Trump at the UN: Part 5, Freedom, Democracy, Human Rights and Liberty

INTRODUCTION

Part 5 of a 5 Part Series

This series begins with Trump at the UN: Part 1, a Tale of Two Presidents and a Vision

In the final section of his address to the United Nations President Trump speaks directly to the dictators in the room and those who would be domestic dictators in the United States. As only a citizen-politician, not a careerist could, Trump takes on foreign rulers and the permanent political class at home.

He warns of the power of technology giants to control information and expression. The man labeled by so many a “homophobe” defends the dignity of the LGBTQ community and takes to task those countries that “punish, jail, or execute individuals based upon sexual orientation”. The man disdainfully described as “misogynist” tells the “leaders” of places where women are suppressed and abused how wrong they are to do so.

He explains to the world his view of life as sacred, the American traditions of freedom, self-defense, religious liberty and the gifts America was given by its Founders. Yet in extolling America’s blessings he advises the countries of the world to look to their own blessings and heritage for strength and a bright future. Being proud of one’s country does not imply disrespect for the country of another.

President Trump in the end has an amazing message that expresses his love for America, but tells others they needn’t be America to reach their own potential. If one pauses for a moment, there have been contributions to advancing the human condition from every part of the world and every inhabited continent. President Trump expresses respect for the nations of the world with the advice to look to the best in their own histories and heritage to carve out a bright destiny. This is the value of patriots to their countries and the world.

President Trump at the UN September 24, 2019

 Part 5, Freedom, Democracy, Human Rights and Liberty

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Freedom and democracy must be constantly guarded and protected, both abroad and from within.  We must always be skeptical of those who want conformity and control.  Even in free nations, we see alarming signs and new challenges to liberty.

A small number of social media platforms are acquiring immense power over what we can see and over what we are allowed to say.  A permanent political class is openly disdainful, dismissive, and defiant of the will of the people.  A faceless bureaucracy operates in secret and weakens democratic rule.  Media and academic institutions push flat-out assaults on our histories, traditions, and values.

In the United States, my administration has made clear to social media companies that we will uphold the right of free speech.  A free society cannot allow social media giants to silence the voices of the people, and a free people must never, ever be enlisted in the cause of silencing, coercing, canceling, or blacklisting their own neighbors.

As we defend American values, we affirm the right of all people to live in dignity.  For this reason, my administration is working with other nations to stop criminalizing of homosexuality, and we stand in solidarity with LGBTQ people who live in countries that punish, jail, or execute individuals based upon sexual orientation.

We are also championing the role of women in our societies.  Nations that empower women are much wealthier, safer, and much more politically stable.  It is therefore vital not only to a nation’s prosperity, but also is vital to its national security, to pursue women’s economic development.

Guided by these principles, my administration launched the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiatives.  The W-GDP is first-ever government-wide approach to women’s economic empowerment, working to ensure that women all over the planet have the legal right to own and inherit property, work in the same industries as men, travel freely, and access credit and institutions.

Yesterday, I was also pleased to host leaders for a discussion about an ironclad American commitment: protecting religious leaders and also protecting religious freedom.  This fundamental right is under growing threat around the world.  Hard to believe, but 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where religious liberty is in significant danger or even completely outlawed.  Americans will never tire in our effort to defend and promote freedom of worship and religion.  We want and support religious liberty for all.

Americans will also never tire of defending innocent life.  We are aware that many United Nations projects have attempted to assert a global right to taxpayer-funded abortion on demand, right up until the moment of delivery.  Global bureaucrats have absolutely no business attacking the sovereignty of nations that wish to protect innocent life.  Like many nations here today, we in America believe that every child — born and unborn — is a sacred gift from God.

There is no circumstance under which the United States will allow international entities to trample on the rights of our citizens, including the right to self-defense.  That is why, this year, I announced that we will never ratify the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, which would threaten the liberties of law-abiding American citizens.  The United States will always uphold our constitutional right to keep and bear arms.  We will always uphold our Second Amendment.

The core rights and values America defends today were inscribed in America’s founding documents.  Our nation’s Founders understood that there will always be those who believe they are entitled to wield power and control over others. Tyranny advances under many names and many theories, but it always comes down to the desire for domination.  It protects not the interests of many, but the privilege of few.

Our Founders gave us a system designed to restrain this dangerous impulse.  They chose to entrust American power to those most invested in the fate of our nation: a proud and fiercely independent people.

The true good of a nation can only be pursued by those who love it: by citizens who are rooted in its history, who are nourished by its culture, committed to its values, attached to its people, and who know that its future is theirs to build or theirs to lose.  Patriots see a nation and its destiny in ways no one else can.

Liberty is only preserved, sovereignty is only secured, democracy is only sustained, greatness is only realized, by the will and devotion of patriots.  In their spirit is found the strength to resist oppression, the inspiration to forge legacy, the goodwill to seek friendship, and the bravery to reach for peace.  Love of our nations makes the world better for all nations.

So, to all the leaders here today, join us in the most fulfilling mission a person could have, the most profound contribution anyone can make: Lift up your nations.  Cherish your culture.  Honor your histories.  Treasure your citizens. Make your countries strong, and prosperous, and righteous.  Honor the dignity of your people, and nothing will be outside of your reach.

When our nations are greater, the future will be brighter, our people will be happier, and our partnerships will be stronger.

With God’s help, together we will cast off the enemies of liberty and overcome the oppressors of dignity.  We will set new standards of living and reach new heights of human achievement. We will rediscover old truths, unravel old mysteries, and make thrilling new breakthroughs.  And we will find more beautiful friendship and more harmony among nations than ever before.

My fellow leaders, the path to peace and progress, and freedom and justice, and a better world for all humanity, begins at home.

Thank you.  God bless you.  God bless the nations of the world.  And God bless America.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)

EPILOGUE

There was a time in America when a President was carrying an international message, Americans would unite under the rubric:” politics stops at the water’s edge”. The idea comes into sharp relief with moments when Presidents Kennedy and Reagan employed the language of America’s freedom and liberty the Soviet Union about a wall, that existed not to protect people but to jail and enslave them:

Both presidents have been lionized for demonstrating strength in the opposition to a cruel dictatorship and support of core American Values.

The UN General Assembly has among its members many dictators and would be dictators, among them leaders from China, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba. It was they to whom President Trump spoke with the words: “The future belongs to patriots.”

In another time and place a newspaper headline following a talk like President Trump’s at the UN might have been:

“THE FUTURE BELONGS TO PATRIOTS”

rather than

“IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY”.

That impeachment headline, in the wake of our President’s sober yet optimistic message to the world saddened me. There was a time when the tradition of the country was to have “loyal opposition” that would pause the squabbling as we addressed the world.

A day spent listening to President Trump’s speech and visiting the town that formed President Reagan provided insight to the gut feeling that the phrase “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” evokes in so many. It is not, as the President’s opposition portrays, some “dog whistle” calling for a roll back in the gains made by so many Americans for full political, social and economic participation in the American community.

No, the slogan recalls an America that squabbled at home, understanding that self-government is admittedly messy,yet cherished it heritage and history . It was a time when we respected our national symbols and the office of the President as statements of both unity and inspiration for goals as yet unrealized. It was an America that presented an unashamed, unified face to the world while striving daily to achieve a more perfect union with liberty and justice for all.  It’s an America that many miss and despite vilification by opponents who seek power by denigrating America, President Trump serves as a cheerleader for, as did Presidents Kennedy and Reagan.

With all that in mind, watch and listen:

President Trump at the United Nations

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