    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [December 30, 1999]
    [Page 2351]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message on the Observance of a New Millennium
    December 30, 1999

        Warm greetings to all Americans as we welcome a new century and a
    new millennium. This rare moment in our history is a time for hope and
    reflection, a time to recognize both the challenges and the
    opportunities that will face us in the coming years.
        We have much to celebrate on this wonderful occasion and many
    reasons to be proud. Today we are enjoying the longest sustained period
    of economic growth in our nation's history, offering greater
    opportunities for every American. We can be rightfully proud, too, that
    the history of our democracy, with its widening circle of human freedom,
    still inspires the world and that America continues to serve as a leader
    in promoting peace and human rights across the globe.
        Even as we celebrate our successes, however, we must also
    acknowledge that we face many challenges in the century ahead. While we
    are making great strides toward achieving full equality and justice for
    all Americans, we must ensure that in the coming century all our people
    live in One America--an America where we are not separated from one
    another by prejudice, by economic injustice, or by a digital divide.
        We must have the vision to use new technology to improve our schools
    and stir the creativity of our young people; and we must ensure that
    every school and every child has access to the treasury of electronic
    resources that lies just beyond our keyboards and computer screens. We
    must continue our efforts to find cures for the diseases that still
    afflict us and that ravage many parts of the developing world. And we
    must put new resources at the disposal of our artists, scholars, and
    scientists to help them make new discoveries, preserve our historic
    legacy, and light tomorrow with the fire of their imaginations.
        The theme for our national millennial celebration is ``Honor the
    Past--Imagine the Future.'' By resolving at this moment to make a
    lasting difference in the lives of others, both in our communities and
    around the world, we will keep faith with our great past and ensure that
    America's future will reflect our fundamental ideals of freedom and
    opportunity for all.
        Best wishes for an unforgettable celebration.

                                                                Bill Clinton