Fourth of July 2003 Celebration

Remarks by Ambassador Cobb

at the

Fourth of July 2003 Celebration

July 4, 2003

AS PREPARED

GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THE VERY REVEREND CANON THE HONORABLE WEEVILLE M. GORDON, CD, JP MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND OFFICIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA AND THE JUDICIARY,  MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS, THE HONORABLE CHARLES E. COBB - MY HUSBAND,  OUR MANY DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS:

IT IS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.  WE ARE GATHERED FOR A VERY SPECIAL CELEBRATION OF THE 227^TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICA'S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 

ON JULY 4, 1776, OUR FOREFATHERS ADOPTED OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,  CREATING A GREAT NATION FOUNDED ON THE PRICIPALS OF FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND THE RULE OF LAW.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE INSPIRED GREAT MEN AND WOMEN TO GREAT ACTION IN THE PURSUIT OF A BOLD AND HOPEFUL VISION OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.    

SINCE 1776 THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HAS INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS - WHO BELIEVE IN THE DIGNITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND TOLERANCE TOWARD ALL - TO PURSUE AND TO DEFEND THE IDEALS OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.

TODAY WE EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR OUR MANY BLESSINGS;

WE EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US TO SECURE OUR BELOVED FREEDOM;

WE EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY SERVICES WHO PROTECT OUR FREEDOM; AND WE EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THE MANY WHO ARE AMERICANS, NOT BY BIRTH, BUT BY CHOICE - WHO COME TO OUR SHORES IN SEARCH OF FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY AND WHO ENRICH OUR NATION BY THEIR PRESENCE.

WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO OUR GOOD NEIGHBORS, SUCH AS JAMAICA, WHO HAVE LENT THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO US, AND WHO NOW STAND WITH US IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL CRIME AND TERRORISM - AND IN THE FIGHT TO SECURE A MORE PEACEFUL, MORE SECURE,  AND MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR ALL.

AS AMERICA MOVES FORWARD IN THIS NEW CENTURY - AS WE ACT TO LIFT THE DARK CLOUDS OF TERROR FROM OUR NATION AND OTHERS - WE AFFIRM OUR DETERMINATION TO ENSURE OUR FOUNDERS VISION OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.  

ONE CAN ALMOST HEAR THE LIBERTY BELL RING AS WE FOCUS ON THE OPENING WORDS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE:

"WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL,   THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS,   THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.  THAT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS, GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN,  DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED."

AS WE CELEBRATE THIS 227^TH ANNIVERSARY, WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE PROCEEDINGS IN MONTEGO BAY CELEBRATING CARICOM'S 30^TH ANNIVERSARY. AND WE RECALL WITH PLEASURE THE RECENT CELEBRATION OF JAMAICA'S 40^TH ANNIVERSARY.

MAY WE RAISE OUR GLASSES TO ALL  - AND SPECIFICALLY TO THE NATION OF JAMAICA: 

MAY HER PEOPLE LIVE IN FREEDOM IN A WORLD OF SECURITY AND PROSPERITY.

MAY HER LEADERS BE WISE AND COURAGEOUS AS THEY CHART THE NATION'S COURSE IN THIS NEW CENTURY. 

MAY JAMAICANS EVERYWHERE - ENJOY THEIR OWN JOURNEY OF LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES AND GOD BLESS JAMAICA.