    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [January 30, 2002]
    [Pages 137-143]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the Community in Winston-Salem
    January 30, 2002

        The President. Thank you all very much for such a warm North
    Carolina welcome. I hope I didn't keep you up too late last night.
    [Laughter] I usually get to bed about 9 o'clock, but I obviously had
    something to say. I said that even though we're at war, even though
    we're at recession, the state of our Union has never been stronger.
        And I know why. And the reason why is because we're a nation of
    strong Americans. It is such an honor to be the President of such a
    fabulous country. And I'm glad, proud to be here with you to share some
    of my thoughts and hopes and concerns.
        Before I begin, I want to thank your chief.
    She has done a fabulous job. I loved it when the men and women who wear
    the blue stood up when the chief came out and led the round of applause.
    It shows that she knows how to lead. So, Chief, thank you for being
    here, and thank you for honoring me with your presence.
        I'm proud that Tom Ridge is traveling with me
    today. He and I were Governors together. Never did I dream that I'd ask
    him to come and serve in an important capacity--and that is to protect
    our homeland--because we never thought we'd be attacked. But we have
    been. And now it's time for this country to respond in a positive way,
    and I am so proud of the effort he is leading to secure the homeland of
    the United States of America.
        I'm also glad Allbaugh is here.
    Obviously, I didn't pick him because he's pretty. [Laughter] He's got a
    face only his mother would love--[laughter]--if she stretches it.
    [Laughter] But I've known him for a long time. He was with me in Texas.
    He understands how to manage an organization. And the organization he
    manages is FEMA, so that if there ever is an emergency in Winston-Salem,
    North Carolina, you'll get the absolute best service from your Federal
    Government. I want to thank both members for being here--both men for
    being here today.
        I flew down on the airplane today with some distinguished members of
    the North Carolina congressional delegation. First, a true gentleman,
    and somebody every time I sees him talks about North Carolina in the
    most glowing terms, and that's Senator Jesse Helms.
        And then we let somebody from Hickory, North Carolina, travel with
    us, old Cass Ballenger. I appreciate you
    being here, Cass. Congressman Mel Watt is
    with us today, too. Thank you, Congressman, for coming; honored you're
    here. My first meeting was in his district, and then I

    [[Page 138]]

    crossed the line and came into Richard Burr's
    district, Congressman Richard Burr. Richard told me that his
    mother and daddy are
    here. Where? There you go. I hope he listens to you, Mom. You better
    tell him. He probably listens to you about as much as I listen to my
    mother--[laughter]--a lot, by the way. [Laughter]
        I'm also so proud--the other night I invited one of our Nation's
    foremost couples for dinner. Unfortunately, only the husband could come. We got stuck with the short straw in this
    couple, because the wife was here doing hard
    work in North Carolina. The lady who wasn't at dinner was Miss Elizabeth
    Dole. Thank you for coming. My hope, of course, is that we'll be able to
    dine frequently. [Laughter]
        I'm told your good Governor is here, the
    Governor of the State of North Carolina, Mike Easley. I know your
    mayor is here, because I traveled with him
    in the limousine. We had a good visit, newly elected Mayor Joines of
    Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We've got leaders
    from the State delegation. I know the leader of the senate is here on
    the Republican side, members of the
    house and the senate. I'm so honored you all would take time to come and
    pay a visit.
        I know that we've got people who have made huge sacrifices in their
    life with us today, men and women who wear our uniform. We are so
    grateful for your service to our community.
        I'm told there are some volunteer firefighters here. I'm a proud
    contributor to the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department. One of the things
    I'll be talking about a little later on is how we can encourage
    volunteers to help police and firefighters all across the country. The
    volunteer fire departments have already shown how to help. It is made up
    of people who understand that in order to make their community, people
    must stand up and say, ``How can I help?'' So I want to thank all the
    volunteer firefighters who are here today.
        We're making great progress in our war against terror. We have
    totally routed out one of the most repressive governments in the history
    of mankind, the Taliban. When I made our announcement last September
    about our intentions, I said, the evil won't stand; and to nations that
    feel like they can harbor evil or support terrorists, they, too, are
    just as guilty as a terrorist. We not only made the message clear; we
    delivered. And that's because this patient Nation has got a fine, strong
    United States military. And this country is going to back them to the
    hilt in our war against terror.
        We're making good progress. We put together a great coalition of
    nations around the world with this message: Either you're with us, or
    you're against us; either you're on the side of freedom and justice, or
    you aren't. And the good news is, most people are beginning to see the
    wisdom of being on the side of freedom and justice. [Laughter]
        We're after them. But the good news to report for our side, and the
    bad news for the evil, is that we're patient, and we're determined, and
    we will not stop until we achieve all our objectives.
        The first objective was to hold the Taliban Government hostage and
    to liberate a people. And this proud Nation did so. One of my favorite
    images was to see liberated women and children with joy on their faces,
    thanks to the United States military.
        We haven't forgot our other objective, and that's bad news for Al
    Qaida. Our other objective is to run them down, wherever they hide, and
    bring them to justice--or as I like to say, get them. [Laughter] It's
    going to take a while. There are caves in rugged parts of Afghanistan
    where these people may be hiding. But they better not think they can
    hide forever----
        Audience member. Give them what for, G! [Laughter]
        The President. ----because our only objective is not Al Qaida; our
    objective is broader than one person or a handful of

    [[Page 139]]

    people. We'll get them. We're going to get them. We're going to bring
    them to justice, make no mistake about it, my fellow Americans. But the
    call is bigger than that. In order to make sure our children can grow up
    in a free world and a civilized world, we must rout out terror wherever
    it exists, wherever it hides.
        The doctrine that says you're just as guilty as the terrorist
    applies not only in Afghanistan but worldwide. Our mission is to make
    the world free from terror. And this mighty country will not tarry, and
    we will not fail in our love and our quest for freedom.
        I told the people last night that one of the things we discovered in
    Afghanistan in the caves was that they've got designs on our homeland
    still, of course. We also believe they've trained thousands and
    thousands of killers that are around the world. That's why we're not
    going to rest. That's why we're going to remind the nations around the
    world that we can't rest. We have no choice, and we're not going to.
        I also made it clear that if you're a nation that's going to develop
    weapons of mass destruction, you too--you too--are on our radar screen.
    You too, if you've got a history of repression and violence and
    disregard for human rights and are developing a weapon of mass
    destruction, you too are now on notice that the United States of America
    will do whatever it takes to defend our security.
        And therefore, the budget I sent to Congress makes a priority for
    national defense. Our soldiers deserve the best equipment, the best
    training, and a pay raise as we fight this war against terror.
        I also want Americans to know that we will do everything we can to
    secure the homeland. And therefore, I submitted a budget that increases
    homeland security, increases the monies for homeland security. Tom
    Ridge is developing a coordinated strategy that
    will provide research for vaccines to fight bioterrorism, that will send
    more equipment and training money to first-responders--those are the
    police and firefighters all across America. We'll keep a closer eye on
    our border. We want to make sure we understand who's coming in and who's
    going out. We want to do everything we can to secure America, to secure
    our Nation.
        Part of the initiative I called on will call upon people to help us
    with the homeland security, and I will explain that a little later. But
    you've got to know that every day your Federal Government and law
    enforcement officials are doing everything we can to find them, to make
    sure they don't hit us, to protect the American people. My most
    important job is the security of America, is the security of Americans.
    I will not rest until we finally win this war on terror, because I
    understand the best way to secure America is to find terrorists where
    they live and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what this
    country is going to do.
        I also spent some time last night talking about economic security.
    We're talking about homeland security, and part of having a secure
    homeland is to make sure people can work, that there are jobs available
    for people who want to work. And so on the one hand, I think Congress
    ought to help those who are unemployed. But I understand people don't
    want an unemployment check; they want a steady paycheck. And so the
    thing Congress has got to do is create jobs, jobs for Americans, jobs
    for people who want to work.
        You probably remember the debate on taxes. Thank goodness we cut
    taxes when we did. The best way--the best way to help an economy recover
    is to let hard-working people keep more of their money. When they get
    more money in their pocket, they spend more money, and as they spend
    more money, it helps create jobs. Tax relief is an important way to
    battle recession.
        And for those who want to do away with tax relief, you don't know
    what you're talking about. You don't raise taxes. We don't raise taxes
    in the middle of a recession. We've got to trust people with their own

    [[Page 140]]

    money. I'm not sure what textbook some of them are reading up there.
    [Laughter] But obviously, it's not the same one we've been reading here
    in this room.
        I will tell you another way to create jobs is to open up markets.
    Listen, our farmers in America are the best in the world. We've got the
    best agriculture sector. If we're the best at something, it seems like
    we ought to sell it. The more we can sell, the more jobs there are. The
    more markets that open for U.S. producers, the more jobs there will be
    for U.S. workers.
        I'll tell you another way to create jobs is to have an energy
    policy, is to finally get an energy policy that does several things.
    First of all, if you're trying to create jobs and you're not sure what
    the price of energy is going to be, it makes job creation less certain.
    If there's a price spike, it's harder to hire somebody. If there's
    uncertainty in supply, it's harder to plan for the future. And
    therefore, having an energy policy makes sense. It makes sense from an
    economic perspective. We've got to conserve more. We've got to utilize
    technology more. But for the sake of national security, we must find
    more oil and gas at home to become less reliant on foreign sources of
    oil.
        I'm proud of the work we did on an education bill. I know a lot of
    you here are concerned about your public schools, and so am I. I want
    the best, and so do you. I want to make sure every child learns and no
    child gets left behind. We worked well together. I said last night in
    the middle of the speech that I was proud to work with Republicans,
    proud to work with Democrats. I was even proud of the efforts--very
    proud of the efforts of Ted Kennedy.
        Now, I understand in North Carolina--[laughter]--and in parts of
    Texas--[laughter]--they may not understand a good conservative
    Republican like me saying nice things about liberal Ted
    Kennedy. [Laughter] But I'm going to tell
    you something: He cares about public schools like I do. He, too, doesn't
    want any child left behind. We set aside our parties and focused on
    America and did what was right for the schoolchildren of America.
        A good job means good education. A good education means good jobs.
    In order to have good jobs, you've got to have a good education system.
    And so, therefore, we passed a good piece of legislation--provides more
    money for at-risk kids but also trusts the good people of North Carolina
    to make the decisions for the children of North Carolina. The people who
    care more about the children who live in Winston-Salem are the moms and
    dads and community leaders of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
        And we've obviously got more to do, and we're going to get a lot
    done if we focus on America, if we focus on results, if we don't play
    the politics of the old days where you try to tear the other guy down in
    order to get ahead. We've got to get rid of that attitude in Washington,
    and when we do, the country will be better off for it.
        And that's what the country expects. This country expects the best--
    the best. This country is taking an assessment right now of what's
    important. The evil ones thought that we were weak. They didn't
    understand us. As I say, they were probably watching too much daytime
    TV. [Laughter] This is a strong nation. This is a compassionate nation.
    This is a decent nation. And this is a nation that will not let
    terrorists change our way of life.
        As a matter of fact, what the terrorists have done has caused us to
    take an assessment of what's important. And one of the things of my job
    is to capture this new spirit. I had been concerned for too long about a
    culture that says, ``If it feels good, just go ahead and do it.'' I
    believe that this Nation is strong enough and focused enough and
    dedicated enough to usher in a culture that says, ``Each of us are
    responsible for the decisions we make in life.''
        Part of our responsibility understands that if you happen to be a
    mom or a dad,

    [[Page 141]]

    that your most important job will be to love your children with all your
    heart and all your soul.
        Part of our responsibility is corporate responsibility. And
    corporate America must be open about its books and accounting systems,
    so that shareholders and employees know the full truth about what's
    going on on balance sheets.
        Part of being a responsible society--part of being a responsible
    society is for people to love your neighbor just like you'd like to be
    loved yourself. And part of being a responsible society is to serve your
    community. And so my call to America is, I hope and ask that you serve
    your community you live in and your Nation by 2 years of service, 4,000
    hours of service over your lifetime.
        Now, many of you do that, I know. Many of you go to your Sunday
    school class and figure out ways to help a neighbor in need. Some of you
    walk across the street to a shut-in and say, ``I love you. Can I care
    for you?'' Many of you mentor. I hope you keep doing that. That's part
    of the 4,000 hours I asked for you to do for your Nation, for the good
    of your community.
        Some don't know where to start, and I've got, obviously, a good
    idea, and that is for the USA Freedom Corps. It's a chance to serve your
    Nation in three different ways.
        One is to be a part of making sure your community is prepared for
    any emergency that might happen. I went over with the chief today
    earlier and saw a community collaboration that is very strong and
    powerful that you have here in Winston-Salem. You need to be proud of
    it, proud of the fact that your police chief and your fire chief and
    your mayor, your emergency responders, the National Guard have developed
    a--hospitals and docs and nurses--have developed an emergency response
    plan, a plan that will help the citizens deal with an emergency, should
    it occur here in Winston-Salem. It's an integral part of preparing your
    community.
        By the way, by preparing your community for an emergency, you also
    leave a legacy behind that will make your community better. The more the
    police and fire work together, the more likely it is your communities
    will be safe.
        But one of the things we're asking is for people to volunteer. Ex-
    policemen or ex-firefighters, retired docs or nurses, make yourself
    available to be a part of your emergency response teams in Winston-
    Salem, North Carolina, or any other community in North Carolina or the
    country, for that matter.
        A second way that we can serve our community is through AmeriCorps.
    I want to expand the size of AmeriCorps by 200,000 volunteers, many of
    whom will end up teaching in inner-city schools. I'm going to Atlanta,
    Georgia, tomorrow to herald a great program called Teach For America. It
    is a place where youngsters--or oldsters, for that matter--who are
    interested in serving their community can teach. I can't think of a more
    noble profession and a better way to serve your community than teaching.
        We're going to expand Senior Corps, as well, to give our seniors a
    chance to continue to lend their expertise and judgment and wisdom in
    the communities in which they live.
        And finally, I believe that one thing we must do--and I spent some
    time talking about it last night--was to expand the Peace Corps,
    revitalize the mission, encourage the Peace Corps to go into the Islamic
    world to spread the message of economic development and really share the
    compassion of a great nation, and that is America.
        These are ways you can help. These are ways that you can be a part
    of serving your Nation.
        Along these lines, I've asked a friend of mine who has served my
    administration well to be the Director, the Executive Director of this
    USA Freedom Corps. He is an integral part of our team. And by taking him
    off the Domestic Policy Council and

    [[Page 142]]

    putting him in charge of USA Freedom, I am obviously making a strong
    commitment to the future of this organization. He'll be held
    accountable. When we say we're going to get more people involved, I'll
    be asking him on a regular basis, ``How are we doing? If we're not doing
    that well, how come? What can we do to make it better?'' But I'd like
    you to welcome the new Executive Director, John Bridgeland. [Applause]
        Now, in order to make sure people who want to sign up--if you
    listened to the speech last night, you know, people were saying, ``Well,
    gosh, that's nice. He called me to action. Where do I look?'' Well,
    here's where: at usafreedomcorps.gov. If you want to find out how you
    can join the USA Freedom Corps or, for that matter, figure out how to
    help to serve your community outside of the USA Freedom Corps--because,
    as I understand, we've got it tied into web sites, for example, the
    community services in Winston-Salem--dial up usafreedomcorps.gov.
        Or you can call this number--it sounds like I'm making a pitch, and
    I am. [Laughter] This is the right thing to do for America: 1-877-USA-
    CORPS. If somebody out there is interested in figuring out how to serve,
    it's 1-877-USA-CORPS.
        Now, people ask me all the time, ``What can I do to help? How can I
    be a part?'' And oh, by the way, I look forward to working with my old
    rival on this initiative. One of the things that John McCain spent a lot of time talking about when we ran against
    each other and still spends a lot of time talking about is service. He's
    a man who understood service to his country. He's a man who knows that
    America will be better off as we serve our country. And I look forward
    to working with Senator McCain and Senator Bayh of
    Indiana to get this legislation through the Congress.
        People, though, come up to me all the time and say, ``Well, gosh,
    that's good. We're winning.'' I say, ``We are, and we've got a lot more
    to do, and it's going to take a while.'' They say, ``What can I do to
    help?'' You know, you've heard me talk about this, probably, but I
    really, truly view this as a conflict between good and evil. And there
    really isn't much middle ground--like none. [Laughter] The people we
    fight are evil people. They have no regard for human life. They believe
    in tyranny. Their history has shown exactly what I'm talking about.
    Imagine a society where women are brutalized, children aren't educated,
    young girls have no chance of getting an education. It is a backward,
    barbaric point of view. And those are the kind of people--but the people
    we're after embraced that point of view.
        And obviously, if you want to fight evil, we've figured out a way to
    do so militarily. That's one way. But at home, you fight evil with acts
    of goodness. You overcome the evil in society by doing something to help
    somebody. It's the collection--what I called last night the momentum of
    a million acts of kindness. That's the collective soul of the country,
    millions of acts of kindness and decency that take place not because of
    the Government but because this is a nation of heart, a nation that
    cares, a nation of fine, fine people.
        If people want to fight terror, do something kind for a neighbor;
    join the USA Freedom Corps; love somebody; mentor a child; stand up to
    evil with acts of goodness and kindness. Not only will our country be
    better, but we'll show the world--we will show the world that values,
    universal values, must be respected and must be adhered to. And as a
    result, the world will be more peaceful. History has called us to
    action, and action we will take.
        It is such an honor--I want to repeat where I started--it is such an
    honor to be the President of such a great land, to be given the
    opportunity to lead a land full of such great people. Fight on, America.
    I love you.
        God bless.

    [[Page 143]]

    Note: The President spoke at 3:15 p.m. at the Lawrence Joel Veterans
    Memorial Coliseum. In his remarks, he referred to Linda Davis, chief,
    Winston-Salem Police Department; Martha and David Burr, parents of
    Representative Richard Burr; former Senator Bob Dole and his wife,
    Elizabeth Dole, candidate for U.S. Senator for North Carolina; Mayor J.
    Allen Joines of Winston-Salem; Patrick J. Ballantine, senate minority
    leader, North Carolina General Assembly; and John Gist, chief, Winston-
    Salem Fire Department. The Executive order of January 29 establishing
    the USA Freedom Corps is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.