For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 6, 2002
President's Radio Address
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, Americans are celebrating
the 226th anniversary of our independence. On the 4th of July, we
count our blessings, and there are so many to count.
We are thankful for the families that share our life in this land
of liberty. We're thankful for the opportunities given to us every day
in this country. And we are thankful for our freedom, the freedom
declared by the founding fathers, defended by many generations and
granted to each one of us by Almighty God.
Americans know that our country did not come about by chance. Our
nation was first designed as a colony, serving an empire and answering
to a king. The founders had other things in mind. In the summer of
1776, they declared that these colonies are and of right ought to be
free and independent states. All Americans can draw a straight line
from the free lives we lead today to that one moment when the world
changed forever.
From that day in 1776, freedom has had a home and a defender.
Unlike any other country, America came into the world with a message
for mankind, that all are created equal and all are meant to be free.
There is no American race, there's only an American creed. We
believe in the dignity and rights of every person. We believe in equal
justice, limited government and the rule of law, personal
responsibility and tolerance toward others. 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, sets
our enemies against us, and always inspires the best that is in us.
In this 226th year of our independence, we have seen that American
patriotism is still a living faith. We love our country, only more
when she is threatened. America is the most diverse nation on earth.
Yet, in a moment we discovered again that we are a single people, we
share the same allegiance, we live under the same flag -- and when you
strike one American, you strike us all.
More than ever in the lifetimes of most Americans, our flag stands
for a true united country. We've been united in our grief and we are
united in our resolve to protect our people and defeat the enemies of
freedom. At this hour, more than 60,000 American troops are deployed
around the world in the war against terror. Many of you have family
members serving in the military -- wherever they are stationed, this
nation is depending on them and you can be proud of them.
America's service men and women and our veterans know better than
anyone that our love for country is shown in works. That spirit of
service is alive and strong in America today. As we fight a war
abroad, at home, Americans are answering the call of service, giving
their time and energy to causes greater than self-interest. This
nation is confronting a terrible evil, and we are overcoming evil with
good.
Today, as much as ever before, America bears the hopes of the
world. Yet, from the day of our founding, America's own great hope has
never been in ourselves alone. The founders humbly sought the wisdom
and the blessing of Divine Providence. May we always live by that same
trust, and may God continue to watch over the United States of
America.
Thank you for listening.
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