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maximum security prison here, in the United States. In sentencing Reid, Judge William Young told him, “the way we treat you... is the measure of our own liberties.” He went on to point to the American flag that flew in the courtroom — “That flag,” he said, “will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag still stands for freedom.”
7 So, America, we have faced down dangers far greater than al Qaeda. By staying
true to the values of our founding, and by using our constitutional compass, we
have overcome slavery and Civil War; fascism and communism. In just these last few years as President, I have watched the American people bounce back from painful recession, mass shootings, and natural disasters like the recent tornados that devastated Oklahoma. These events were heartbreaking; they shook our communities to the core. But because of the resilience of the American people, these events could not come close to breaking us.
8 Now, we need a strategy — and a politics — that reflects this resilient spirit. Our victory against terrorism won’t be measured in a surrender ceremony on a battleship, or a statue being pulled to the ground. Victory will be measured in parents taking their kids to school; immigrants coming to our shores; fans taking in a ballgame; a veteran starting a business; a bustling city street. The quiet determination; that strength of character and bond of fellowship; that refutation of fear — that is both our sword and our shield. And long after the current messengers of hate have faded from the world’s memory, alongside the brutal despots, deranged madmen, and ruthless demagogues who litter history —
the flag of the United States will still wave from small-town cemeteries, to national monuments, to distant outposts abroad. And that flag will still stand for freedom.
9 Thank you. God Bless you. And may God bless the United States of America. Second Reading: vocabulary in Context
After reading the passage to yourself, listen and follow along as the passage is read again aloud. Again, circle any additional words and/or allusions that you don’t know or that you think are important to understanding the passage.
Check your Understanding
Pair with another student, share your circled words, and discuss their meanings. Using these words and the underlined and bolded vocabulary from the passage, discuss how the vocabulary affects your understanding of the entire passage. Choose two or three of the words you have examined that you think are significant to understanding the passage. Use the words in a sentence or two that explains why these words contribute to your understanding.
resilience: the ability to recover from misfortune or change
refutation: the act of showing that something is false
despots: rulers with absolute power; tyrants
Close Reading Workshop 2 • Close Reading of Argumentative Nonfiction Texts 29
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