Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, April 11, 2009
I speak to you today during a time that is holy and filled with meaning
for believers around the world. Earlier this week, Jewish people
gathered with family and friends to recite the stories of their
ancestors’ struggle and ultimate liberation. Tomorrow, Christians of
all denominations will come together to rejoice and remember the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
These are two very different holidays with their own very different
traditions. But it seems fitting that we mark them both during the same
week. For in a larger sense, they are both moments of reflection and
renewal. They are both occasions to think more deeply about the
obligations we have to ourselves and the obligations we have to one
another, no matter who we are, where we come from, or what faith we
practice.
This idea – that we are all bound up, as Martin Luther King once said,
in "a single garment of destiny"– is a lesson of all the world’s great
religions. And never has it been more important for us to reaffirm that
lesson than it is today – at a time when we face tests and trials
unlike any we have seen in our time. An economic crisis that recognizes
no borders. Violent extremism that’s claimed the lives of innocent men,
women, and children from Manhattan to Mumbai. An unsustainable
dependence on foreign oil and other sources of energy that pollute our
air and water and threaten our planet. The proliferation of the world’s
most dangerous weapons, the persistence of deadly disease, and the
recurrence of age-old conflicts.
These are challenges that no single nation, no matter how powerful, can
confront alone. The United States must lead the way. But our best
chance to solve these unprecedented problems comes from acting in
concert with other nations. That is why I met with leaders of the G-20
nations to ensure that the world’s largest economies take strong and
unified action in the face of the global economic crisis. Together,
we’ve taken steps to stimulate growth, restore the flow of credit, open
markets, and dramatically reform our financial regulatory system to
prevent such crises from occurring again – steps that will lead to job
creation at home.
It is only by working together that we will finally defeat 21st century
security threats like al Qaeda. So it was heartening that our NATO
allies united in Strasbourg behind our strategy in Afghanistan and
Pakistan, and contributed important resources to support our effort
there.
It is only by coordinating with countries around the world that we will
stop the spread of the world’s most dangerous weapons. That is why I
laid out a strategy in Prague for us to work with Russia and other
nations to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons; to secure nuclear
materials from terrorists; and, ultimately, to free the world from the
menace of a nuclear nightmare.
And it is only by building a new foundation of mutual trust that we
will tackle some of our most entrenched problems. That is why, in
Turkey, I spoke to members of Parliament and university students about
rising above the barriers of race, region, and religion that too often
divide us.
With all that is at stake today, we cannot afford to talk past one
another. We can’t afford to allow old differences to prevent us from
making progress in areas of common concern. We can’t afford to let
walls of mistrust stand. Instead, we have to find – and build on – our
mutual interests. For it is only when people come together, and seek
common ground, that some of that mistrust can begin to fade. And that
is where progress begins.
Make no mistake: we live in a dangerous world, and we must be strong
and vigilant in the face of these threats. But let us not allow
whatever differences we have with other nations to stop us from coming
together around those solutions that are essential to our survival and
success.
As we celebrate Passover, Easter, and this time of renewal, let’s find
strength in our shared resolve and purpose in our common aspirations.
And if we can do that, then not only will we fulfill the sacred meaning
of these holy days, but we will fulfill the promise of our country as a
leader around the world.
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