Fellow Athenians: I come before you today to discuss a matter integral to the well-being of our fair city. Due to recent events, our city has been left in turmoil. Many years of rebuilding will be necessary for our Athens. It will take each and every citizen doing his part to restore her to the glory she had once. This dear citizens, means that we should concentrate our efforts here. There is talk of wanting to push through the necessary measures to start several campaigns that will focus our efforts elsewhere. Among these proposals include building ships and funding military campaigns. Fellow citizens, this is a mistake! Our monetary resources are not large enough to allow this. Allowing this action to take place would not only take away workers needed for the rebuilding and beautification of the city but also those funds precious and scarce right now. Some of you may argue that we do not have a money problem. You may believe that we could use money from foreigners in the city. I see two reasons this solution is unsatisfactory. First, I for one do not want to see a great Athens that was built by filthy money. Our city deserves the best. Second, what means would be necessary to persuade these foreigners to give us money? Some say we should grant them citizenship for a fee. This is perhaps the most outlandish statement put before the assembly today. Dear people, how can you begin to entertain such a prospect? Since her birth, Athens has been a city of noble and great people. How can we put a price on her citizenship? Much less, how can we think to allow an average foreigner the opportunity to buy such an esteemed station in life? The answer is this: we cannot. We cannot allow this to happen. We have no knowledge of these people or their practices. These people would then be eligible to vote in our assemblies and take part in our decision-making. We could be allowing people to pay a small fee in return for the opportunity to finish bringing Athens to her knees. This my good people, is too great a gamble to take.
However, I digress. Restoring Athens must be our utmost priority. How can we command respect when we live in filth and disrepair? If we fix our city and put off these campaigns to a later date, we will be more successful. Our resources will not be divided. We can concentrate on these campaigns and guarantee their success if we are not preoccupied with the current disarray of the city. Also, if we are able to restore our fair city to its previous glory and beauty, this too will help us. Show me an enemy who would not be intimidated by such a place.
We must rebuild Athens on our own accord and we must do it now. Through rebuilding Athens ourselves and with our own money, we will emerge a triumphant and glorious state, even stronger than before. Through the independence necessary to achieve the rebuilding of Athens as I have aforementioned, we will learn to help one another and to depend on each other, fellow citizens of Athens and not to depend on those who we cannot so easily trust, those from foreign lands. We will come to realize that we do not need these other nations nor do we need their money. We will emerge a state that is at the same time glorious and mighty, both beautiful and fearsome. Athens will be as a siren. An entrancing city that draws others in only to have them realize that she does not need them and she will defeat them. Her power will be no match for any unsuspecting foe who dares come near enough to admire her beauty. This dear citizens, is the Athens we need and will have, if the course of action I have outlined is pursued. Thank you for your time and I hope that as you leave here to day, you will share my hopes and visions of the restored Athens and come to realize that it can and will be achieved.