| Hartford, Vermont 1998
I am pleased to be here with you today to help celebrate
your achievement in becoming a citizen of the United States
of America. Congratulations and welcome.
Today marks an important milestone for you. It is fitting
and proper to pause at such times to reflect. The tradition
of welcoming new citizens to our country has played an important
role in developing the diversity and strength that is the
United States of America.
The strength of our country, its traditions and institutions
has survived a little over 200 years-a relatively short
period in human history. There have been several occasions
in our history when citizens have squarely faced challenges
to these traditions and institutions.
Sometimes over a court decision, sometimes over legislation,
sometimes as in the civil war, our country has been so deeply
divided that the survival of the union was at stake. Brave
citizens have sacrificed their lives to preserve the fundamental
freedoms laid out in the bill of rights to our constitution-freedom
of speech, separation of church and state, the presumption
of innocence.
I believe that many of these bedrock principles are threatened
today. I believe the very survival of our democracy is threatened
by lack of participation on the part of average citizens
who have given up on the political process.
Many citizens are struggling to make ends meet, working
long hours sometimes at more than one job to make ends meet.
Too many citizens are too tired or too discouraged or alienated
to participate in their community. It happens in the best
of families.
This is where the danger exists. It is a time when hateful
negative people seize the opportunity to create scapegoats
and propose simplistic knee jerk solutions to complex problems.
Too often our precious institutions and democratic government
are vilified by demagogues. Sometimes violence, as in the
militia movement can gain a foothold.
Good honest hardworking citizens-people like yourselves-most
often are silent, believing that they lack the expertise
to have a valid opinion. Too often we are silent, but we
need to break our silence and in the words of Martin Luther
King, “Let freedom Ring.” We must stand strongly
against even well intentioned efforts to weaken our bill
of rights, to protect the separation of church and state
and fundamental rights like the presumption of innocence.
Preservation of the way of life we treasure requires sacrifice,
and will require extraordinary effort. Each of us has different
abilities, and different strengths. In the rhythm of our
lives, sometimes keeping our personal affairs in order leaves
less time for community life and public service. Yet we
must make time for community.
We live in a dangerous time. Our country and our state
are faced with incredible economic, environmental, and social
changes. Technology and the globalization of our economy
are bringing new benefits, but in some cases, they are displacing
hardworking Americans. It seems unfair and downright bewildering.
Contrary to the slick political ads, no one quite knows
what to do to respond to this rapidly changing environment.
We must each do what we can. Our Vermont Communities need
volunteers to serve. They need listers, planning commission
members, and select board members. They need Green Up Day
volunteers and Cub Scout leaders. They need citizens to
read the newspaper, become informed, and come to their meetings.
They don’t need blind trust. Healthy debate and disagreement
are necessary ingredients in a democratic society. Here
in Vermont we are blessed in many ways: with a magnificent
environment, a strong sense of community and Vermont is
a place where being a neighbor still means something. We
have strong values.
Our state motto “Freedom and Unity” reflects
a commitment both to individual freedom, and to a sense
of community where we care about each other and recognize
that to survive in what can be a harsh environment we need
each other. It reflects an understanding that sometimes
we need help.
I’d like to close with a quote I think of from time
to time when I decide that principle is about to require
that I take a politically unpopular stance. As happens sooner
or later to everyone in public life I am entertaining the
delicious thought that I will stay silent, sit comfortably
in my Senate Chair, and let someone else take the risk.
“First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists
And I did not speak out-
Because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out-
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me-
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.”
-Pastor
Martin Niemoller
(victim of the Nazis.)
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