    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [January 17, 2005]
    [Pages 59-62]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at Georgetown University's ``Let Freedom Ring'' Celebration
    January 17, 2005

        Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Thanks for the invitation.
    Laura and I are pleased to join you on this
    national holiday as we honor two exceptional Americans who we're proud
    to call friends.
        I want to thank Dr. DeGioia and
    Georgetown University for sponsoring the John Thompson Legacy of a Dream
    Award. I want to thank the Georgetown Gospel Choir for sharing their
    gifts at this celebration. I want to thank John Thompson for being here and for setting such a great example. I
    appreciate the thoughtful words from one of the most recognized voices
    in America, Tom Joyner. I can't wait to hear
    Aaron Neville. I want to thank the Members of
    Congress, the members of my administration, and all the distinguished
    guests who are here today. I also want to thank Dr. Dorothy
    Height for joining us this afternoon.
        Every year on this day we reflect the history of civil rights in
    America. It's a story of our Founders--among them, slaveowners--who
    declared a standard of equality and justice that would one day be used

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    to put an end to slavery. It's a story of a terrible war that freed men
    and women from bondage but not from oppression and segregation. It's a
    story of generations ``not having received the promises but having seen
    them afar off.'' And it's a story of Americans like Reverend Dr. Martin
    Luther King, Jr., who held our Nation to those promises and would not
    rest until they were written into law.
        Dr. King was a minister of the Gospel who could have had an easy
    life in a respected pulpit. Today he would be just 76 years old.
    Instead, he chose to minister in the spirit of John Wesley, who said,
    ``I look upon all the world as my parish.'' The Nation first took notice
    in the 1950s and in the 1960s, when he wrote, ``I am in Birmingham
    because injustice is here.'' In the space of just a few years, through
    the power of his intellect, the truth of his words, and the example of
    his courage, he left this country a different and better place and made
    his own journey to a different and better place.
        Dr. King believed so fully in the ideals of America that he was
    offended every day that they were violated. He had studied the founding
    documents and found no exceptions to the promise of freedom. He was
    disappointed in the unfair practices of his country. Yet he said,
    ``There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.''
    Dr. King loved America enough to confront its injustices, not
    compromising the truth and not fearing any man, and America loves him in
    return.
        Martin Luther King also knew that man's right to be free is rooted
    in something far beyond the charters of a country. He believed and he
    knew that the image of God we share is a source of our dignity as human
    beings and the basis for our equality. He believed and he knew that the
    teachings of Jesus stand in eternal judgment of oppression. He believed
    and he knew that the God who made us for freedom will bring us to
    freedom.
        By observing and honoring Dr. King's birthday, we teach the next
    generation lessons that must never be forgotten. We need our children to
    know how great the struggle for racial justice in our society has been
    and how much work remains to be done. We need them to know that the
    greatest causes sometime involve the greatest sacrifices and that
    history moves forward on the strength of those sacrifices. And we need
    the children of America to know that a single life of conscience and
    purpose can touch and lift up many lives.
        The influence of one good life is also the message of the Legacy of
    a Dream Award--in this case the influence of two good lives.
    Alma and Colin Powell are among the most admired people in our country. For
    these 4 years, they've also been America's representatives to the world.
    They are honorable people who bring honor to this Nation, and America is
    grateful for their example of service.
        As their friends know, Alma and
    Colin met on a blind date. [Laughter] Alma
    has said she remembers the future general looking like a lost 12-year-
    old. [Laughter] That's the side of the man I've never seen before.
    [Laughter] For his part, Colin has said that night he was ``mesmerized
    by a pair of luminous eyes, an unusual shade of green.'' And from that
    day to this, he has been fortunate to have this beautiful, accomplished
    woman at his side.
        Colin Powell has lived his own inspiring
    story, a story of exceptional accomplishment that started before
    segregation ended. When he was a young officer, someone told him, ``You
    are the best black lieutenant I have ever known.'' He later wrote,
    ``Inside me, I was thinking, if you intend to measure me only against
    black lieutenants, you are making a mistake.'' [Laughter] He went on to
    write, ``I'm going to show you the best lieutenant in the Army,
    period.''
        The best lieutenant in the Army went on
    to a distinguished military career that ended with four stars on his
    shoulder. Along the way, he earned two Purple

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    Hearts, the Bronze Star, the Soldier's Medal, the Legion of Merit, the
    Congressional Gold Medal, and two Presidential Medals of Freedom. I'm
    not through yet. [Laughter] I'm just getting started. [Laughter] See,
    he's been an official in the administration of six Presidents, including
    service as the National Security Adviser to President Reagan, the
    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents Bush and Clinton.
        More than 4 years ago, when I needed a Secretary of State, I knew what I was looking for. I wanted someone who
    believed deeply in the values of our country and could share them with
    the world, a person of wisdom and decency, a leader who could bring out
    the best in people. I found all this and more in Colin Powell. Our 65th
    Secretary of State became one of the most effective and admired
    diplomats in America's history. He has helped to rally the world in a
    global war and to resolve dangerous regional conflicts and to confront
    the desperate challenges of natural disaster and hunger and poverty and
    disease. He's been tireless and selfless and principled. In the work he
    and I have shared, he has become a great friend, and I appreciate all he
    has done for our wonderful country.
        His proudest achievements probably have
    little to do with public service. See, he's a wonderful dad to
    Michael and Anne-Marie and Linda. Over the years, he's
    been a mentor to young people. As a founder of America's Promise, Colin
    has drawn countless others to become involved in the lives of children
    and to give them the hope and confidence they need for a successful
    life. Today we honor not just Colin Powell's lifetime of leadership, but
    we honor his great kindness and his compassion.
        The same kinds of idealism and character have marked the life of
    Alma Johnson Powell. Like her
    husband, she was raised by strong and decent
    people. And Birmingham, where Martin Luther King was jailed--Birmingham,
    which--where he was jailed, was also the home of the Johnson family.
    That's where she was raised, in other words. [Laughter] Alma remembers
    her father during the worst of days sitting up at night with a shotgun
    by his side to protect his wife and his children. Mr. Johnson was a high
    school principal, and he was a legend to generations of students who
    remember his high standards and his imposing presence. His daughter,
    Alma, has always been impressive as well because of her grace and her
    principle.
        For many years, Alma served
    America as a soldier's wife, moving the household 18 times and leading
    the family when the Army--anyone who wants to know the meaning of duty
    and unselfish love can look at our military families, like the Powells.
    This good-hearted mother and grandmother shares her love with others as
    the chair of America's Promise. People here at the Kennedy Center know
    her as the leading member of the board of trustees. She's a noted author
    of several children's books and a volunteer who gives her time to help
    young people make good choices in life. Alma Powell is one of the finest
    people Laura and I are privileged to know. And
    she is a superb choice for the Legacy of a Dream Award. I'm not kidding,
    either.
        You have chosen, on this important day for America, to pay tribute
    to a woman and a man who have upheld the highest ideal of American citizenship.
    In their love of country and their heart for service, they show the same
    character found in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Thank you for the
    privilege of joining you this afternoon and for the pleasure of being
    able to honor these fine, fine Americans.
        May God bless the
    Powells, and may God continue to bless the
    United States of America.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:16 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Center for
    the Performing Arts. In his remarks, he referred to John J. DeGioia,
    president, and John Thompson, former head men's basketball coach,

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    Georgetown University; radio show host Tom Joyner; entertainer Aaron
    Neville; and civil rights leader Dorothy I. Height. The Martin Luther
    King, Jr., Federal Holiday proclamation of January 14 is listed in
    Appendix D at the end of this volume.