Three years ago this week, I came to this great city and made this pledge: Nothing about you without you. Nic o was bez was. (Applause.) Now, Poland is joining NATO. Poland is taking its place in the community of democracies. Never again will your fate be decided by others. Never again will the birthright of freedom be denied you. Poland is coming home.
We come to this moment grateful for its blessings, but conscious of the grave responsibility it carries. Through the power of its example and the example of its power, our NATO Alliance has kept Western Europe, Canada and the United States secure for nearly half a century. Not once has a NATO member been attacked. Not once has NATO ever lashed out in aggression.
The responsibility to continue the remarkable transformation of your economies, because, having known poverty, you know the true value of the prosperity you have only begun to achieve. The responsibility to reach out to all your neighbors, to the East as well as the West, including the people of Russia. You must continue to build in tolerance what others destroyed in hate.
Eight years ago you led the way to freedom. Now, we ask you to be pathfinders again. (Applause.) People of Warsaw, people of Poland, the American people know from the hard lessons of this century that your fate and our future are joined. (Applause.) After World War I, America turned away from the world and freedom's flickering torch was engulfed by Europe's darkened night. After World War II, we and our allies continued to hold liberty's beacon high -- but it could only light half the continent.
That is the promise that brings us together today. That is the promise that will keep us together in a new Europe for a new century. (Applause.) That is our promise to all the young people here today and to generations yet to come: Security, for 100 years. Sto lat. (Applause.) Democracy for 100 years. Freedom for 100 years.
God bless America and God bless Poland. Thank you.