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President's Radio Address
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary July 5, 2008

President's Radio Address

˙˙President's Radio Address
˙˙Audio ˙˙En Espa¤ol

˙˙˙˙˙ Independence Day

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This weekend, Americans are celebrating the
anniversary of our Nation's independence. Two hundred and thirty-two years
ago, our Founding Fathers came together in Philadelphia to proclaim that
all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with
unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The man who wrote those immortal words was Thomas Jefferson. Yesterday, I
celebrated the Fourth of July at Monticello, Jefferson's home in Virginia.
While there, I witnessed an event that would have made the author of the
Declaration of Independence proud. On Monticello's lawn, more than 70 men
and women from dozens of countries raised their right hands to take the
oath of American citizenship. They swore their allegiance to the
Constitution. They promised that they would defend the laws of the United
States. And they reminded everyone in attendance that the promise of
America is open to all.

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˙ These new citizens come from countries as diverse as Burma, Afghanistan,
Norway, and Iraq. These new citizens are proof that there is no American
race, just an American creed. In the United States, we believe in the
rights and dignity of every person. We believe in equal justice, limited
government, and the rule of law. And we believe in personal responsibility
and tolerance towards others. This creed of freedom and equality has lifted
the lives of millions of Americans, whether citizens by birth or citizens
by choice.

This creed of freedom has required brave defenders, and every generation of
Americans has produced them. From the soldiers who fought for independence
at Bunker Hill and Yorktown, to the Americans who broke the chains of
slavery, liberated Europe and Asia from tyranny, and brought down an evil
empire, the people of this great land have always risen to freedom's
defense.

Today, the men and women of America's Armed Forces continue this proud
tradition of defending liberty. In places like Afghanistan and Iraq, many
risk their lives every day to protect America and uphold the principle that
human freedom is the birthright of all people and a gift from the Almighty.
These brave Americans make it possible for America to endure as a free
society. So on this Fourth of July, we owe all those who wear the uniform
of the United States a special debt of gratitude. And we thank their
families for supporting them in this crucial time for our Nation.

The Fourth of July is a day when all Americans take a moment to share a
collective sense of pride in our country. We live in a Nation founded on
the power of an idea, a Nation where opportunity is limited only by
imagination, and a Nation that has done more than any other to spread the
light of liberty throughout the world. Today, that light shines as brightly
as it did in 1776. And with "the protection of Divine Providence" it will
continue to shine brightly for generations to come.

Thank you for listening.

END

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