, he'll shake your hand, he'll hold your baby, he'll pat your dog -- all at the same time.
over the years, bill clinton showed himself to be much more than a good politician. his home state elected him governor in the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s, because he was an innovator, a serious student of policy, and a man of great compassion. in the white house, the whole nation witnessed his brilliance and mastery of detail, his persuasive power, and his persistence. the president is not the kind to give up a fight. his staffers were known to say, "if clinton were the titanic, the iceberg would sink."
hello,everyone!
my name is steven . i'm 10 years old, today my topic is my family .
i have a happy family . there are three members:my father , my mother andme . my parents love mevery much .
my mother is chinese teacher . she is very tall and thin . her face lookssmall and her eres are very beautiful . my mother is very warm and friendly toothers , but she is very strict with me .
my father is a professional accountant . he works hard every day . he likesplaying football . i usually play with him . we enjoy ourselves every time .
my dream is to be a police officer when i grow up . everyboy , please cheerme on !
thanks ! thanks you very much !
during his presidency, bill clinton seized important opportunities on issues from welfare to free trade. he was a tireless champion of peace in the middle east. he used american power in the balkans to confront aggression and halt ethnic cleansing. and in all his actions and decisions, the american people sensed a deep empathy for the poor and the powerless. shortly before leaving office, president clinton said, "christ admonished us that our lives will be judged by how we do unto the least of our neighbors." throughout his career, bill clinton has done his best to live up to that standard. and americans respect him for it. at every stage of his remarkable life, president clinton has made and kept countless friends, who share in the joy of this day. and three people in particular have the largest part in this remarkable story. one day more than 30 years ago, inside the yale law library, a fellow student walked over to bill clinton and said, "if you're going to keep staring at me, and i'm going to keep staring back, we ought to at least know each other's name. mine's hillary rodham. what is yours?"that was a good day for both of them, and the beginning of a partnership unique in american history. so today, we honor the former first lady of arkansas, the former first lady of america, the united states senator from new york, senator hillary rodham clinton.
perhaps the clintons' greatest achievement is their daughter, who moved into the white house as a young girl, and left as an accomplished young lady. it's not easy to be a teenager in the white house, but it's a lot easier when you have a loving mother and a loving father that chelsea clinton had.
this magnificent presidential library, and the american life it celebrates, would not have been possible without the love and sacrifice of a special lady. among his heroes, president clinton always includes his mother, virginia kelley, "a working woman and a widow." virginia was there when her son took the oath of office, and we know that she would be incredibly proud of this day.
the story that began in a little house on hervey street in hope, arkansas is the kind of story that inspires people from every background, all over america. in this great nation, it is always possible for a child to go as far as their talent and vision can take them. visitors to this place will be reminded of the great promise of our country, and the dreams that came true in the life of our 42nd president. the william j. clinton presidential library is a gift to the future by a man who always believed in the future. and today, we thank him for loving and serving america.
the east and the west, let’s enjoy the combination of the two cultures?
kipling said:“east is east, and west is west, and never the twain shall meet!” but now, a century later, they have met.
they have met in business. they have met in education. they have met in the arts. some people will argue that these meetings will leave us with a choice between east and west, but i believe that the best future lies in the creative combination of both worlds. we can make western ideas, customs and technology our own, and adapt them to our own use. we can enjoy the best of both worlds, because our tradition is, above all, one of selecting the best and making it our own.
i love beijing and hennan opera because it always reminds me of who i am. but i am also a fan of pop music, especially english songs. so i have combined eastern melody with western language. it is called western henna opera.
when two cultures meet, there may be things in one culture, which do not fit into the tradition of the other. when this happens, we need to learn to understand and respect the customs of another culture. then there are certain things some people may not like. to this, i will say, if you do not like it, please try to tolerate it. to learn to tolerate what you personally don’t like is a great virtue at a time when different cultures mix and merge. before us, there are two rivers, eastern and western cultures. at present, they may run in different courses. but eventually, they will converge into the vast sea of human culture.
right now, i can see peoples of eastern and western cultures, standing side by side, singing the olympic theme song: we are hand in hand, heart to heart, together we will shape a beautiful tomorrow! thank you!
Leading members and judges, young friends: Hello, everybody!
My name is , and we are pleased to be able to discuss the pursuit of excellence, dedication youth, this topic, I am going to talk about today is "willing to sacrifice, the fire ignited youth."
Let the fire burn eternal youth, so that life lightning across the horizon, with all the enthusiasm in exchange for time, there is no end to the dream of youth! I really appreciate the "Agni youth," these words inside, and has been encouraging with its own study, work and life. I think that youth should be burned, give off light only value! Burning of one's life may also be corrupt, in that case, I do not want to corrupt, not corrupt, I would like to burn up! Friends present here! You like it?
Youth is our most beautiful season of life, she is breeding in early spring of life, demonstrating a warm summer, with autumn's master real hidden, which makes clear the hope of winter, full of poetic passion and not a lack of hard work, fashion, romantic and full of the hard struggle. When a person's youth integrate into an era, a career, so youth will not go away, and this will certainly cause in the years of experience in the reflection of bright light.
Here, I am reminded of the phrase: "Some people live, he is dead; some dead, he is still alive." The meaning of life is to live, then the meaning of life is it? Certainly not to live while alive, the answer is only two words, and dedication! We can imagine that, not pay, do not create, do not pursue such a youth must gradually grow old in the middle of Things Past, Looking back, there is no trace, no recall, life was filled with sighing everywhere. I think this is not the meaning of our existence. Throughout the ages, there are numerous capable person in the prime of his achievements had already immortal life, I have no time to list them here. However, a person's name I can not but mention, he is always learning model, one of the most extraordinary is the greatest most selfless people. As we all know he is? The legend is that Lei Feng, who warned us that: "youth ah, always beautiful, but the true youth, belongs only to those who always strive for the best people, always selfless labor of the people, always humble man!" I think everyone here one, including myself, could be such a person.
Frankly, three years ago, when I first came to work and there have been lost and confused, feeling the reality is not ideal, the dream has always felt from some distance, once among the perplexed. However, the youth, I was just cast a good knife, should not have to wait and you have a moment of hesitation. I never watched the knife slowly oxidized and dull, then mottled, rust, weathering, and finally became a scrap. I told myself, "if you are gold, will be able to shine, as long as you face the high morale, and to face work, you will have access to." Road is long Come, happiness of the up and down the quest. Youth is the season of learning, youth years of struggle, do not stop our progress, because the youth of the road is long. Have time stop and take a look book, back to think about the road traveled, a good life for their own planning, the ideals enshrined in the minds of their own, willing to make a lonely, innovative, highly motivated young people.
Youth is not a period of life, but a heart condition. If your heart is young, many of you will always remain a dream, in the densely overcast days, to seize the moment will still flash of golden sun. Although we were born in different years, working in different positions, but we have a common home, where we keep the same entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to write the same commitment, with the same magnificent youth. This is a speech, it is a confession. When I filled with youthful air, carries a heavy dreams and beliefs standing here the moment, my heart is so magnanimous and passionate, the kind of indescribable excitement and tension, I sincerely invite you to share.
so if we want to learn english well ,we must practice reading englisheveryday ,acturally practicing repeatly is the best way to succeed.whenyou speak ,don't care how poorly or how well you speak just care aboutcatching the chance to speak……
hello! ladies and gentlemen, it is so nice to meet you !i am gladthat you can spend this precious time having this class in thisafternoon.
now please allow me to introduce myself to you .my name is wangjia and imajored in traffic engineering .baoji is my hometown it is verybeautiful. and the people are very friendly.
as we all knowen thingking is easy acting is difficult and to putone's thoughts into actions is the most difficult thing in the world.
so if we want to learn english well ,we must practice reading englisheveryday ,acturally practicing repeatly is the best way to succeed.whenyou speak ,don't care how poorly or how well you speak just care aboutcatching the chance to speak ,enjoy losing face or just forget your facebecause the more you speak the better your english will become,neverafraid ofmaking mistakes because the more mistakes you make the more progress you will make.as a man living in the world ,we must try our best to makeeach day our masterpiece and don't let our parents down ,don't ever letour country down ,most importantly don't let ourself down.
yesterday is a memory tommorrow is a dream so live for todayjust do it right now.i believe if you can dream it you can make it ,ifyou do you will win if you don't you won't.believe in youself trustyouself try your best. don't give up ,never give in, never lose hope ,never say impossible .the success is coming ! thank you !
As students,we could share more time with our friends.The friendship in our young hearts is pure,fresh and simple.I often feel very lucky to have a lot of good friends.Especially when I had Justin as one of my best friends.Justin was my English teacher from the USA.I met him in 1996 when I was a student who could only speak very little English.Justin was a vivid young man with a bright smile on his face,and he always had his special way to make the class active and attractive.He taught us English by telling stories,playing games,singing songs,and even dancing.I could still remember very clearly that one afternoon when we fin-ished our class,we went to some other classes to sing songs for them,just like what people do in the states on Christmas Eve.It was so interesting and unforgettable.Justin was an excellent teacher,because he taught us not only how to study English well,but also the way to find out the beauty of the world and the way to be angels to others' lives.I know there was friendship and pure love in our hearts.Facing this valuable emotion neither nationality nor age was important,the real importance lay in faith,under-standing,and care.Justin is the best friend I have ever had,and I know I will cherish those days of staying together with him as the best part of my memory.
Friendship is a kind of treasure in our lives.It is actually like a bottle of wine,the longer it is kept,the sweeter it will be.It is also like a cup of tea.When we are thirsty,it will be our best choice,but when we have enough time to enjoy ourselves,it is also the most fragrant drink.
The East and the West, Let’s enjoy the combination of the two cultures? Kipling said:“East is east, and west is west, and never the twain shall meet!” But now, a century later, they have met. They have met in business. They have met in education. They have met in the arts. Some people will argue that these meetings will leave us with a choice between east and west, but I believe that the best future lies in the creative combination of both worlds. We can make western ideas, customs and technology our own, and adapt them to our own use. We can enjoy the best of both worlds, because our tradition is, above all, one of selecting the best and making it our own. I love Beijing and Hennan opera because it always reminds me of who I am. But I am also a fan of pop music, especially English songs. So I have combined eastern melody with western language. It is called western henna opera. When two cultures meet, there may be things in one culture, which do not fit into the tradition of the other. When this happens, we need to learn to understand and respect the customs of another culture. Then there are certain things some people may not like. To this, I will say, if you do not like it, please try to tolerate it. To learn to tolerate what you personally don’t like is a great virtue at a time when different cultures mix and merge. Before us, there are two rivers, eastern and western cultures. At present, they may run in different courses. But eventually, they will converge into the vast sea of human culture. Right now, I can see peoples of eastern and western cultures, standing side by side, singing the Olympic theme song: we are hand in hand, heart to heart, together we will shape a beautiful tomorrow! Thank you!
Respect teacher, dear students:
Everybody is good, the eye of my speech today is -- my youth!
First of all, I want to ask you that question, could you tell me the classmate of everyone, what is youth?
There must be many different answers. My answer is, the gorgeous flower, burning passion, ambition of an eagle, this is our youth. Youth, what a dazzling word. And four seasons in a year, in the same way, life is there are four seasons. Youth is like spring all the year round, is the season of planting, just went to the spring will come again next year, and youth is gone forever. Youth is the season of struggle not to waste life joke. Because the youth is so short, sometimes could recall, has gone with the wind. We can't afford to waste of youth, our youth beautiful because of the struggle.
My youth, my boss
If I were to ask everyone here, and your youth who is leading? You will say: my youth, my boss. Yes, our youth is our family. But I want to say is, our youth how to make decision. Is in the world of the game Still using QQ chat all day, or sleep to twelve o 'clock every day. My youth, my family, not called you to squander the youth, if in the game every day, your youth is not in your family, but the game in charge of your youth. We through the cold window study hard twelve or thirteen years, came to the university, may not be admitted to our ideal university, may have no choice to our own like professional. This is not the reason why we fall, is not the reason why we waste youth. My youth, my boss. Not want us to squander our youth, wasted our time. But to make decision, we struggle of youth, youth encouraging words.
My youth, my dream!
Since talk about youth, you must be without dream. We brought the dream of university, but like a lot of people forget our initial dream. Not surf the Internet every day is just hanging around, on this day one day just hanging with the game, gradually lost our dream, willing to fall, willing to ordinary. If you forget their original dream, if not forgotten dreams, and whether in the struggle for your dream? This world is never lack of visionary, lack is practitioner, have a dream to strive, to achieve them. My dream is to become a senior engineer, although very far away, but I never give up, has always been striving for a chase. Distant dream on the fly, the wings up to chase. In order to their dreams, struggle! Don't be hesitated.
My youth, my family!
My youth, I struggle with!
My youth, I no regrets!
My speech. Thank you all!
we've gone from losing 9 million jobs during the financial crisis to creating 10 million jobs. we've reduced the unemployment rate from 10% in october of to 6.1% today. and for the first time since the 1990s, american manufacturing is steadily5 adding jobs-over 700,000 since . and surveys of both american and foreign business leaders confirm that america once again is viewed as the best place in the world to build and invest.
that's all good news.
but an awful lot of middle class americans are still not feeling the effects of this recovery. since the year , gross domestic product-our gdp - has risen by 25%. and productivity in america is up by 30%. but middle class wages during that same time period have gone up by only fourteen cents.
folks, it's long past time to cut the middle class back into the deal, so they can benefit from the economic growth they helped create. folks, there used to be a bargain in this country supported by democrats6 and republicans, business and labor7. the bargain was simple. if an employee contributed to the growth and profitability of the company, they got to share in the profits and the benefits as well. that's what built the middle class. it's time to restore the bargain, to deal the middle class back in. because, folks, when the middle class does well, everybody does well-the wealthy get wealthier and the poor have a way up.
you know, the middle class is not a number. it's a value set. it means being able to own your home; raise your children in a safe neighborhood; send them to a good school where if they do well they can qualify to go to college and if they get accepted you'd be able to find a way to be able to send them to college. and in the meantime, if your parents need help, being able to take care of them, and hope to put aside enough money so that your children will not have to take care of you.
that's the american dream. that's what this country was built on. and that's what we'redetermined8 to restore.
in order to do that, it's time to have a fair tax structure, one that values paychecks as much as unearned income and inherited wealth, to take some of the burden off of the middle class. it's time to close tax loopholes so we can reduce the deficit9, and invest in rebuilding america - our bridges, our ports, our highways, rails, providing good jobs.
with corporate10 profits at near record highs, we should encourage corporations to invest more in research and development and the salaries of their employees. it's time for us to invest in educational opportunity to guarantee that we have the most highly skilledworkforce11 in the world, for 6 out of every 10 jobs in the near term is going to require some education beyond high school. folks, it's long past due to increase the minimum wage that will lift millions of hardworking families out of poverty target poverty and in the process produce a ripple12 effect that boosts wages for the middle class and spurs economic growth for the united states of america. economists13 acknowledge that if we do these and other things, wages will go up and we'll increase the gross domestic product of the united states.
five score years ago, a great american, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the emancipation proclamation. this momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. it came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.
but one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the negro is still not free. one hundred years later, the life of the negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. one hundred years later, the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. one hundred years later, the negro is still languishing in the corners of american society and finds himself an exile in his own land. so we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.
in a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. when the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the constitution and the declaration of independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every american was to fall heir. this note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
it is obvious today that america has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. instead of honoring this sacred obligation, america has given the negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." but we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. we refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.
so we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
we have also come to this hallowed spot to remind america of the fierce urgency of now. this is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling o