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<p>In your hands, my fellow citizens,
more than mine, will rest the final success or failure
of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of
Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its
national loyalty. The graves of young
Americans who answered the call to service surround the
globe.</p>
<p>Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as
a call to bear arms, though arms we need --
not as a call to battle, though embattled we are --
but a call to bear the burden of a
long twilight struggle, year in and year
out "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,"
a struggle against the common enemies of man:
tyranny, poverty, disease, and
war itself.
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and
global alliance,North and South,
East and West, that can assure a more
fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that
historic effort?</p><p>
In the long history of the world, only a few generations
have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of
maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility
-- I welcome it. I do not believe that
any of us would exchange places with any
other people or any other generation. The
energy,the faith, the devotion
which we bring to this endeavor will light our
country and all who serve it. And the glow from
that fire can truly light the world.</p><p>
And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country
can do for you, ask what you can do for
your country.</p><p>
My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America
will do for you|, but what together we
can do for the freedom of man.</p><p>
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the
world, ask of us here the same high
standards of strength and sacrifice which
we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with
history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the
land we love, asking His blessing and His
help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must
truly be our own.</p>
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