[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 83 (Friday, May 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        CELEBRATING THE BICENTENNIAL OF ARGENTINA'S INDEPENDENCE

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                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 2010

  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleague 
Representative Eliot Engel of New York, in congratulating the great 
people of Argentina in celebration of the bicentennial anniversary of 
their independence from Spain, which occurred on the 25th of May of 
1810.
  Born in 1810 out of a newfound sense of national identity, the 
trajectory of Argentinean independence is inspired by the same 
enlightenment ideas of self-determination and representative government 
that inspired America's independence movement. Like George Washington, 
Jose de San Martin, the liberator of Argentina, led the fight for 
freedom in armed struggle against the shackles of Spanish rule. At the 
heart of the U.S. example was the creation a constitution free from 
monarchy, building an infant democracy surrounded by European power in 
the new world. Capitalizing on Napoleonic control, Argentina's cry set 
in motion the wars of independence across South America and the 
creation of new republics by the decade's end.
  America's 200-year relationship with Argentina commenced officially 
when President James Monroe promulgated a foreign policy based on the 
preservation of our republics from imperial intervention, thus securing 
a shared destiny of independence. In an unprecedented gesture of aid to 
an unrecognized country, President Monroe sent a representative whose 
primary objective was to assure the Argentinean people that ``U.S. has 
the most sincere disposition towards its neighbors from Latin America 
and considers friendly exchanges as mutually beneficial.'' In 1822, the 
U.S. became the first non-Latin nation to establish formal diplomatic 
relations with Argentina. Our countries' friendship has been strong 
ever since.
  An entire week of May leading up to the 25th is devoted to 
celebrating several events that sparked Argentina's movement towards 
independence, with expatriates and Argentinean-Americans in cities 
across the United States also partaking in celebrations. Argentineans 
have a proud history of enriching the world's literary, art and 
musical, and sports arenas. Tango performers like Carlos Gardel, and 
writing artists like Jorge Luis Borges, have injected masterpieces into 
our global tapestry, while one of the most famous soccer magicians 
Diego Armando Maradona amazed fans during the 1986 World Cup.
  It is with great joy, Madam Speaker, that I ask the rest of my 
colleagues to congratulate our great neighbor on this historic 
achievement for their people. I wish the President of Argentina and 
Argentineans across the world a festive week.

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