English subtitles for clip: File:Weekly Address- Merry Christmas from the President & First Lady - 2010.webm

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The President:
Merry Christmas, everybody.

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Michelle and I just wanted to
take a moment today to send

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greetings from our
family to yours.

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The First Lady:
This is one of our
favorite times of year.

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And we're so fortunate to be
able to celebrate it together in

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this wonderful home.

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This is the "People's House."

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So Barack and I try to open it
to as many people as we can,

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especially during
the holiday season.

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You know, his month, more than
100,000 Americans have passed

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through these halls.

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And the idea behind this
year's theme, "Simple Gifts,"

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is that the greatest blessings
of all are the ones that don't

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cost a thing -- the comfort of
spending time with loved ones,

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the freedoms we
enjoy as Americans,

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and the joy we feel upon
giving something of ourselves.

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So in this time of family,
and friends, and good cheer,

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let's also be sure to look
out for those who are less

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fortunate, who've hit
a run of bad luck,

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or who are hungry and
alone this holiday season.

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The President:
Because this is the season when
we celebrate the simplest yet

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most profound gift of all: the
birth of a child who devoted his

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life to a message of peace,
love, and redemption.

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A message that says
no matter who we are,

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we are called to
love one another --

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we are our brother's keeper,
we are our sister's keeper;

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our separate stories in this big
and busy world are really one.

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Today, we're also thinking of
those who can't be home for the

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holidays -- especially all our
courageous countrymen serving overseas.

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That's the message I delivered
when I visited our troops in

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Afghanistan a few weeks ago --
that while you may be serving

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far from home, every American
supports you and your families.

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We are with you.

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And I have no greater honor than
serving as your Commander-in-Chief.

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Today's soldiers,
sailors, airmen, Marines,

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and Coast Guardsmen make up the
finest fighting force in the

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history of the world.

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Just like their predecessors,
they do extraordinary things in

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service to their country.

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What makes that all the more
remarkable is that today's

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military is an
all-volunteer force --

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a force of mothers and
fathers, sons and daughters,

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husbands and wives.

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The First Lady:
That's right.

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And as First Lady, I've had the
honor to meet members of our

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military and their families on
bases and in communities all

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across the country.

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I've gotten to know husbands and
wives doing the parenting of two

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while their spouse is
on another deployment;

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children trying their best in
school but always wondering when

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mom or dad is coming home;
patriots putting their lives on

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hold to help with a
loved one's recovery;

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or carry on the memory
of a fallen hero.

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When our men and women in
uniform answer the call to

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serve, their
families serve, too.

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And they're proud
and glad to do it.

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But as long as that service
keeps the rest of us safe,

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their sacrifice should
also be our own.

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Even heroes can use a hand,
especially during the holidays.

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The President:
So we're encouraging Americans
to ask what you can do to

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support our troops and their
families in this holiday season.

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For some ideas on how to get
started, just visit serve.gov.

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The First Lady:
You'll see that you don't need
to be an expert in military life

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to give back to those
who give so much to us.

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There are countless ways to
contribute by harnessing your

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unique talents.

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If you live near a base, you can
reach out through your local

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school or your church.

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If you don't, you can volunteer
with organizations that support

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military families.

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And anybody can send a care
package or pre-paid calling card

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to the front lines, or give
what's sometimes the most

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important gift of all:
simply saying "thank you."

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The President:
America's brave servicemen and
women represent a small fraction

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of our population.

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But they -- and the families
who await their safe return --

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carry far more than their
fair share of the burden.

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They've done everything
they've been asked to do.

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They've been everything
we've asked them to be.

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And even as we speak, many are
fighting halfway around the

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globe -- in hopes that someday,
our children and grandchildren

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won't have to.

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So let's all remind them this
holiday season that we're

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thinking of them -- and that
America will forever be here for

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them, just as they've
been there for us.

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And on behalf of
Michelle, Malia, Sasha --

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The First Lady:
And Bo.

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The President:
And Bo -- have a
very Merry Christmas.

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The First Lady:
And an even happier New Year.