2007 Speeches
On the Occasion of the Celebration of the 231st Anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America - July 4, 2007
Old Belize
5:30 – 8:30 PM
Good evening everyone and welcome to our annual 4th of July celebration.
This evening from Maine to Miami, from the Carolinas to California, the American people will join in public celebrations with parades, concerts, outdoor picnics, and, of course, fireworks.
Many people will simply be enjoying a backyard barbeque with their family or neighbors.
In Naperville, Illinois, thousands of people will join in their annual “ribfest” and donate the proceeds to support the prevention of domestic violence and child abuse.
In Philadelphia, thousands of people participated in a Celebrate Freedom and Learn to Salsa event.
In my home town in Colorado, people are gathering as we speak in anticipation of the largest fireworks extravaganza in the Colorado Rockies!
Like these gatherings, ours here this evening is to commemorate the 231st anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776, the signers of that document declared independence from Britain based on the belief that freedom was a divine gift to all mankind. Thirteen former colonies embarked together on an uncertain path to freedom and independence as a sovereign nation, and from that moment the world changed forever. Today we celebrate the values of freedom and equality that make our nation strong and a beacon of hope for those who are oppressed.
We gather not only in celebration, but also in gratitude – for the courage of the brave men who risked their lives and fortunes by signing the Declaration 231 years ago – for our many blessings – for the friends and families we love – for the abundant opportunities our country affords – and also, to be mindful of the sacrifices of those from every generation who have defended our nation and secured the freedoms and many blessings we enjoy.
Obviously, much has changed in the 231 years since that summer in 1776. Our history demonstrates that the exercise of democracy can at times try our patience; it can be difficult and frustratingly complex. But our commitment to democracy and freedom abides. To paraphrase Winston Churchill: Democracy is not a perfect or all-wise form of government, but it is the better by far than any of the alternatives.
In your program are words from the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence.
As President Bush has observed: “The revolutionary truths of the Declaration are still at the heart of America. There is no American race; there’s only an American creed. We believe in the dignity and rights of every person. We believe in freedom and equal justice, the rule of law, and a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. This creed of freedom and equality has lifted the lives of millions of Americans, of citizens by birth and citizens by choice. This creed draws our friends to us. It sets our enemies against us, and always inspires the best that is within us.”
After the attacks on September 11, Leonard Pitts Jr., a columnist in the Miami Herald, expressed his defiance to a faceless, unnamed terrorist thusly:
“Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, social, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. We’re frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotion energy on pop cultural minutiae …. We are fundamentally decent though – peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God. Some people … think that any or all of this makes us weak. You’re mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals.”
The recent incident at the Glasgow Airport and the foiled plot to attack JFK international airport are stark reminders that we live in a dangerous world. Such incidents prompt us to the abiding need for governments in this hemisphere to be ever vigilant; to keep it free from the poison of terrorist ideology in whatever form and from whatever source.
Likewise, the privilege of democracy is not to be taken lightly or taken for granted. In a democracy, it is ultimately the people who must remain vigilant and protect their freedoms by continually demanding that their government be responsive to their concerns. Freedom of expression and a free press are the bedrock of any democratic society and we should be ever vigilant to any pressures that could have a chilling effect on their free exercise. It is also essential for those of us who share democratic traditions to speak with one voice to promote the principles of OAS Inter-American Democratic Charter – to trumpet the fundamental right of people to choose those who govern them in periodic elections that are free, fair, and transparent and to use all appropriate avenues to encourage regimes that deny their citizens that right to open themselves to democratic processes.
The United States seeks to promote democracy as a means to achieve security, stability, and prosperity because it delivers tangible results. Development and democracy go hand-in-hand. It is an empirical fact that democratically governed nations “are more likely to secure the peace, deter aggression, expand open markets, promote economic development, protect [non-citizens], combat international terrorism and crime, uphold human and worker rights, avoid humanitarian crises and refugee flows, improve the global environment, and protect human health.”
As noted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the meeting with the CARICOM heads of government just two weeks ago, democratic governments are charged with an enormous responsibility. As democratic people become more prosperous, they demand more of their governments. In a representative democracy, citizens are free to demand a government that will strive for equality of opportunity - one that is fair, transparent, and accountable – one that is free from corruption and is responsive to the needs of the people.
Last year was my first July 4th in Belize. As I look back over the year since, I am struck by the many good works where the US Mission extended the hand of friendship and support to improve the lives of Belizeans.
• The Belizean National Coast Guard and the Belize Defense Force continued to receive support to strengthen their capacity to ensure the safety and security of the people of Belize and to protect the maritime and territorial integrity of your national borders.
• US servicemen, doctors and nurses conducted numerous medical exercises that reached all four corners of the compass in Belize: including Orange Walk; Toledo; Valley of Peace; Ladyville and the recent visit by the hospital ship the USS Comfort. All together well over 15,000 Belizeans received medical, dental, and eye care though these exercises.
• SOUTHCOM’s New Horizons program partnered with the BDF to construct new, two-room school buildings in Crooked Tree, Carmelita, Hattieville and Trial Farm villages.
• Two dormitories at the Rockville Youth Hostel were renovated; funding was provided for the construction of a hurricane supply facility in Big Creek; and the department of archaeology was awarded a grant to restore a sugar mill and Spanish Mission in Lamanai.
• In addition to US support for a $2 million dollar grant through Global Fund to combat HIV/AIDS, USAID is also contributing nearly half a million US dollars to the effort in Belize.
• The US Mission was proud to sponsor the “You Got Game” after school anti-drug program in Belize City and State Department spouses recently joined with the George Price Center to launch a summer reading program for elementary school children.
• On Sunday, I welcomed the newly arrived Peace Corps volunteers who complement others already at work throughout the country in projects ranging from HIV/AIDS prevention, teacher training, small business assistance and the environment. This year marked the 45th anniversary of Peace Corps in Belize. I am enormously proud of these outstanding individuals who exemplify the spirit of volunteerism and public service that permeates the American character
• This coming Friday the PACT Foundation commemorates its first small grants program. In 2001, the US and Belize entered into an agreement which links debt relief with forest conservation and is expected to generate 9 million US dollars for Belize’s forest conservation efforts – a effort so essential to tourism – the sector that contributes over one-fifth of Belize’s Gross Domestic Product, one-quarter of total foreign exchange and one in every four jobs.
• In December we opened a new state of the art embassy in Belmopan - a $50million investment that is a tangible manifestation of the value the United States government places in our strong relationship.
But let us not overlook the good work of the many US civic, faith-based and private groups that do so much in Belize and around the world. We often fail to consider the enormous contributions made on a people-to-people basis – without the involvement of government. It is estimated that Americans – through educational and religious institutions, private companies, foundations, families and the like – give at least three to four times more to the developing world than the amount of foreign aid dispensed by our government. Anyone who sees the number of Americans who volunteer their talents and time to help Belizeans knows that is true.
None of these good works would have been possible without the cooperation of the many Belizeans and the many government officials who assisted or otherwise joined in these efforts. We celebrate the spirit of friendship and partnership between the people and governments of our two nations.
Before I conclude with the traditional toast, I want to take this opportunity to recognize those companies that contributed to sponsoring this event: American Airlines, Bowen and Bowen Ltd, and Brodie & Company, Ltd. Thank you for your generosity.
With regard to the toast, in the very early days of the founding of our nation, it was customary to offer a separate toast to and fire a canon for each of the 13 United States. Thank goodness that tradition faded with the passage of time – I don’t think any of us would remain standing much less have our hearing intact if we endured 50 separate toasts.
So I will make it brief but heartfelt:
On behalf of the US Embassy, please allow me to express our appreciation for your sharing in this celebration with us.
And join me in raising our glasses to the promise of democracy, freedom, and equality - and to our nations’ shared values and democratic traditions.
May all of us continue to be inspired by the ideals put to paper 231 years ago; may our nations continue together along the road of democracy; and may our long-standing bonds of friendship continue to strengthen.
God bless the United States of America and God Bless Belize. Thank you.