I address you tonight,
not as the President of the United States,
not as the leader of a country, but as a citizen of humanity.

We are faced with the very gravest of challenges.
The Bible calls this day 'Armageddon' - the end of all things.
And yet, for the first time in the history of the planet, a species has the technology to prevent its own extinction.
All of you praying with us need to know that everything that can be done to prevent this disaster is being called into service.

The human thirst for excellence, knowledge,
every step up the ladder of science,
every adventurous reach into space,
all of our combined modern technologies and imaginations,
even the wars that we've fought have provided us the tools to wage this terrible battle.

Through all of the chaos that is our history,
through all of the wrongs and the discor,
through all of the pain and suffering,
through all of our times,
there is one thing that has nourished our souls,
and elevated our species above its origins,
and that is our courage.

The dreams of an entire planet are focused tonight on those fourteen brave souls traveling into the heavens.
And may we all, citizens the world over, see these events through.
God speed, and good luck to you.