Every Aspect

“Some of the exhibits reflect unfinished business, and in some cases, my own shortcomings and mistakes, because, as a sign I kept on the resolute desk read: “Hard things are hard.” And that’s especially true in a big, raucous, diverse, argumentative democracy like the United States of America.

"Everybody’s got an opinion, and that means getting stuff done involves reconciling the demands of a couple of hundred million people. Democracy can be frustrating. It can be slow. It can be inefficient. And yet more than anything, I hope this center will serve as an affirmation of just how special, how precious, our democracy truly is, and remind us what we can achieve when we embrace our shared responsibilities as citizens […]

"And it’s why the exhibits here focus not just on policies, but on the shared values that make democracy possible, a belief in the intrinsic dignity and worth of all people, and that no one is above the law or beneath its protection, a belief in checks and balances in our government and an accountability that comes with an independent judiciary and a robust free press. A belief that our military and law enforcement owe allegiance not to any president or political party, but to the people and our Constitution.

"And a belief that qualities of character, honesty, integrity, kindness, compassion, a sense of duty and honor, those things matter in our public dealings, just as they do in our private lives. […]

"It is our greatest inheritance, the story of America at its best, because it reflects a basic faith in the decency of our fellow citizens and the possibility that despite all of our differences, we can see each other and understand one another and make common cause together. […]

"Yes, America has made its share of foreign policy mistakes. Our actions have not always matched our rhetoric. We’ve learned that we can’t solve every conflict or solve or stop every atrocity around the globe, but at our best, the United States has been an undeniable force for good in the world.

"And what I heard on every continent as president, is that when American foreign policy lives up to our highest ideals, when we champion human rights and democracy and the sound stewardship of our planet, or we take the lead in eradicating disease and feeding the hungry and educating children, when we encourage cooperation between nations, instead of trying to dominate and bully and squeeze every advantage just because we can, and most of all, when we show through our example here at home that even a country as big and diverse as ours can make democracy work, it turns out all nations, including ours, become more prosperous and secure, and the world gets a little bit brighter. […]

"For millions of people in this country and around the world, the future feels uncertain, the ground unstable beneath our feet. And as algorithms keep feeding us a steady stream of distraction and outrage, as only the loudest, most extreme voices get attention, fanning our prejudices, appealing to our basest, most tribal instincts, it’s tempting to give in, to cynicism, and even despair, to stop trying.

"We start thinking that appeals to democracy and civic participation are corny and old-fashioned and boring and naive, that the very idea of working on behalf of the common good is a sucker’s bet, and that in order for us to win, somebody else has got to lose.

"I get it. I am not immune to anger or doubt, but I do know this: When we lose faith in each other, when we stop believing that citizenship matters, that our collective voices matter, that how we treat each other no longer matters, then we give away our power to decide our futures, we open the door to the most ruthless, or the most careless, or the most fearful among us, who see some groups and some people as more equal than others, and see government as nothing more than a way to divvy up the spoils and punish enemies, and keep those who are different in their place.

"I do not believe that is the story of America that prevails in the end.

"I don’t believe it, because for us to give up, for us to give in now, after all this country’s been through, to cynicism and division, would be a betrayal of our founding ideas, a betrayal of our faith. And I remain convinced that the overwhelming majority of Americans feel the same way, that as unsettled as we are, people aren’t looking for perpetual anger and division. They are looking for fairness and common sense and mutual respect, that deep in our gut, we want to find a way to turn towards each other again, not further away.”