-We Shall Overcome-.doc

演讲稿 we shall overcome lyndonbainesjohnson:weshalloveremr.speaker,mr.president,membersofthecongress:ispeaktonightforthedignityofmanandthedestinyofdemocracy.iurgeeverymemberofbothparties,americansofallreligionsandofallcolors,fromeverysectionofthiscountry,tojoinmeinthatcause.attimeshistoryandfatemeetatasingletimeinasingleplacetoshapeaturningpointinmansunendingsearchforfreedom.soitwasatlexingtonandconcord.soitwasacenturyagoatappomattox.soitwaslastweekinselma,alabama.there,long-sufferingmenandwomenpeacefullyprotestedthedenialoftheirrightsasamericans.manywerebrutallyassaulted.onegoodman,amanofgod,waskilled.thereisnocauseforprideinwhathashappenedinselma.thereisnocauseforself-satisfactioninthelongdenialofequalrightsofmillionsofamericans.butthereiscauseforhopeandforfaithinourdemocracyinwhatishappeningheretonight.forthecriesofpainandthehymnsandprotestsofoppressedpeoplehavesummonedintoconvocationallthemajestyofthisgreatgovernment-thegovernmentofthegreatestnationonearth.ourmissionisatoncetheoldestandthemostbasicofthiscountry:torightwrong,todojustice,toserveman.inourtimewehaveetolivewiththemomentsofgreatcrisis.ourliveshavebeenmarkedwithdebateaboutgreatissues-issuesofwarandpeace,issuesofprosperityanddepression.butrarelyinanytimedoesanissuelaybarethesecretheartofamericaitself.rarelyarewemetwithachallenge,nottoourgrowthorabundance,orourwelfareoroursecurity,butrathertothevalues,andthepurposes,andthemeaningofourbelovednation.theissueofequalrightsforamericannegroesissuchanissue.andshouldwedefeateveryenemy,andshouldwedoubleourwealthandconquerthestars,andstillbeunequaltothisissue,thenwewillhavefailedasapeopleandasanation.forwithacountryaswithaperson,whatisamanprofited,ifheshallgainthewholeworld,andlosehisownsoul?thereisnonegroproblem.thereisnosouthernproblem.thereisnonorthernproblem.thereisonlyanamericanproblem.andwearemetheretonightasamericans-notasdemocratsorrepublicans.wearemethereasamericanstosolvethatproblem.thiswasthefirstnationinthehistoryoftheworldtobefoundedwithapurpose.thegreatphrasesofthatpurposestillsoundineveryamericanheart,northandsouth:allmenarecreatedequal,governmentbyconsentofthegoverned,givemelibertyorgivemedeath.well,thosearenotjustcleverwords,orthosearenotjustemptytheories.intheirnameamericanshavefoughtanddiedfortwocenturies,andtonightaroundtheworldtheystandthereasguardiansofourliberty,riskingtheirlives.thosewordsareapromisetoeverycitizenthatheshallshareinthedignityofman.thisdignitycannotbefoundinamanspossessions;itcannotbefoundinhispower,orinhisposition.itreallyrestsonhisrighttobetreatedasamanequalinopportunitytoallothers.itsaysthatheshallshareinfreedom,heshallchoosehisleaders,educatehischildren,provideforhisfamilyaccordingtohisabilityandhismeritsasahumanbeing.toapplyanyothertest-todenyamanhishopesbecauseofhiscolor,orrace,orhisreligion,ortheplaceofhisbirthisnotonlytodoinjustice,itistodenyamericaandtodishonorthedeadwhogavetheirlivesforamericanfreedom.ourfathersbelievedthatifthisnobleviewoftherightsofmanwastoflourish,itmustberootedindemocracy.themostbasicrightofallwastherighttochooseyourownleaders.thehistoryofthiscountry,inlargemeasure,isthehistoryoftheexpansionofthatrighttoallofourpeople.manyoftheissuesofcivilrightsareveryplexandmostdifficult.butaboutthistherecanandshouldbenoargument.everyamericancitizenmusthaveanequalrighttovote.thereisnoreasonwhichcanexcusethedenialofthatright.thereisnodutywhichweighsmoreheavilyonusthanthedutywehavetoensurethatright.yettheharshfactisthatinmanyplacesinthiscountrymenandwomenarekeptfromvotingsimplybecausetheyarenegroes.everydeviceofwhichhumaningenuityiscapablehasbeenusedtodenythisright.thenegrocitizenmaygotoregisteronlytobetoldthatthedayiswrong,orthehourislate,ortheofficialinchargeisabsent.andifhepersists,andifhemanagestopresenthimselftotheregistrar,hemaybedisqualifiedbecausehedidnotspellouthismiddlenameorbecauseheabbreviatedawordontheapplication.andifhemanagestofilloutanapplication,heisgivenatest.theregistraristhesolejudgeofwhetherhepassesthistest.hemaybeaskedtorecitetheentireconstitution,orexplainthemostplexprovisionsofstatelaw.andevenacollegedegreecannotbeusedtoprovethathecanreadandwrite.forthefactisthattheonlywaytopassthesebarriersistoshowawhiteskin.experiencehasclearlyshownthattheexistingprocessoflawcannotoveresystematicandingeniousdiscrimination.nolawthatwenowhaveonthebooks-andihavehelpedtoputthreeofthemthere-canensuretherighttovotewhenlocalofficialsaredeterminedtodenyit.insuchacaseourdutymustbecleartoallofus.theconstitutionsaysthatnopersonshallbekeptfromvotingbecauseofhisraceorhiscolor.wehaveallswornanoathbeforegodtosupportandtodefendthatconstitution.wemustnowactinobediencetothatoath.wednesday,iwillsendtocongressalawdesignedtoeliminateillegalbarrierstotherighttovote.thebroadprinciplesofthatbillwillbeinthehandsofthedemocraticandrepublicanleaderstomorrow.aftertheyhavereviewedit,itwillehereformallyasabill.iamgratefulforthisopportunitytoeheretonightattheinvitationoftheleadershiptoreasonwithmyfriends,togivethemmyviews,andtovisitwithmyformercolleagues.ivehadpreparedamoreprehensiveanalysisofthelegislationwhichihadintendedtotransmittotheclerktomorrow,butwhichiwillsubmittotheclerkstonight.butiwanttoreallydiscusswithyounow,briefly,themainproposalsofthislegislation.thisbillwillstrikedownrestrictionstovotinginallelections-federal,state,andlocal-whichhavebeenusedtodenynegroestherighttovote.thisbillwillestablishasimple,uniformstandardwhichcannotbeused,howeveringenioustheeffort,tofloutourconstitution.itwillprovideforcitizenstoberegisteredbyofficialsoftheunitedstatesgovernment,ifthestateofficialsrefusetoregisterthem.itwilleliminatetedious,unnecessarylawsuitswhichdelaytherighttovote.finally,thislegislationwillensurethatproperlyregisteredindividualsarenotprohibitedfromvoting.iwillwelethesuggestionsfromallofthemembersofcongress-ihavenodoubtthatiwillgetsome-onwaysandmeanstostrengthenthislawandtomakeiteffective.butexperiencehasplainlyshownthatthisistheonlypathtocarryoutthemandoftheconstitution.tothosewhoseektoavoidactionbytheirnationalgovernmentintheirownmunities,whowanttoandwhoseektomaintainpurelylocalcontroloverelections,theanswerissimple:openyourpollingplacestoallyourpeople.allowmenandwomentoregisterandvotewhateverthecoloroftheirskin.extendtherightsofcitizenshiptoeverycitizenofthisland.thereisnoconstitutionalissuehere.themandoftheconstitutionisplain.thereisnomoralissue.itiswrong-deadlywrong-todenyanyofyourfellowamericanstherighttovoteinthiscountry.thereisnoissueofstatesrightsornationalrights.thereisonlythestruggleforhumanrights.ihavenottheslightestdoubtwhatwillbeyouranswer.butthelasttimeapresidentsentacivilrightsbilltothecongress,itcontainedaprovisiontoprotectvotingrightsinfederalelections.thatcivilrightsbillwaspassedaftereightlongmonthsofdebate.andwhenthatbillcametomydeskfromthecongressformysignature,theheartofthevotingprovisionhadbeeneliminated.thistime,onthisissue,theremustbenodelay,ornohesitation,ornopromisewithourpurpose.wecannot,wemustnot,refusetoprotecttherightofeveryamericantovoteineveryelectionthathemaydesiretoparticipatein.andweoughtnot,andwecannot,andwemustnotwaitanothereightmonthsbeforewegetabill.wehavealreadywaitedahundredyearsandmore,andthetimeforwaitingisgone.soiaskyoutojoinmeinworkinglonghours-nightsandweekends,ifnecessary-topassthisbill.andidontmakethatrequestlightly.forfromthewindowwhereisitwiththeproblemsofourcountry,irecognizethatfromoutsidethischamberistheoutragedconscienceofanation,thegraveconcernofmanynations,andtheharshjudgmentofhistoryonouracts.butevenifwepassthisbill,thebattlewillnotbeover.whathappenedinselmaispartofafarlargermovementwhichreachesintoeverysectionandstateofamerica.itistheeffortofamericannegroestosecureforthemselvesthefullblessingsofamericanlife.theircausemustbeourcausetoo.becauseitsnotjustnegroes,butreallyitsallofus,whomustoverethecripplinglegacyofbigotryandinjustice.andweshallovere.asamanwhoserootsgodeeplyintosouthernsoil,iknowhowagonizingracialfeelingsare.iknowhowdifficultitistoreshapetheattitudesandthestructureofoursociety.butacenturyhaspassed,morethanahundredyearssincethenegrowasfreed.andheisnotfullyfreetonight.itwasmorethanahundredyearsagothatabrahamlincoln,agreatpresidentofanotherparty,signedtheemancipationproclamation;butemancipationisaproclamation,andnotafact.acenturyhaspassed,morethanahundredyears,sinceequalitywaspromised.andyetthenegroisnotequal.acenturyhaspassedsincethedayofpromise.andthepromiseisun-kept.thetimeofjusticehasnowe.itellyouthatibelievesincerelythatnoforcecanholditback.itisrightintheeyesofmanandgodthatitshoulde.andwhenitdoes,ithinkthatdaywillbrightenthelivesofeveryamerican.fornegroesarenottheonlyvictims.howmanywhitechildrenhavegoneuneducated?howmanywhitefamilieshavelivedinstarkpoverty?howmanywhiteliveshavebeenscarredbyfear,becausewevewastedourenergyandoursubstancetomaintainthebarriersofhatredandterror?andsoisaytoallofyouhere,andtoallinthenationtonight,thatthosewhoappealtoyoutoholdontothepastdosoatthecostofdenyingyouyourfuture.thisgreat,rich,restlesscountrycanofferopportunityandeducationandhopetoall,allblackandwhite,allnorthandsouth,sharecropperandcitydweller.thesearetheenemies:poverty,ignorance,disease.theyreourenemies,notourfellowman,notourneighbor.andtheseenemiestoo-poverty,disease,andignorance:weshallovere.nowletnoneofusinanysectionlookwithpridefulrighteousnessonthetroublesinanothersection,ortheproblemsofourneighbors.theresreallynopartofamericawherethepromiseofequalityhasbeenfullykept.inbuffaloaswellasinbirmingham,inphiladelphiaaswellasselma,americansarestrugglingforthefruitsoffreedom.thisisonenation.whathappensinselmaorincincinnatiisamatteroflegitimateconcerntoeveryamerican.butleteachofuslookwithinourownheartsandourownmunities,andleteachofusputourshouldertothewheeltorootoutinjusticewhereveritexists.aswemeethereinthispeaceful,historicchambertonight,menfromthesouth,someofwhomwereatiwojima,menfromthenorthwhohavecarriedoldglorytofarcornersoftheworldandbroughtitbackwithoutastainonit,menfromtheeastandfromthewest,areallfightingtogetherwithoutregardtoreligion,orcolor,orregion,invietnam.menfromeveryregionfoughtforusacrosstheworldtwentyyearsago.andnowinthesemondangersandthesemonsacrifices,thesouthmadeitscontributionofhonorandgallantrynolessthananyotherregioninthegreatrepublic-andinsomeinstances,agreatmanyofthem,more.andihavenottheslightestdoubtthatgoodmenfromeverywhereinthiscountry,fromthegreatlakestothegulfofmexico,fromthegoldengatetotheharborsalongtheatlantic,willrallynowtogetherinthiscausetovindicatethefreedomofallamericans.forallofusowethisduty;andibelievethatallofuswillrespondtoit.yourpresidentmakesthatrequestofeveryamerican.therealheroofthisstruggleistheamericannegro.hisactionsandprotests,hiscouragetorisksafetyandeventoriskhislife,haveawakenedtheconscienceofthisnation.hisdemonstrationshavebeendesignedtocallattentiontoinjustice,designedtoprovokechange,designedtostirreform.hehascalleduponustomakegoodthepromiseofamerica.andwhoamonguscansaythatwewouldhavemadethesameprogresswereitnotforhispersistentbravery,andhisfaithinamericandemocracy.forattherealheartofbattleforequalityisadeepseatedbeliefinthedemocraticprocess.equalitydependsnotontheforceofarmsorteargasbutdependsupontheforceofmoralright;notonrecoursetoviolencebutonrespectforlawandorder.andtherehavebeenmanypressuresuponyourpresidentandtherewillbeothersasthedayseandgo.butipledgeyoutonightthatweintendtofightthisbattlewhereitshouldbefought-inthecourts,andinthecongress,andintheheartsofmen.wemustpreservetherightoffreespeechandtherightoffreeassembly.buttherightoffreespeechdoesnotcarrywithit,ashasbeensaid,therighttohollerfireinacrowdedtheater.wemustpreservetherighttofreeassembly.butfreeassemblydoesnotcarrywithittherighttoblockpublicthoroughfarestotraffic.wedohavearighttoprotest,andarighttomarchunderconditionsthatdonotinfringetheconstitutionalrightsofourneighbors.andiintendtoprotectallthoserightsaslongasiampermittedtoserveinthisoffice.wewillguardagainstviolence,knowingitstrikesfromourhandstheveryweaponswhichweseek:progress,obediencetolaw,andbeliefinamericanvalues.inselma,aselsewhere,weseekandprayforpeace.weseekorder.weseekunity.butwewillnotacceptthepeaceofstifledrights,ortheorderimposedbyfear,ortheunitythatstiflesprotest.forpeacecannotbepurchasedatthecostofliberty.inselmatonight-andwehadagooddaythere-asineverycity,weareworkingforajustandpeacefulsettlementandwemustallrememberthatafterthisspeechiammakingtonight,afterthepoliceandthefbiandthemarshalshaveallgone,andafteryouhavepromptlypassedthisbill,thepeopleofselmaandtheothercitiesofthenationmuststillliveandworktogether.andwhentheattentionofthenationhasgoneelsewhere,theymusttrytohealthewoundsandtobuildanewmunity.thiscannotbeeasilydoneonabattlegroundofviolence,asthehistoryofthesouthitselfshows.itisinrecognitionofthisthatmenofbothraceshaveshownsuchanoutstandinglyimpressiveresponsibilityinrecentdays-lasttuesday,againtoday.thebillthatiampresentingtoyouwillbeknownasacivilrightsbill.but,inalargersense,mostoftheprogramiamremendingisacivilrightsprogram.itsobjectistoopenthecityofhopetoallpeopleofallraces.becauseallamericansjustmusthavetherighttovote.andwearegoingtogivethemthatright.allamericansmusthavetheprivilegesofcitizenship-regardlessofrace.andtheyaregoingtohavethoseprivilegesofcitizenship-regardlessofrace.butiwouldliketocautionyouandremindyouthattoexercisetheseprivilegestakesmuchmorethanjustlegalright.itrequiresatrainedmindandahealthybody.itrequiresadecenthome,andthechancetofindajob,andtheopportunitytoescapefromtheclutchesofpoverty.ofcourse,peoplecannotcontributetothenationiftheyarenevertaughttoreadorwrite,iftheirbodiesarestuntedfromhunger,iftheirsicknessgoesuntended,iftheirlifeisspentinhopelesspovertyjustdrawingawelfarecheck.sowewanttoopenthegatestoopportunity.butwerealsogoingtogiveallourpeople,blackandwhite,thehelpthattheyneedtowalkthroughthosegates.myfirstjobaftercollegewasasateacherincotulla,texas,inasmallmexican-americanschool.fewofthemcouldspeakenglish,andicouldntspeakmuchspanish.mystudentswerepoorandtheyoftencametoclasswithoutbreakfast,hungry.andtheyknew,evenintheiryouth,thepainofprejudice.theyneverseemedtoknowwhypeopledislikedthem.buttheyknewitwasso,becauseisawitintheireyes.ioftenwalkedhomelateintheafternoon,aftertheclasseswerefinished,wishingtherewasmorethaticoulddo.butalliknewwastoteachthemthelittlethatiknew,hopingthatitmighthelpthemagainstthehardshipsthatlayahead.andsomehowyouneverforgetwhatpovertyandhatredcandowhenyouseeitsscarsonthehopefulfaceofayoungchild.ineverthoughtthen,in1928,thatiwouldbestandingherein1965.itneverevenoccurredtomeinmyfondestdreamsthatimighthavethechancetohelpthesonsanddaughtersofthosestudentsandtohelppeoplelikethemalloverthiscountry.butnowidohavethatchance-andillletyouinonasecret-imeantouseit.andihopethatyouwilluseitwithme.thisistherichestandthemostpowerfulcountrywhicheveroccupiedthisglobe.themightofpastempiresislittleparedtoours.butidonotwanttobethep