And so tonight, I’m going to ask something of every one of you.  Now let me start with my generation, with the grandparents out there.  You are our living link with the past.  Tell your grandchildren the story of struggles waged at home and abroad, of sacrifices freely made for freedom’s sake.  And tell them your own story as well, because every American has a story to tell.

And parents, your children look to you for direction and guidance.  Tell them of faith and family.  Tell them we are one nation under God.  Teach them that of all the many gifts they can receive, liberty is their most precious legacy.  And of all the gifts they can give, the greatest, the greatest is helping others.

And to the children and young people out there tonight, with you rests our hope, all that America will mean in the years and decades ahead.  Fix your vision on a new century, your century, on dreams we cannot see, on the destiny that is yours and yours alone.

And finally, let all Americans, all of us here in this chamber, the symbolic center of democracy, affirm our allegiance to this idea we call America.  And let us remember that the State of the Union depends upon each and every one of us.

God bless all of you.  And may God bless this great nation, the United States of America.

***

State of the Union Address
George H.W.  Bush
January 29, 1991

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, members of the United States Congress.

I come to this house of the people to speak to you and all Americans, certain we stand at a defining hour.

Halfway around the world, we are engaged in a great struggle in the skies and on the seas and sands.  We know why we’re there.  We are Americans—­part of something larger than ourselves.

For two centuries we’ve done the hard work of freedom.  And tonight we lead the world in facing down a threat to decency and humanity.

What is at stake is more than one small country, it is a big idea—­a new world order, where diverse nations are drawn together in common cause to achieve the universal aspirations of mankind:  peace and security, freedom, and the rule of law.  Such is a world worthy of our struggle, and worthy of our children’s future.

The community of nations has resolutely gathered to condemn and repel lawless aggression.  Saddam Hussein’s unprovoked invasion—­his ruthless, systematic rape of a peaceful neighbor—­violated everything the community of nations holds dear.  The world has said this aggression would not stand, and it will not stand.

Together, we have resisted the trap of appeasement, cynicism and isolation that gives temptation to tyrants.  The world has answered Saddam’s invasion with 12 United Nations resolutions, starting with a demand for Iraq’s immediate and unconditional withdrawal, and backed up by forces from 28 countries of six continents.  With few exceptions, the world now stands as one.