"Obama invited the Muslim world to move forward with "mutual respect," but vowed to defeat advocates of terror and oppression.
He offered help to poor nations, but dismissed foreign leaders who "blame their society's ills on the West."
And he challenged Americans to embark on "a new era of responsibility" based on "those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism."
"What is demanded then is a return to these truths."
Obama reminded the crowd of how George Washington rallied his troops to fight on in the dark winter of 1778. "In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come."
to read Richard Foot's article published in: The Vancouver Sun, Jan 21, 2009, visit
http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=120151