Remarks by Ambassador Gitenstein on Independence Day

Remarks by Ambassador Gitenstein on Independence Day

As prepared:

On our National Day, we remember what America stands for and our role in realizing those ideals.

As a young man, one of the ways I was called to public service was through the words of Robert Kennedy, a man who inspired millions with his belief in the power and promise of American ideals. Kennedy served at a time not unlike ours—a time of turbulence and also Probability.

In one of my favorites Remarks by him in 1966 in South Africa, where he protested Apartheid, he reminded us, and I quote:

“Like it or not, we live in interesting times. These are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also the most creative of all time in history.” A quote

He challenged us, including an idealistic young 20-year-old college student in Alabama, to be judged on how we help build a better world.

All of us in this room are committed to a better world based on a strong and resilient transatlantic bond. The events of the weekend, and in particular the past 16 months, are a reminder of the challenges we will face in realizing this vision in the coming months and years.

We will approach these times as we did this weekend, in close and completely transparent dialogue, as friends and partners and in the spirit of the EU motto – united in diversity.

May God bless our efforts.

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