Kerry speaks on Vietnam

[MBS]

http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/04/256680.htm

video and transcript at the link.


Watch for this part in the video (26-27 minutes on) Oh my.

So it’s clear today that the Vietnam that we are engaged with none of us could have imagined in the context of the discussion that is taking place here in the context of the war. And it’s clear that Vietnam is reaching forward towards the globalized world of modernity, and millions of people in Vietnam are already freely expressing themselves on Facebook, and many thousands of Vietnamese workers are already freely associating to defend their interests – even though sometimes risky. They are the ones asking their government to guarantee in law the freedoms that they are starting to exercise in practice. And we know that the more progress that occurs in those areas, the more likely it is that our bilateral relationship, which has already come an extraordinary distance, is going to be able to ultimately reach its full potential.

In 1971, when I testified against the war in Vietnam before the Senate, I spoke of the determination of veterans to undertake one last mission so that in 30 years, when our brothers went down the street without a leg or an arm and people asked why, we’d be able to say “Vietnam” and not mean a bitter memory, but mean instead the place where America turned, and where we helped it in the turning. (Applause.)

So it has been 45 years since that testimony, but it is clear that we have turned some very important corners. There are hard choices still to make for our relationship to reach its full potential, but now we can say definitively – because so many Vietnamese and Americans themselves refuse to let our past define our future – Vietnam, a former adversary, is now a partner with whom we have developed increasingly warm personal and national ties. That is our shared legacy, and it’s one that I hope we will continue to strengthen in the years to come. Thank you. (Applause.)

[YvonneCa]

1. I watched this live last night and..

...I cried, too. He quoted himself from back then and was clearly emotional. I am grateful for a leader who cares that much about the direction of our country. 🇺🇸

[MBS]

2. me, too. n/t

[mylye2222]

3. Same here.

[karynnj]

4. I would echo you and MBS - that part should be watched

I read the text - and it is beautifully written and it pulls in a part of the 1971 speech that hinted at the huge task that Kerry, a 27 year old vet, committed himself to accomplishing - and which he has worked at doing through a long career, but most obviously as Secretary of State -- getting US foreign policy to turn.

I went back today, on a computer, not phone, and went to the video link. It is incredibly powerful -- even more so for the extended applause - allowing him to quickly regain composure and (to me) showing the affection of the audience.

This speech, the Rice speech on foreign policy and religion, the applause at the UN, and that diplomat of the year speech - all show that as he enters the last slightly more than half a year as Secretary, that his entire career is being seen for what it is -- a wonderful career of service and accomplishment. Many Presidents might not have accomplished as much on things that matter to them.