Memorial Day And Enduring Values

It is Memorial Day weekend and Tom Brokaw is once more celebrating the greatest generation. Somehow I find it particularly appropriate for him to honor the men and women of that generation at this time when President Trump is showing such a troubling disregard for NATO, our most trusted allies, and the European Union, much to the advantage of a militarized, resurgent Russia that has so recently interfered in our democracy, and is threatening its neighbors. Let us learn from the men and women of the greatest generation who came out of a great depression and terrible war to build the middle class and the greatest market economy we have ever known. It was a generation of Americans who steadfastly opposed tyranny and who helped to rebuild the ravished economies of friends and foes alike. They guided the actions of America after the war and elevated the goals of that war far above some narrow national interest to a world wide concern for the freedom and well being of all people. In essence, they made America the moral and economic compass for all nations.

Pax Americana was built on three main pillars: The Marshall Plan which rebuilt Western Europe, NATO which protects the free countries of the alliance, and the United Nations which is an organization and forum of all nations and for all nations. I will submit to you that when we want to express the values for which the brave men and women in our armed services have sacrificed so much over the decades we could not do better than the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights written for the United Nations by Eleanor Roosevelt. The Preamble of the declaration alone speaks volumes about who we are and what we struggle to make universal for our own sake and for the sake of all human kind:

“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction. “

A special thank you to the members of our armed forces and to our loyal allies who have so often fought beside us and who stand with us on the pillars built by the greatest generation. We are committed to our allies and each other and to the cause of freedom and human dignity everywhere.