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Good afternoon! It is a great pleasure for Mariasun and me to welcome so many distinguished guests to our residence today.
We gather today to celebrate the signing-- 230 years ago-- of the Declaration of Independence in the United States.
On July 4, 1776, our Founders, with vision and courage, declared to the world that all were created equal and “that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
And with these words, our Founders fundamentally changed the course of human history and moved towards the democracy we hold so dearly.
This past Sunday, I watched as Mexicans went to the polls and enjoyed one of the most cherished of all democratic rights—the right to vote. I had the honor of serving as an election observer, and in every polling station I visited, I witnessed Mexicans proudly and orderly exercising their civic duty.
I was especially touched as I watched a father walk from the voting booth with his young son. When they reached the ballot box, the father turned to his son and let his son place each of his ballots in the right box.
As the father and son walked away arm and arm, it occurred to me that that father had just taught his young son the importance of our most precious civic duty. It is a duty that the father and millions of Mexicans took very seriously on Sunday…
In the coming days, because of the strength and vibrancy of Mexican institutions, the Mexican people will know they made their voices heard in a democratic way, and that all Mexicans will be the true winners of this year’s presidential election.
I also would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank President Fox. It has been an honor working very closely with him and his team. He is a leader who committed to transparency, democracy and the people of Mexico in a way that will transcend to future generations.
I know in the remaining months of President Fox’s administration, we will continue our work together to better the lives of citizens on both sides of our border.
As we celebrate our two strong democracies today, let us also remember those around the world who do not benefit from the freedoms we witnessed here on Sunday and that we exercise everyday in the United States and Mexico.
We must remain committed to the challenge that peace, liberty and democracy will one day define the permanent condition of all nations. As President Bush has said, “We have confidence [in rightness of our path] because freedom is the permanent hope of mankind . . . the longing of the soul.”
I would like to propose a toast and a sincere prayer… May God bless our two great nations now and in the future.
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