Remarks by Arnold A. Chacón, Chargé d’AffairEs, a.i.
ON THE OCASSION OF THE INAUGURATION OF BARACK OBAMA AS THE 44th PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Today’s inauguration is a historical and a historic event. It symbolizes the
continuity and strength of our 233-year-old democracy and reaffirms America’s
faith in herself, her ideals, and her future.
Today’s inauguration is historical, in the most literal sense of being ‘part of
history’, because, when Barack Obama took the oath of office earlier today, it
marked the 56th time that a U.S. president has been sworn in for a four-year
term since 1789, when George Washington first took the same oath.
It is historical, because Barack Obama took the oath of office in the exact
location used since 1801 when Thomas Jefferson was sworn in there.
It is historical because, when taking the oath, President Obama placed his hand
on the same Bible President Lincoln used at his first inauguration in 1861.
But maybe most importantly, today is also a historic day in the deeper and most
symbolic sense of ‘being important and significant’ because we now have the
first African-American president in our history. And, it is fitting that we
celebrate this inauguration just one day after commemorating the birth of Martin
Luther King Jr. and his dream that his children would “one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of
their character.” I know I speak for Americans regardless of the color of their
skin or their political affiliation when I say that today is a proud and happy
day for our people and our country.
Finally, I realize that today is a significant day, not only to Americans, but
to people around the world. Now a few words in Spanish…
“El día de hoy no es solamente el comienzo de un nuevo capítulo en nuestras
historias compartidas, sino la continuación de lo que ha venido siendo una
relación madura, basada en aquello que más beneficia a nuestros países”.
Los sondeos de opinión muestran que los estadounidenses y los españoles tenemos
las mismas preocupaciones: el terrorismo, el empleo y el crecimiento económico,
el medio ambiente y la seguridad de nuestros países.
Trabajamos estrechamente con España, en regiones como Afganistán, Iraq,
Latinoamérica y Oriente Medio, lugares donde España tiene intereses e influencia
considerables. También la relación económica entre Estados Unidos y España es
dinámica y de una importancia vital para la prosperidad de ambos países.
Es innegable que la relación entre Estados Unidos y España es excelente y que
nuestros destinos y aspiraciones están entrelazados, pero podemos tratar y
trataremos de que mejoren aún más.
Puedo asegurar que nuestra importante relación continuará siendo una relación
entre aliados apreciados, con objetivos compartidos y valores comunes. El mundo
es un lugar mejor cuando Estados Unidos y España cooperan, y confío en que lo
haremos.
Que Dios bendiga a España and the United States of America.
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