[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
[July 6, 2002]
[Pages 1181-1182]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's Radio Address
July 6, 2002

    Good morning. This week, Americans are celebrating the 226th 
anniversary of our independence. On the Fourth of July, we count our 
blessings, and there are so many to count.
    We are thankful for the families that share our life in this land of 
liberty. We're thankful for the opportunities given to us every day in 
this country. We are thankful for our freedom, the freedom declared by 
the Founding Fathers, defended by many generations, and granted to each 
one of us by Almighty God.
    Americans know that our country did not come about by chance. Our 
Nation was first designed as a colony, serving an empire and answering 
to a king. The Founders had other things in mind. In the summer of 1776, 
they declared that these colonies ``are, and of Right ought to be Free 
and Independent States.'' All Americans can draw a straight line from 
the free lives we lead today to that one moment when the world changed 
forever.
    From that day in 1776, freedom has had a home and a defender. Unlike 
any other country, America came into the world with a message for 
mankind--that all are created equal and all are meant to be free.
    There is no American race; there's only an American creed. We 
believe in the dignity and rights of every person. We believe in equal 
justice, limited government, and the rule of law, personal 
responsibility and tolerance toward others. This creed of freedom and 
equality has lifted the lives of millions of Americans, of citizens by 
birth and citizens by choice. This creed draws our friends to us, sets 
our enemies against us, and always inspires the best that is in us.
    In this 226th year of our independence, we have seen that American 
patriotism is still a living faith. We love our country only more when 
she is threatened. America is the most diverse Nation on Earth. Yet, in 
a moment we discovered again that we are a single people; we share the 
same allegiance; we live under the same flag; and when you strike one 
American, you strike us all.
    More than ever in the lifetimes of most Americans, our flag stands 
for a true united country. We've been united in our grief, and we are 
united in our resolve to protect our people and defeat the enemies of 
freedom. At this hour, more than 60,000 American troops are deployed 
around the world in the war against terror. Many of you have family 
members serving in the military. Wherever they are stationed, this 
Nation is depending on them, and you can be proud of them.
    America's service men and women and our veterans know better than 
anyone that our love for country is shown in works. That spirit of 
service is alive and strong in America today. As we fight a war abroad, 
at home Americans are answering the call of service, giving their time 
and energy to causes greater than self-interest. This Nation is 
confronting a terrible evil, and we are overcoming evil with good.
    Today, as much as ever before, America bears the hopes of the world. 
Yet, from the day of our founding, America's own great hope has never 
been in ourselves alone. The Founders humbly sought the wisdom and the 
blessing of Divine Providence. May we always live by that same trust, 
and may God continue to watch over the United States of America.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 10:17 a.m. on July 3 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on July 6. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
July 5 but was embargoed for release until the

[[Page 1182]]

broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language transcript of this address.