Recently, as his presidential term draws to a close, Barack Obama returned to his second home and the birthplace of his political career, Chicago, to deliver his farewell address to the nation. WorldWay Group hereby publishes the translated text of President Obama's farewell address as follows:
It is good to be home, back in Chicago! It is good to be home!
As you can see, I am now a "lame duck" president, because no one follows my instructions anymore, just as everyone here has a seat.
It is great to be back home. My friends, over the past few weeks, we have received many sincere well-wishes, and Michelle and I have been deeply moved. Tonight, it is my turn to say thank you to you. Whether we stood on the same political ground or never reached a consensus, whether we were in a room or a school, a farm or a factory floor, at a dinner table or in the wild, our conversations have made me more honest, more driven, and have helped inspire me. Every day, I have learned from you. You have helped me become a more capable president and a better person.
I first came to Chicago in my twenties, when I was still in a state of confusion, still searching for the meaning of life. I began working with church groups near steel mills that had already closed; those neighborhoods were not far from where we are today. In those streets, I witnessed the power of faith and the silent dignity of the working class in their struggles. It was then that I understood that social change can only happen when ordinary people unite, get involved, and commit to fighting for power.
After serving as President of the United States for eight years, I still believe in this conclusion. This is not just my personal thought, but a core value rooted in the hearts of the American people—the bold experiment of seeking self-governance.
We each believe that we are created equal, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Although these rights may seem self-evident, they are never automatically realized. It is the American people, through the channels of democratic politics, who persist in pursuing these rights, that allow us to become a more perfect union.
This is the gift our pioneers gave us, giving us the freedom to pursue our individual dreams through our own hard work, vision, and effort. Of course, every American must also work together to achieve even greater accomplishments.
Over the past 240 years, the American spirit has encouraged every citizen to actively exercise their civic rights, which has given every generation of Americans a direction to strive for. This is also the driving force that inspired Americans to overthrow autocracy in favor of a republic, to explore and develop the West, and to build railroads, and that drove slaves to rise up and demand freedom. This American spirit has brought together immigrants and refugees from across the oceans and the Rio Grande, encouraged American women to head to the polls, and prompted workers to unite and form unions. It is the spirit that inspired American soldiers to shed their blood on the beaches of Normandy, Iwo Jima, and in the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. It is the spirit that encouraged civil rights activists in Selma and the gay rights movement at Stonewall to defend their own rights.
This is why America is so special. The uniqueness of America does not lie in the fact that we had a perfect system from the beginning, but in our ability to change and help those who seek change to live better lives.
Yes, our journey has not been smooth. Advancing democracy has always been difficult, sometimes even requiring intense debate or bloodshed. Every time we take two steps forward, it often feels like we have taken one step back. However, American history has always been one of progress, constantly expanding the scope of our founding spirit to include all classes and social groups in America.
Eight years ago, if I had told you that the United States would be able to emerge from a financial crisis, rebuild the automotive industry, and achieve the longest streak of job growth in American history; if I had told you that we would be able to rebuild diplomatic relations with Cuba and write a new chapter in history, shut down Iran's nuclear weapons program without firing a shot, and eliminate the mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks; if I had told you that we would be able to achieve marriage equality and provide health insurance to 20 million Americans, you might have thought I was aiming too high at the time.
But we did it. These are your achievements; you are the driving force behind these changes. You have fulfilled the wishes of the American people, and because of you, America is better in every way and stronger than when I first took office.
The process of transferring power from one freely elected president to the next must be smooth and orderly; this is very important. I have promised Donald Trump that my political team will ensure that this transition process is very smooth, just as President Bush did when he handed over power to me. Because, first and foremost, we must ensure that the U.S. government has the capacity to solve the problems we still face today.
In American history, there have been times when internal unity was undermined. The beginning of this century was a period when the unity of American society was threatened. The world is more interconnected, but social inequality is more pronounced, and the threat of terrorism is more severe. These factors not only test America's security and rule of law but also pose a threat to America's democratic system. In the future, how we meet these democratic challenges will determine whether we can properly educate the next generation, continue to create jobs, and protect the homeland of the United States.
Healthcare Policy
Currently, the proportion of uninsured people in the United States has dropped significantly, and the growth rate of healthcare costs has fallen to its lowest level in the past 50 years. If anyone can propose a healthcare policy and prove that the new policy is more effective than the healthcare reform proposed by the previous administration, and can cover the vast majority of the American people at the lowest possible cost, I will publicly support such a new healthcare policy.
Race and Immigration Issues
After the U.S. presidential election, some people thought that the United States had entered a post-racial era. Although this desire for racial integration is good, it is unlikely to be truly realized. Currently, the issue of race remains a major problem that could cause social division. Based on my personal experience, the racial issue in American society today has improved significantly compared to twenty or thirty years ago. This social progress is not only reflected in statistics but can also be seen in the attitudes of the younger generation of Americans with different political views.
However, our work is far from over. Each of us still has a lot of work to do. If every economic problem is interpreted through the conflict between the hardworking American middle class and minority groups, then the working class of all races will fight tooth and nail for the few remaining fruits of labor, while the wealthy will further retreat into their own small circles. If we refuse to invest in these children just because the descendants of immigrants do not look like us, we are sacrificing the hope of future generations of Americans, because these descendants of immigrants will make up a large proportion of the American working class in the future.
Minority Issues
Black people and other minority groups need to work together to solve the many problems faced by Americans. This includes not only refugees, immigrants, people in rural areas, and transgender individuals, but also middle-aged white men who appear to enjoy various social advantages, as all these people face the challenges of major economic, cultural, and technological changes in society.
Politics is a contest of ideas, which is the design philosophy of a democratic system. However, if every political group lacks social consensus, is unwilling to learn new information, is unwilling to acknowledge the validity of the opposing side's arguments, and is unwilling to think rationally through scientific evidence, then no one is listening in this debate, and it is impossible for both sides to reach a consensus or compromise.
Environmental Protection
If we do not take more active environmental protection measures, our next generation will have no time to discuss whether environmental change exists, but will be busy dealing with the consequences of environmental change, including natural disasters, economic stagnation, and environmental refugees seeking asylum. Now, we can and should discuss how to better solve the problem of environmental change. However, if we simply deny the existence of environmental problems, this is not only a betrayal of the next generation but also a betrayal of the spirit of our historical pioneers who sought to innovate and solve practical problems.
Terrorist Attacks
Over the past eight years, no foreign terrorist organization has successfully planned and executed a terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Although there have been homegrown terrorist attacks in the United States, including the Boston Marathon bombing and the San Bernardino attack. To those counter-terrorism workers who have remained steadfast at their posts, serving as your Commander-in-Chief has been the honor of my life.
I oppose any discrimination against the American Muslim community. We need to be more vigilant, but we do not need to fear ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) killing more innocent people. If we uphold the U.S. Constitution and core spirit in our struggle, they cannot defeat the United States.
Regardless of which party we belong to, we should all be committed to rebuilding the American democratic political system. Our democratic Constitution is an outstanding achievement and a gift from heaven, but it is just a piece of paper; the Constitution itself has no power. The power of the Constitution is granted by us, the American people, through participating in elections and making decisions.
Americans should be actively participating citizens, making political participation a part of daily life, especially if some people are dissatisfied with the current state of American politics: "If you are tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, consider debating with those who hold different views in real life. If you think some problems need to be solved, take action to organize forces. If you are dissatisfied with elected government officials, then seek the support of others to run for office yourself."
Acknowledgments
Michelle, over the past twenty-five years, you have not only been my wife and the mother of my children, but also my best friend. You took on a role you did not seek, but your grace, courage, and humor have left your own mark on this identity.
(Obama turns to his daughters) You two girls are smart, beautiful, and more importantly, you are kind and full of passion. Over the past few years, you have not been burdened by the spotlight. In my life, I am proud to be your father.
(Thanking Vice President Biden) From Scranton, Pennsylvania to Delaware, you were the first person I nominated after being elected President of the United States, and you were my best choice. Biden is a good brother, just like family.
(Thanking staff) You have changed the world. Tonight, I will leave this stage, but I am more optimistic about this country than when I first took office.
The American People Have Confidence in the Country
I hope you believe, not only in my ability to bring change to the United States, but also in your own ability to change this country.
I hope you firmly believe in the spirit recorded in the founding charter of the United States, believe in the concept of equality spread by slaves and abolitionists, believe in the spirit of those who once marched to fight for fair rights for immigrants, and believe in the national conviction of those who planted the American flag on overseas battlefields and the surface of the moon. This conviction exists in the heart of every ordinary American.
Yes, we can.
Yes, we did.
Yes, we can!
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