U.S. Embassy Celebrates Independence Day.
July 1, 2011
U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly warmly welcomed Embassy guests at the celebration of the 235th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, held on July 1, 2011 at the Dbayeh Marina. The attendees represented a wide array of Lebanese society including national and local government officials, business executives, religious leaders, Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces officers, media personalities, cultural figures and alumni of U.S. government-sponsored programs.
In her remarks, Ambassador Connelly said “this year, the revolutionary changes that have spread across the Arab world in such a short time give a new context for these words, written so long ago. The Declaration could describe the motivations of the millions of Arab citizens who, this year, have taken their countries’ political destinies into their own hands. In this year of great change and promise in the Middle East, for Americans, the celebration of our own independence takes on new meaning….Independence is something that must be constantly renewed and refreshed to insure that whatever government is elected truly represents the legitimate will of the people it represents….In the end, the people know what they want. It is up to the government to listen to them. For our part, we will endeavor to help the people of the region so they can one day describe their governments as, to quote President Abraham Lincoln, ‘government of the people, by the people, and for the people.’”
U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly warmly welcomed Embassy guests at the celebration of the 235th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, held on July 1, 2011 at the Dbayeh Marina. The attendees represented a wide array of Lebanese society including national and local government officials, business executives, religious leaders, Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces officers, media personalities, cultural figures and alumni of U.S. government-sponsored programs.
In her remarks, Ambassador Connelly said “this year, the revolutionary changes that have spread across the Arab world in such a short time give a new context for these words, written so long ago. The Declaration could describe the motivations of the millions of Arab citizens who, this year, have taken their countries’ political destinies into their own hands. In this year of great change and promise in the Middle East, for Americans, the celebration of our own independence takes on new meaning….Independence is something that must be constantly renewed and refreshed to insure that whatever government is elected truly represents the legitimate will of the people it represents….In the end, the people know what they want. It is up to the government to listen to them. For our part, we will endeavor to help the people of the region so they can one day describe their governments as, to quote President Abraham Lincoln, ‘government of the people, by the people, and for the people.’”
posted by philippe at 4:52 AM
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