ifyoutravelacroamerica,youwillfindpeopleofmanydifferentethicbackgroundsandmanydifferentfaiths.weareavariedcountry.wearehometo2.3millionamericaofchineseancestry,whocanbefoundworkingintheofficesofourbiggestcompanies,servinginmyowncabinet,andskatingforamericaattheolympics.everyimmigrant,bytakinganoathofallegiancetoourcountry,becomesjustasmuchanamericanasthepresidentoftheunitedstates.americashowsthatasocietycanbevastandvaried,andyetstillonecountry,commandingtheallegianceandloveofitspeople.
allofthesequalitiesofamericawerevividlydilayedonasingleday,september11th,whenterroristsattackedamerica.americanpolicemenandfirefighters,bythehundreds,ranintoburningtowersinthedeeratehopeofsavingotherlives.volunteerscamefromeverywheretohelpwiththerescueefforts.americadonatedblood,andgavemoneytohelpthefamiliesofvictims.peoplewenttoprayerservicesalloveramerica,andraisedflagstoshowtheirprideandunity.noneofthiswasorderedbythegovernment;ithaenedontaneously,bytheinitiativeofafreepeople.
lifeinamericashowsthatliberty,pairedwithlaw,isnottobefeared.inafreesociety,diversityisnotdisorder.debateisnotstrife.anddientisnotrevolution.afreesocietytrustsitscitizetoseekgreatneinthemselvesandtheircountry.
itwasmyhonortovisitchinain1975,andalothaschangedinyourcountrysincethen.chinahasmadeamazingprogreinopee,andenterprise,andeconomicfreedom.andthisprogrepreviewschina''sgreatpotential.
chinahasjoinedtheworldtradeorganization,andasyouliveuptoitsobligatio,theywillbringchangesinchina''slegalsystem.amodernchinawillhaveacoistentruleoflawtogoverncommerceandsecuretherightsofitspeople.
thenewchinayourgenerationisbuildingwillneedtheprofoundwisdomofyourtraditio.thelureofmaterialismchallengessocietyinourcountryandinmanysuccefulcountries.yourancientethicofpersonalandfamilyreoibilitywillserveyouwell.
behindchina''seconomicsuccetodayaretalented,energeticpeople.inthenearfuture,thesesamemenandwomenwillplayafullandactiveroleinyourgovernmen