Barack Obama: “John F. Kennedy chose a life in the arena, full of confidence that our country could surmount any obstacle.”

They're meant to remind us of who we can be, to remind us of what's possible, so we can forge ahead.

In forming our union, the founders fell terribly short of the Declaration's promise, leaving slavery intact, allowing states to restrict the franchise to white men who owned property.

America is currently experiencing anger and vision but we are looking for fairness and common sense and mutual respect.

I was a little tall for it.