Ambassador

Ambassador Schoonover's Speech at Fourth of July Reception
Lome, Friday July 3, 1998

     I would like to welcome all of you to our first national day reception in Togo. My husband Dick and I have been overwhelmed by the warmth of our reception in Togo, and it is gratifying to see so many friends and colleagues honoring us tonight with their presence as we celebrate on the eve of the 222^nd anniversary of the independence of the United States.

     It is a great honor for me to serve as the United States Ambassador to Togo, and I have been deeply impressed by the country and its people during my tenure here. Shortly after our arrival in Togo in January, the country was tested by a debilitating energy crisis which affected virtually every aspect of the personal and professional lives of all of us. The Togolese responded with patience and resilience to this emergency and maintained an astounding equanimity in the face of a difficult situation. More recently, the Togolese people went to the polls in one of the most hotly-disputed elections in the country's history. I was again extremely impressed with the enthusiasm and dignity of the Togolese citizens, who portrayed with striking clarity on June 21 their understanding of a universal principle: the participation of an informed citizenry in political life is the fundamental underpinning of a democracy.

     The United States takes tremendous pride in its position as one of the world's oldest democracies, but the path in the early days of the American Republic was filled with obstacles. Our own Constitution was bitterly contested, and the document itself is the result of a series of compromises which attempted to resolve differences among the states about the very nature of the young nation. Many of these disputes notably on the issue of slavery lingered on long after the Constitution was adapted and the legacy of slavery survives today as we Americans work to overcome racism and build a more just and equitable society.

     A basic component of the construction of American democracy has been the recognition of certain principles which aspire to universality: freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, equality of opportunity. Thomas Jefferson, the primary drafter of the American Declaration of Independence wrote thatwe hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal..." On the eve of the 21^st century, this statement should of course be recast to reflect the equality of the sexes, but the thought expresses a universal aspiration - which Africans have shown in large numbers that they share - for greater freedom and democracy. I am pleased to represent a nation which symbolizes this aspiration, and to serve in a country whose people so clearly desire it. President Clinton has spoken of these universal principles recently, and I would like now to read our President's declaration on the occasion of the 222^nd anniversary of the United States of America.

     "I am delighted to join my fellow Americans across the nation and around the world in celebrating Independence Day.

        Throughout the year, we set aside special times to remember and celebrate our different ethnic roots. But on Independence Day, we rejoice in our common heritage as Americans and in the values and history we share.

     We have all benefited from the wisdom of our nation's founders, who crafted a blueprint for democracy that has served us well for more than 200 years and continues to inspire newly independent nations around the world. We are all heirs to the rights articulated in our Constitution and reaffirmed by courageous men and women of every generation who have struggled to secure justice and equality for all. We are all forever indebted to the millions of Americans in uniform who have shed their blood to defend our freedom and preserve our values across America and around the globe.

     But we Americans are bound together not only by a shared past, but also by a common future. Blessed with peace and prosperity, we have an unprecedented opportunity to prepare for the challenges of the next century: to keep America free and secure, to improve health care and education, to bring the opportunities of the Information Age into every home and classroom, and to strengthen the bonds of our national community as we grow more racially and ethnically diverse.

     On this Independence Day, as we celebrate our rights and freedoms and look forward to a new century of limitless possibilities, Hillary joins me in wishing you a wonderful Fourth of July." 

     Before closing, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to three fine foreign service officers, key members of my team, who are completing their tours here in Togo and will be moving on to new assignments. They are Deputy Chief of Mission Terry McCulley, Economic/Commercial Officer Mary Beth Leonard, and Regional Security Officer Jack Barnhart. Terry, Mary Beth and Jack, my personal thanks for all the support you have given me since my arrival. On behalf of the entire US mission in Togo, let me say how much we have appreciated your dedication and hard work. Farewell and good luck to the three of you.

     And now, since we have been blessed with a lovely, rain-free evening, I invite you to continue to eat, to drink, and to join us in our celebration of our nation's anniversary. Thank you.