Speech to Temple
Hillel and Community Leaders in Valley
Stream
(October 26, 1984)
Rabbi Friedman, Senator D'Amato, members of Temple
Hillel, and to all of you, a very, very warm thank you for this wonderful
greeting. It is a great honor for me to be here with you today.
I've covered a bit of territory since this campaign began. What's heartened
me most is the new spirit that I have found around this country, a spirit
of optimism and confidence, of pride and patriotism, that has been brought
forth by a great American renewal.
America's greatest gift has always been freedom and equality of opportunity
-- the idea that no matter who you are, no matter where you came from,
you can climb as high as your own God-given talents will take you. But
a few years ago we were being told that this vision was no more, that
America was in decline, and all of us had to lower our expectations.
I think you remember the disasters that defeatist spirit led to: the
first back-to-back years of double-digit inflation since World War I,
a 21\1/2\-percent prime interest rate, record taxation, declining growth,
savings, investment, income, and confidence in our future -- not to
mention growing problems of crime and drugs and in education. Overseas,
we had lost the respect of friends and foe alike. Our determination
had grown weak, undermining commitments to even our closest friends
like Israel. We talked and acted like a nation in decline, and the world
believed us.
Well, in 1981 the American people set out on an entirely new course.
And working together, we have cast aside the pessimism, along with high
inflation, stagnation, and weakness, in a wonderful rebirth of freedom,
prosperity, and hope. And today we're seeing not humiliation and defeatism,
but pride in ourselves, in our accomplishments, and in our country.
From New York Harbor to San Diego Bay, a strong economic expansion
with low inflation is leading the rest of the world into recovery. America
is back. America is on its feet. And America is back on the map. But
we cannot and we will not rest until every American who wants a job
can find a job.
A nation's greatness is measured not just by its gross national product
or military power, but by the strength of its devotion to the principles
and values that bind its people and define their character. Our civil
rights: on that subject, we are enforcing the law with new determination.
Since we took office, the Justice Department has filed more criminal
charges on civil rights violations, brought more violators to trial,
and achieved more civil rights convictions than any one before us. I've
said this before, and I'll say it again: As President, I will continue
to enforce civil rights to the fullest extent of the law.
That's why I have appointed to the Civil Rights Commission people like
Commissioners Clarence Pendleton and Morris Abram and Staff Director
Linda Chavez. They recognize that you cannot cure discrimination with
more discrimination. I'm proud that they're serving on the Commission,
and I intend to keep them there. And as long as I'm President, we'll
have a Justice Department which argues for the rights of individuals
to be treated as individuals, whether the case involves hiring, promotions,
layoffs, or any other matter subject to the law.
And we're also remembering the guiding light of our Judeo-Christian
tradition. All of us here today are descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, sons and daughters of the same God. I believe we are bound by
faith in our God, by our love for family and neighborhood, by our deep
desire for a more peaceful world, and by our commitment to protect the
freedom which is our legacy as Americans. These values have given a
renewed sense of worth to our lives. They are infusing America with
confidence and optimism that many thought we had lost.
You know, when you talk about human life, I think that means seeing
that the immeasurable pain of the Holocaust is never dehumanized, seeing
that its meaning is never lost on this generation or any future generation,
and, yes, seeing that those who take our place understand: never again.
Now, perhaps that message should again be impressed on those who question
why we went on a peacekeeping mission to Lebanon. Indeed, anyone who
remembers the lesson of the Holocaust must understand that we have a
fundamental moral obligation to assure: never again.
To help preserve that lesson for future generations, I'm satisfied
that our General Services Administration has approved the use of the
old Customs House by the New York City Holocaust Memorial Commission
as a means of commemorating the Holocaust. And it will be a museum of
the Jewish people in the Diaspora. It will serve to remind our children
and our children's children the tragic consequences of bigotry and intolerance.
We in the United States, above all, must remember that lesson, for
we were founded as a nation of openness to people of all beliefs. And
so we must remain. Our very unity has been strengthened by our pluralism.
We establish no religion in this country, we command no worship, we
mandate no belief, nor will we ever. Church and state are, and must
remain, separate. All are free to believe or not believe, all are free
to practice a faith or not, and those who believe are free, and should
be free, to speak of and act on their belief.
At the same time that our Constitution prohibits state establishment
of religion, it protects the free exercise of all religions. And walking
this fine line requires government to be strictly neutral. And government
should not make it more difficult for Christians, Jews, Muslims, or
other believing people to practice their faith. And that's why, when
the Connecticut Supreme Court struck down a statute -- and you may not
have heard about this; it was a statute protecting employees who observed
the Sabbath. Well, our administration is now urging the United States
Supreme Court to overturn the Connecticut Court decision. This is what
I mean by freedom of religion, and that's what we feel the Constitution
intends.
And there's something else. The ideals of our country leave no room
whatsoever for intolerance, for anti-Semitism, or for bigotry of any
kind -- none. In Dallas, we acted on this conviction. We passed a resolution
concerning anti-Semitism and disassociating the Republic[an] Party from
all people and groups who practice bigotry in any form. But in San Francisco
this year, the Democratic Party couldn't find the moral courage or leadership
to pass a similar resolution. And, forgive me, but I think they owe
you an explanation. [Applause]
Thank you.
What has happened to them? Why, after the issue became so prominent
during the primaries, did the Democratic leadership alk away from their
convention without a resolution condemning this insidious cancer? Why
didn't they turn their backs on special interests and stand shoulder
to shoulder with us in support of tolerance and in unequivocal opposition
to prejudice and bigotry?
We must never remain silent in the face of bigotry. We must condemn
those who seek to divide us. In all quarters and at all times, we must
teach tolerance and denounce racism, anti-Semitism, and all ethnic or
religious bigotry wherever they exist as unacceptable evils. We have
no place for haters in America -- none, whatsoever.
And let's not kid ourselves, the so-called anti-Zionists that we hear
in the United Nations is just another mask in some quarters for vicious
anti-Semitism. And that's something the United States will not tolerate
wherever it is, no matter how subtle it may be.
We have a tremendous watchdog on this, Jeane Kirkpatrick. She is one
very forceful and determined woman. And she has defended Israel with
persistence and courage, and America is very proud of Jeane Kirkpatrick.
Contrast her performance with that sad moment on March 1st, 1980, when
the American delegate to the United Nations actually voted in favor
of a resolution that repeatedly condemned Israel. And why did my opponent
remain silent? I ask you again, what has happened to the party of Harry
Truman and Scoop Jackson?
I was once a member of that party, and for a great part of my life,
myself. And I don't believe that what we've seen and what I've been
talking about is true of the millions of rank-and-file, patriotic Americans;
it is only true of an element of leadership that somehow seems to have
lacked the courage to stand for what is right.
I'd like to remind you of an important, indeed, a key position of the
United States. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick has my explicit instructions
that if Israel is ever forced to walk out of the United Nations, the
United States and Israel will walk out together.
I think we've come quite a long way together, at home and abroad. Gone
are the days when we abandoned principle and common sense. Gone are
the days when we meekly tolerated obvious threats to peace and security.
I can tell you today from my heart, America is prepared for peace. And
because we're stronger than before, because we've regained our respect,
and because our allies and friends know once again that we can be counted
on, we're in a position to secure a future of peace -- not peace at
any price, but a true, meaningful, lasting peace supported by freedom
and human dignity.
Now, make no mistake, if ever we were to heed those who would cripple
America's defense-building program, we would undermine our own security
and the security of our closest friends, like Israel. And as long as
I'm President, that's not going to happen. Israel and the United States
are bound together by the ties of family, friendship, shared ideals,
and mutual interests. We're allies in the defense of freedom in the
Middle East. And I'm proud to say, borrowing Prime Minister Peres' words
of 2 weeks ago, relations between the United States and Israel ``have
reached a new level of harmony and understanding.''
In partnership, Israel and the United States will continue to work
toward a common vision of peace, security, and economic well-being.
Our friendship is closer and stronger today, yes, than ever before.
And we intend to keep it that way.
Let me leave you with one final thought. I know that many of you here
today have your political roots in the Democratic Party. And I just
want to say to all of you, to repeat what I said a moment ago, that
I was a Democrat most of my life, and I know what it's like when you
find yourself unable to support the decisions of the leadership of that
party. But to you and to the millions of rank-and-file Democrats who
love America and want a better life for your children, who share our
determination to build a stronger America at home and abroad, I can
only say: Come walk with us down this new path of hope and opportunity,
and in a bipartisan way, we will keep this nation strong and free.
The spiritual values which the Jewish community represent are now being
seen by the American public on a television series, ``Heritage, Civilization,
And The Jews.'' These are values we want and need in the Republican
Party. We stand with you, working for an America that works for everyone,
an America strong and successful, inspired and united for opportunity.
We stand with you, committed and determined to help you protect the
traditions and ethics that you hold dear. And we stand with you in your
belief in the inviolability of the first amendment.
We stand with you in condemning any and all who preach or countenance
bigotry, hatred, or anti-Semitism. And we stand with you in supporting
the rights of Soviet Jewry and other believers. We will never be silent
in the fight for human rights. We stand with you in support of our friend
and democratic ally in the Middle East, the State of Israel. And together,
we can build an even better future for our children and for America.
And together, we will.
The other day I said something to a group of students in the White
House that I will repeat to you: We are free. We are the land of the
free, because we are the home of the brave.
Thank you, and God bless you all, and lechayim.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |