Renewing America’s Promise: A Community CelebrationHonoring the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America

January 20, 2009

Remarks by Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard
American Community School
Athens, Greece

(As delivered.)

I’m excited to be here.  Thank you, American Community School President Stefanos Gialamas, Democrats Abroad President Beth Hondros, and Democrats Abroad for putting together this fabulous event so that we can participate, not only with the millions in Washington, but all those around the world watching today’s events.

Minister of Tourism Kostas Markopoulos, Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs Theodoroes Kassimis and Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Ambassadors, Greek friends and most importantly, fellow Americans, welcome to this celebration of the inauguration of our 44th President, Barak Obama.

We are living history -- and what better place to do that than here in Greece?  For without the gift of democracy, today’s events would be unimaginable.

This is a historic moment for the United States, but also one that we share globally.  Never in the history of U.S. politics has one presidential election been followed so closely, by so many millions around the world.  And this is a measure of how interconnected we are today, how close the world has become, and the enormity of the challenges that we are facing.

The outpouring of support for the new President, I think, is truly amazing.  And I think that particularly so in the midst of all the problems that we are facing economically, and in other ways, the challenges that families face around the world.  And that everybody’s watching this so closely, and is so supportive of this new President.

I think the election of President Obama has shown that the abiding commitment to the ideals of our nation -- ideals shared with democracies around the world -- is bearing fruit even in the midst of our troubles.  And I think this is why people have become so interested in election, in this new President, and so hopeful as a result, because in times of trouble, you sometimes forget the direction you are on, but when you see something like today’s events, you feel renewed in that way.

There’s a comfort in knowing that we can be confident in knowing that there is still no better path to achieving a better world than placing our trust in the principle that all people are created equal, and that all should share in the responsibility for and the benefits of our communities.

Today, as he takes the oath of office, President Obama is the living embodiment of this truth.  At a difficult time, he has renewed our hope in the future and given us a sense that working together -- across political, generational, ethnic, racial and national lines -- we can overcome the challenges that we are facing.

And he is well-placed to lead in this effort -- enriched by his own unique life experience which cut across many of these divides and continents, he has emphasized inclusiveness and personal responsibility at all levels, from the top levels of government and the corporate world to individual citizens as a way to restore the health of our country and the world.  If you’re hearing echoes of Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, you’re not alone, and this message of unity and common effort is sorely needed at this time.

So to our Greek friends, I once again say thank you for the gift of democracy.  And to my fellow Americans, I ask you, from wherever you hail, to put your support behind the new President and his team, and do your part, to address our common challenges and common future.

Thank you for being a part of this historic moment, and celebrating together this inauguration, so rich in its fulfillment of the hopes of all who love democracy and the dignity of all people, and of all who have sacrificed so much over the generations to see these ideals realized.

Efharisto.  [Thank you.]