Photo located at: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/the_inauguration_of_president.html
First Inaugural Excerpt – January 20, 2009
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/inaugural-address
Student Friendly Version:
We know that our different backgrounds are a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of many religions: Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, as well as people who do not believe in God. We are made up of people who speak different languages and who come from many different traditions, understandings, and values, pulled together from every end of this Earth; and because we, as a country, have had a very bad experience in our history with a civil war and the separation of people because of their skin color, and we have come out of that time period stronger, undivided, and unbroken, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds will someday go away; that the connections to the past will come to an end; that as the world grows smaller, our shared experience of what makes us human will become easier to see; and that America must be a part of bringing a new time of peace to the world.