1-I WOULD FEEL REMISS, IN RESPONSE TO THESE PRECISE WORDS, IF I DIDN'T SUGGEST THAT VISITORS TO MY AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE."...We share a common destiny. We, the peoples of the Americas, have much more in common than geographical proximity. For over 400 years, our peoples have shared the dangers and dreams of building a new world. From colonialism to nationhood, our common quest has been for freedom. Most of our forebears came to this hemisphere seeking a better life for themselves; they came in search of opportunity and, yes, in search of God.
"...Gradually...the nations of this hemisphere developed a set of common principles and institutions that provided the basis for mutual protection.
Some 20 years ago, John F. Kennedy caught the essence of our unique mission1 when he said it was up to the New World to demonstrate that man's unsatisfied aspiration for economic progress and social justice can be achieved by free men working within a framework of democratic institutions."
"The Western Hemisphere does not belong to any one of us--we belong to the Western Hemisphere. We are brothers historically as well as geographically. Now, I'm aware that the United States has pursued good-neighbour policies in the past. These policies did some good, but they're inadequate for today. I believe that my country is now ready to go beyond being a good neighbour to being a true friend and brother in a community that belongs as much to others as to us. That, not guns, is the ultimate key to peace and security for us all.
We have to ask ourselves why has it taken so long for us to realize the God-given opportunity that is ours. These two great land masses--North and South, so rich in virtually everything we need--together our more than 600 million people can develop what is undeveloped, can eliminate want and poverty, can show the world that our many nations can live in peace, each with its own customs and language and culture, but sharing a love for freedom and a determination to resist outside ideologies that would take us back to colonialism.
We return to a common vision. Nearly a century ago, a great citizen of the Caribbean and the Americas, José Martí,2 warned that mankind is composed of two sorts of men: those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Today more than ever, the compassionate, creative peoples of the Americas have an opportunity to stand together, to overcome injustice, hatred and oppression, and to build a better life for all the Americas. I have always believe(sic) that this hemisphere was a special place with a special destiny. I believe we are destined to be the beacon of hope for all mankind. With God's help, we can make it so. We can create a peaceful, free and prospering hemisphere based on our shared ideals and reaching from pole to pole of what we proudly call the New World."
President Reagan: I
edited the first excerpt here in deference to what is annotated
in the second. I believe this would be more consistent with the
1978 term of reference i prepared which i think you drew the
basic reasoning here from.
I went to the Vancouver Public
Library to get the text of this speech last March, at which
time i was working on preliminary drafts of this report to you.
Only a few weeks later, on April 6, 1987, you gave an address
to the Canadian Parliament, which echoed a lot of what's here.
Unfortunately, unlike the New York Times, no major
Canadian newspaper prints excerpts from major speeches and i
couldn't use it, therefore.
Regardless, as is explained in
the formal report here to you, the issue is that i reacted as i
describe after having the speech excerpted here.
I
will have more to say about this matter in the final segment of
this report to you.
I underline "democratic
institutions" because it's one of three uses3 of the term
i found of relevance to the "present
situation." I'll elaborate on the other attachment here
in the final segment of this report. I include it here now so
you do understand that i did agree with what you
said as quoted above.
1-I WOULD FEEL REMISS, IN RESPONSE TO THESE PRECISE WORDS, IF I DIDN'T SUGGEST THAT VISITORS TO MY AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE.
2-IN ANOTHER REPORT I PRESENTLY CAN'T RECALL THE DATE OR THE ADDRESSEE OF (POSSIBLY MY AUGUST 1986 REGISTERED LETTER TO MIKHAIL GORBACHEV), I MENTIONED I HAVE A T-SHIRT WITH A PICTURE OF JOSÉ MARTÍ ON IT, AND CAPTIONED:
Come
fromwhere it may,Racismdivides.
-José Martí
DURING HIS STATE VISIT TO CUBA ON APRIL 3, 1989, THEN-SOVIET PRESIDENT MIKHAIL GORBACHEV LAID A COMMEMORATIVE WREATH AT THE HAVANA MONUMENT TO JOSÉ MARTÍ.
I SEEM TO RECALL SEEING A TELEVISION REPORT AT THE TIME STATING THAT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS BILL CLINTON DID AFTER ARRIVING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TO ASSUME THE U.S. PRESIDENCY WAS TO MAKE A TRIP TO THE ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY AND LAY A WREATH AT
GRAVESITE OF THE KENNEDY BROTHERS.
SO, IF YOU DIDN'T TAKE MY ADVISE IN THE FIRST FOOTNOTE HERE TO TAKE THE BRIEF SIDESTEP, I WOULD BE EVEN MORE REMISS, IN THIS CONTEXT OF THE KENNEDY BROTHERS AND SYMBOLIC GESTURES, IF I DIDN'T SUGGEST THAT VISITORS TO MY AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE.
THEN TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE.
AND FINALLY, TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE.
I ALSO HAVE A T-SHIRT WITH 2 PICTURES OF MALCOLM X ON IT, CAPTIONED:
I'm not a racist, and I do not
subscribe to any of the tenetsof racism. My hajj [religious
pilgrimage to Mecca] hasgivin[sic] me a new insight into
the true brotherhood of
Islam,which encompasses all the races of
mankind."
THE CAPTION PRINTING IS ACTUALLY QUITE
SMALL AND WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO READ OFF THE CHEST OF A PERSON
WALKING DOWN THE STREET.
BUT WHEN I DISCUSS IT WITH PEOPLE WHO
ASK ME ABOUT IT, I TELL THEM: "YOU HAVE TO READ THE FINE
PRINT."
SORT OF REMINISCENT OF WHAT YOU FIND IF YOU CONSIDER
THE SECOND COMPONENT OF WHAT YOU FIND IF YOU TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE.
AND OF COURSE, THERE IS, IN MY WEARING IT, THE "INFLUENCE" OF
WHAT YOU FIND IF YOU TAKE A
BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE.
3-I CAN'T RECALL OFF THE
TOP OF MY HEAD WHERE THE THIRD USE OF THIS TERM IS, THOUGH I'M
SURE I'LL FIND IT (BEFORE I FINALLY GET AROUND TO EDITING THE
[FIRST] BOOK ABOUT MY "INTERNATIONAL
DIPLOMATIC WORK...ON A DIRECT BASIS" FOR THE WORLD'S
CHILDREN) IF I HAVE TO GO THROUGH MY FILES AND ADD MORE TO
THIS AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE.
AT THAT TIME, I'LL ADD A
FOOTNOTE AND LINK TO IT.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE SECOND USE OF
THE TERM, BY THE FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN AMBASSADOR TO CANADA
GLENN BABB, CAN BE FOUND IN THE TEXT OF PAGE 6. OF
MY FEBRUARY 5, 1988 STATEMENT TO THEN-NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
C.E.O. JOHN J. PHELAN, JR.
I SUGGEST YOU READ THE
WHOLE THING IN THE CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE PROVIDED IF YOU TAKE A BRIEF SERIES OF SIDESTEPS
HERE.
OTHERWISE, JUST TO SEE IT BEING REFERRED TO, YOU'LL
FIND IT IF YOU TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP
HERE.