From the start, a steady stream of people in search of freedom and opportunity have left their own lands to make this land their home.  We started as an experiment in democracy fueled by Europeans.  We have grown into an experiment in democratic diversity fueled by openness and promise.

My fellow Americans, we must never, ever believe that our diversity is a weakness; it is our greatest strength.

Americans speak every language, know every country.  People on every continent can look to us and see the reflection of their own great potential, and they always will, as long as we strive to give all our citizens, whatever their background, an opportunity to achieve their own greatness.

We’re not there yet.  We still see evidence of a biting bigotry and intolerance in ugly words and awful violence, in burned churches and bombed buildings.  We must fight against this in our country and in our hearts.

Just a few days before my second inauguration, one of our country’s best-known pastors, Reverend Robert Schuller, suggested that I read Isaiah 58:12.  Here’s what it says:  “Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations, and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.”

I placed my hand on that verse when I took the oath of office, on behalf of all Americans, for no matter what our differences in our faiths, our backgrounds, our politics, we must all be repairers of the breach.

I want to say a word about two other Americans who show us how.  Congressman Frank Tejeda was buried yesterday, a proud American whose family came from Mexico.  He was only 51 years old.  He was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart fighting for his country in Vietnam.  And he went on to serve Texas and America fighting for our future here in this chamber.

We are grateful for his service and honored that his mother, Lillie Tejeda, and his sister, Mary Alice, have come from Texas to be with us here tonight.  And we welcome you.  Thank you.

Gary Locke, the newly-elected governor of Washington state, is the first Chinese-American governor in the history of our country.  He’s the proud son of two of the millions of Asian American immigrants who strengthened America with their hard work, family values and good citizenship.

He represents the future we can all achieve.  Thank you, governor, for being here.  Please stand up.

Reverend Schuller, Congressman Tejeda, Governor Locke, along with Kristen Tanner and Chris Getsla, Sue Winski and Dr. Kristen Zarfos—­they’re all Americans from different roots whose lives reflect the best of what we can become when we are one America.

We may not share a common past, but we surely do share a common future.  Building one America is our most important mission, the foundation for many generations of every other strength we must build for this new century.  Money cannot buy it, power cannot compel it, technology cannot create it.  It can only come from the human spirit.