Faces of a new America

"We do not promise you happiness, but we promise you the pursuit of happiness.
We do not promise you riches, but we promise you the equality of opportunity.
We do not promise you wisdom, but we promise you freedom of speech.
We do not promise you peace, but we promise you liberty.

Being a good American does not depend upon whether you were foreign-born or native-born, but rather on whether one lives the ideals of being an American. America can become an even better America, and that is your challenge. We can benefit from your goodwill, your understanding, your tolerance and above all we can benefit from your friendship and participation in this country. Every citizen must do his or her part to make democracy work for all of us, instead of expecting it to work for him or herself alone. We must never forget that the most easily lost of man's possessions is freedom...That freedom is everyone's business. Today freedom as an American citizen is your business."

US District Court Judge Rodney W. Sippel
Naturalization Speech in Missouri, April 10, 2003