    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [December 25, 1993]
    [Pages 2204-2205]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    December 25, 1993

        Good morning. On this Christmas morning, I won't keep you very long
    because I know many of you may still have presents under your trees
    waiting to be opened. But I do want to send my warmest Christmas
    greetings to all Americans.
        For Hillary, Chelsea, and me, this is our first Christmas in
    Washington. We've taken great joy in decorating the White House with
    trees and ornaments and decorating our own Christmas tree upstairs in
    the residence. We've taken even greater joy in seeing our fellow
    Americans share in the beauty and the history of their house, the
    people's house, here in our Nation's Capital, as tens of thousands have
    come through to see the White House at Christmastime.
        Like so many of you, we've been joined by relatives and friends.
    We've been reminded of all we have to be thankful for. For this holiday
    season is a time to remember what we value and what gives our lives
    meaning. Today Christians celebrate God's love for humanity made real in
    the birth of Christ in a manger almost 2,000 years ago. The humble
    circumstances of His birth, the example of His life, the power of His
    teachings inspire us to love and to care for our fellow men and women.
        On this day we should be especially grateful that here in America we
    all have the freedom to worship God in our own way, for our faith is
    purest when it is the offering of a free and joyous spirit. We are a
    nation of many faiths and beliefs, united in a sense of mutual respect,
    shared values, and common purpose. Each of our faiths teaches that none
    of us can live alone, for we all belong to something larger than
    ourselves. Each teaches that we can see the image of God reflected in
    our fellow men and women, whatever their creed or color. Each teaches
    that our responsibilities to God are reflected in our responsibilities
    to each other. ``If I am not for myself, who will be for me?'' the Rabbi
    Hillel asked. ``But if I am only for myself, who am I?''
        Part of the miracle of this season is that each of us can hear what
    Abraham Lincoln called ``the better angels of our nature.'' As we gather
    with our families, our friends; as we hear stories of our parents and
    grandparents; as we delight in the laughter of our own children and
    grandchildren, we're reminded again that we are part of a great sea of
    humanity including those who

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    came before us and those who will live long afterward. That sense of
    connection is part of the joy of this season, part of the reason why, no
    matter how cold it gets, our hearts remain warm.
        As we rejoice in the best of what life can be, we ask ourselves how
    we can act in the spirit of the season not just on this day but on every
    day. As we look into the eyes of our children filled with life and
    laughter and promise, we're reminded of our most sacred obligation:
    nurturing the next generation. Every father and mother must do whatever
    we can to help our children live decent and responsible lives so they
    can be the people God intended them to be. And as the National
    Conference of Catholic Bishops declared in a pastoral letter, ``No
    government can love a child, no policy can substitute for a family's
    care. The undeniable fact is that our children's future is shaped both
    by the values of their parents and the policies of our Nation.'' So we
    must act as parents, and we must also act as citizens.
        On this day of all days, we are reminded of our obligations to every
    child, not just our own. As long as there are children whose parents
    can't afford to take them to the doctor, as long as there are young
    people who live in fear that they will die before their time from gang
    violence and random gunfire, then each of us is diminished. If each of
    us could find the wisdom, the courage, and the commitment to help bring
    peace to all our own streets and peace of mind to our own families here
    in America, we could give a wonderful gift to ourselves, to our
    children, and our beloved country.
        For most of us, this is a day of well-earned rest. But it's also a
    day when we remember that along with family and community, work gives
    purpose and structure to our lives. In this country, everyone who is
    able to work should be able to find work. And everyone who works should
    be able to support a family. When we restore dignity and security of
    work for all people, we'll go a long way toward restoring the fabric of
    life in all our communities. I'm glad that more Americans are working
    today than there were last year, but I know we've got a long way to go.
        I also want to say a special word of thanks to all those who are
    working today who may wish they weren't working on this day, from those
    who care for the sick in our hospitals to those who patrol the streets
    of our communities. Most of all, we honor the service men and women who
    stand sentry for our freedom every day of the year. Because of their
    vigilance on this Christmas Day, our Nation is at peace. And although
    they may be thousands of miles away, they are close to us today.
        To all those who hear me now, wherever this Christmas morning finds
    you, I wish you the best of holiday seasons, and may God bless you and
    your family.

    Note: The address was recorded at 9:55 a.m. on December 22 in the
    Roosevelt Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on
    December 25.