prijava
SARAJEVO, July 1 (FENA) - The traditional celebration of the 246th United States’ Independence Day was held last night at the American Embassy in Sarajevo.
In his address, US Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Michael Murphy stated that this celebration is particularly special to those who spend their lives representing the United States – because they are true believers – not just in the United States of America, but in democracy itself. Democracy is messy, he added, it is hard, and it can be dispiriting, but it is the best form of government devised by mankind.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is with those revolutionary words that my country declared its independence 246 years ago. And in 1776, those were very revolutionary words,” stated Murphy.
He stressed that democracy is never final. It is a continuous process of improvement, a responsibility that is passed from one generation to the next.
“I am certain that all of you here today want something better for Bosnia and Herzegovina – inclusive communities, a functioning government, an end to blockades, an end to nationalistic rhetoric, a great education for your children, and jobs that will make them want to stay in this country and make their futures here,” Ambassador said.
The beauty and power of democracy is, as he said, that the people have the power to decide their future.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina will hold elections this year. They are an opportunity to choose the future that you want for yourselves, your children, and your grandchildren. Ask yourselves whether the leaders who were elected four years ago kept their promises. If you are unhappy with the answer, then elections are an opportunity to hold these leaders accountable,” the US Ambassador said.
He reminded that Abraham Lincoln once said that a statesman is the one who thinks in the future generations, and a politician is the one who thinks in the upcoming elections.
“Ultimately, it is up to the people to put the leaders they want in power. Of course, sometimes the options available to voters in a democracy, including my own, are not the best. Not every ballot includes a statesman, or a stateswoman. Change can take time. Sometimes it seems like it will never happen. Sometimes, as the people of this country know all too well, things go backward for a bit. If your leaders are not doing what you want, vote them out. Choose someone new. Maybe the next person will not be a huge improvement, and if they are not, then vote them out four years from now. Elections are not just about what politicians are telling you, but about what you are telling the politicians,” said Murphy.
He stressed that democracy can work only when enough of the people in charge do the right-but-hard thing in the moment it is required.
“In the end, you make it work by participating, by making your voice heard, and by voting. That is how you effect change. That is how Americans effect change. And if you cannot find the leaders you seek and your country needs, then you can become those leaders. That, too, is part of the power and beauty of democracy.
With that, I ask you to raise a glass to democracy and all of its promise, and to the enduring bonds of affection between the United States and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Murphy pointed out at the end of the address.
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