    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 15 (Monday, April 15, 2002)]
    [Pages 582-586]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks on the Citizens Corps in Knoxville

    April 8, 2002

        Thank you all so very much. I'm sure glad to be back in Knoxville,
    Tennessee. I want to thank you for your warm welcome. I want to thank
    you for your hospitality. And I want to thank you all for coming today
    to give me a chance to talk about some--to talk about the future of this
    great country and why I'm optimistic about the future of this great
    country and why I'm so proud to be an American, to be the President of
    this great country.
        It makes sense to come to the Volunteer State to talk about the need
    for our citizens to help each other. I can understand why the

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    foes of the University of Tennessee dread hearing ``Rocky Top.''
    [Laughter] I mean, it kind of fired me up, standing behind the--
    [applause]. It reminds me of that great volunteer spirit. Of course, in
    Texas, we really appreciate those Tennessee volunteers coming down to
    help us out.
        And I appreciate the Citizens Police Academy I went to today. It
    shows the best of your city. You have a great mayor working with a
    really fine police chief, who are pooling the resources, who are
    providing an avenue, an outlet for people who care about your community,
    a place for them to come and learn the skills necessary to help protect
    the good people of Knoxville, should an emergency arise.
        I've come to highlight what works, so others around the country, if
    they're interested----

    [At this point, there was a disturbance in the audience.]

    ----if your're interested in doing what is right--to encourage your
    citizens to become involved. And so I want to thank the city of
    Knoxville, Tennessee, for showing Americans--for showing Americans how
    best to help their communities. [Applause] Thank you all.
        I also want to thank the mayors and county officials from cities
    from around our country. I had the honor of flying over from Washington
    today with the fine Mayor of Washington, DC, my friend Tony Williams. I
    also was with Mayor Jim Hahn from Los Angeles and others here, all of
    whom are utilizing their positions to encourage our citizens to become
    more involved in our communities. And I want to thank you all so very
    much for coming. We've got some mayors from Texas, small towns, large
    towns, Republicans, Democrats, all of whom care deeply about our
    country.
        I want to thank so very much the members of the Tennessee
    congressional delegation for being here as well. You've sent a fine
    group of folks to Washington. I enjoy working with them. I appreciate
    their service to the country, and I want to thank you all for coming.
        I want to remind our fellow citizens that we have a volunteer
    military, that we've asked our citizens to volunteer to protect our
    country. And my attitude is, so long as we have a soldier in harm's way,
    they deserve the best pay, the best support, the best equipment
    possible. I have submitted a budget to the United States Congress that
    reflects the nature of the conflict with which we're faced. I've asked
    for the largest increase in defense spending in 20 years, not only
    because it will fulfill our commitment to support our troops but because
    it recognizes that this country is in our war for the long pull, that
    we're interested in defending freedom no matter what the cost.
        You know, I can't imagine what went through the minds of those who
    felt like they could attack America. I can't imagine. They must have
    thought we were so materialistic and so self-absorbed and so weak that
    all we would do was file a lawsuit. [Laughter] They found out we're a
    different type of nation than they thought. They found out this Nation
    will do what it takes to defend that which we hold dear, and what we
    hold dear is freedom.
        And it's important for the young, in particular, but all Americans
    to understand that we seek--we don't seek revenge; we seek justice. It's
    hard for some to believe, but there are people in this world who hate
    what America stands for. They hate the fact that we believe people
    should worship freely. They hate the fact that we believe there ought to
    be honest political discourse. They hate the fact that we believe in
    human rights and the dignity and worth of each individual. These people
    hate America. They are coldblooded killers, and the United States will
    hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.
        And thanks to our United States military and thanks to a coalition
    we put together--and thanks to the coalition we have put together, we
    have freed the people of Afghanistan from one of the most repressive
    regimes in the history of mankind. Not only are we steadfast in our
    desire to defend that which we believe; we also are willing to commit
    resources to free a nation. Several weeks ago, young girls went to
    school for the first time in Afghanistan.
        I'm proud of the United States of America. I'm proud of our people.
    I'm proud of our resolve. I'm proud of the unity. I'm proud of the
    patience of the American people. The American people know what I know,
    that we have been called into action, that history has

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    given us a chance to lead, that history understands--that we now
    understand that history's call is to lead our vast coalition against
    terrorists and to defend freedom, no matter what the cost. And my fellow
    Americans, I can assure you so long as I'm the President, I will lead
    this world's coalition to defend our freedoms, no matter what the cost.
        I've heard talk about the budget and people saying, ``Well, the
    budget is too big for defense.'' Listen, the price of freedom is high. I
    understand that. But it's not too high, as far as I'm concerned. This
    Nation can show the world what we stand for, and we can show future
    generations what we're made out of.
        Now, it's important for us to remain strong, and it's important for
    us to do what we say we're going to do in the world. I said loud and
    clear, ``Either you are with us, or you're against us.'' And I also
    said, ``If you're going to harbor a terrorist or feed a terrorist or
    think you can hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the ones who
    came and murdered innocent Americans, and we're going to hold you
    accountable.''
        And we're making good progress. We're making good progress. We're
    hunting them down, and that's what has to happen. And we're doing it in
    a way that sometimes doesn't make it in the newspapers. I understand
    that. You know--and sometimes it doesn't have all the sensationalism
    that some on the TVs would like to see. But you've just got to know that
    your Government is steady and deliberate and patient. There is no cave
    deep enough to hide from the arm of justice of the United States of
    America.
        And while I recognize that the best way to secure our homeland is to
    find the enemy wherever they hide, there's some stuff we need to do at
    home too. And we're doing it. And that is to have a homeland security
    strategy that recognizes the importance of first-responders. I want to
    thank the police and fire officers and EMS teams not only in Knoxville
    but around the country for your sacrifice on behalf of the citizens of
    your community.
        We've got a strategy that makes sure our border security works
    better, a strategy that responds to any bioterrorism-type attack. We're
    doing a good job of buttoning up our country. We're doing a much better
    job of communicating between law enforcement agencies. You see, you've
    got to know that anytime we get a hint, a scintilla of evidence that
    somebody might be thinking about doing something to America, we're
    responding. We're sharing information. We're on alert, and we're working
    overtime. And we're working diligently to make sure the enemy doesn't
    hit us again.
        But there's some things that citizens can do as well. People
    oftentimes ask me, ``What can I do to help?'' Well, let me give you some
    suggestions today. One way to help is to volunteer. And I said to the
    fellow citizens, give 4,000 hours of volunteer service for the rest of
    your life. If you want to help America, step up and serve your
    community. And there are ways to do that. There are ways to do so on the
    forefront of the war--on the strategy to make sure America is better
    prepared.
        I have created what's called USA Freedom Corps. It's a chance for
    citizens from all walks of life to serve, to serve by serving in
    AmeriCorps, where you can help teach--where you can help people realize
    that the American experience is meant for us all. Or you can teach. Or
    Senior Corps--senior citizens can serve in the Senior Corps programs. Or
    the Peace Corps--we've had thousands of people now call in to say they
    want to serve America's interest in the Peace Corps by helping to spread
    America's values. There are ways to serve.
        Today I'm talking about the Citizens Corps. It's an opportunity to
    work with local officials to make the homeland security more prepared.
    Interestingly enough, when I made the call for people to serve, we had
    over a million hits on the Web site for the Citizens Corps, and 25,000
    Americans stepped up and said, ``We want to help. We want to apply for
    Citizens Corps applications.''
        And here--there are ways to help. We need volunteers who are trained
    in emergency preparedness and response to participate in what we call
    Community Emergency Response Team programs. They first started in Los
    Angeles, Mayor Hahn was telling me. All the cities represented here on
    this stage have now got CERT programs. It gives people a chance to be a
    part of an emergency-

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    response mechanism, both urban and rural, in America. If you're
    interested in helping, dial up the phone and the Web site I'm about to
    give you, so that you can be a part of emergency preparedness in your
    communities.
        We need volunteers on the Neighborhood Watch programs. Neighborhood
    Watch--I hope you're familiar with it--is a way for communities to be--
    citizens to become involved with making each neighborhood more secure.
    Neighborhood Watch is a structure which already exists. We want to
    expand it in America. We want more folks to be a part of the
    Neighborhood Watch program, to make our communities more prepared.
        Operation--what's called--we call it terrorism information program;
    it's a tip program. This is a program where truckers can report anything
    that might be suspicious to local authorities. One of the most
    innovative tip programs in the country took place in Maine. Governor
    King, in working with the local FBI, signed up a lot of lobstermen, so
    when they're out there pulling their pots to get the lobsters, if they
    see something suspicious taking place along the Maine coast, that they
    share information with the local jurisdictions, local law enforcement
    jurisdictions. If people see anything suspicious, utility workers, you
    ought to report it. This is a way to organize that which already happens
    in our communities on a daily basis and a way to make the homeland more
    secure and more prepared.
        We've got what's called the VIP program, VIPS, and that's Volunteers
    in Police. And that's what we've talked about today here in Knoxville. I
    don't know if you know this or not, but I would say the vast majority of
    police departments need volunteer labor to help make their departments
    function. The chief here in Knoxville was telling me that he could not
    live without the fact that we've got a lot of volunteers right from your
    community, probably your neighbors, that go down there on a daily basis,
    to help make the police department function more smoothly. This is a
    good way to help in your community, if you're interested in helping.
        And then we have what's called the Medical Reserve Corps. This is a
    chance for active and retired doctors and nurses to lend a hand in
    preparing any community for an emergency. It makes a lot of sense to say
    to a retired doc or a retired nurse, ``You know, you've still got your
    skills. You still care about people. Here's a good way for you to serve
    the community.'' We need this participation from our citizenry. It's not
    only good for each community; it's good for the citizens to know that
    they're helping to serve a great nation by serving their community.
        And so for those of you out there who are interested in
    participating, I want you to call up this number, 1-877-USA-CORPS*, or
    to dial up on the Internet, www.citizencorps.gov. This is a way where
    you can help America. The Government will help as well. I put in my
    budget $203 million to help on the Citizen Corps programs, 50 of which
    will be immediate, through the supplemental.
        * White House correction.
        In other words, we're willing to fund. But what we can't do is, we
    can't hire people. You've got to step up in the Citizen Corps. The money
    is meant to enable. You're meant to provide the manpower. So when a
    fellow American says, ``What can I do to help? What can I do to help
    America be prepared better,'' here's a way you can help and make a huge
    difference in the communities in which you live.
        And there's another way to help too. It's by loving a neighbor like
    you'd like to be loved yourself. You've probably got a sense of my
    strong feelings about the enemy. I believe they're evil. The best way to
    fight evil is to do some good. Let me qualify that--the best way to
    fight evil at home is to do some good. The best way to fight them abroad
    is to unleash the military.
        It is so important for citizens in this country to put a face on
    America for the world to see, the true face. And that's by loving
    somebody, and that's by caring for somebody who needs a hand. You know,
    it doesn't take much to help define the true face of America; it really
    doesn't. It can mean just walking across the street to a shut-in, and
    saying, ``I care for you. Is there anything I can do to make your day
    brighter?'' It certainly means mentoring a child, putting your arm
    around a child, and say, ``You know, America is

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    meant for you, and I love you.'' It means organizing a program in your
    church or your synagogue or your mosque, to help hear the universal call
    of loving somebody just like you'd like to be loved yourself.
        There are pockets of despair in America, and we need people of love
    to go into those pockets, people of faith to go into those pockets of
    despair, to help this country realize its potential. If you want to join
    in the war against terror, you can join the Citizen Corps, or you can
    act out of compassion and concern to help make somebody's life brighter.
    It is the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency
    and compassion which show the world the true face of America. Not only
    are we strong militarily, but we've got great hearts and great
    compassion about our fellow human--men and women.
        And therefore, my fellow Americans, if you want to join us, if you
    want to make the country stronger, participate; help somebody in need.
    You know, I truly believe that out of this evil is going to come
    incredible good. I believe that by remaining strong in the face of
    terror, that we can lead the world to peace. I believe there's going to
    be some problems in the world that can be solved with American strength
    and American leadership and a coalition that refuses to bend when it
    comes to the defense of terror. And out of evil will come some
    incredible good in America, some incredible good.
        Many of you know what I'm talking about when I say that families
    have taken a good look at what's important in their life. Moms and dads
    have now said that they're going to love their children with all their
    heart and all their soul. They're going to focus their love and
    attention on being the best parent they can possibly be, as we've taken
    a good look at the value systems that are important for our future.
        You know, Flight 93 told me a lot about America. Here we were in the
    midst of this beginning of the new war of the 21st century, and some men
    and women on a flight decided that they needed to save others. They were
    on cell phones with their loved ones. They told them they loved them.
    They said a prayer. They said, ``Let's roll,'' and they saved lives on
    the ground. It is that spirit that is alive and well in America, and
    it's that spirit that makes me so optimistic about the future of this
    great country.
        I want to thank you all so very much for coming. I want to thank you
    for your strong support for our country. I want to thank you for your
    patience. I want to thank you for your understanding about what lies
    ahead for the country. But most of all, I want to thank you for working
    hard to make your neighborhood and your community the best place it can
    possibly be for each one of us who's lucky enough to call themselves an
    American.
        And I want you to know, I can't tell you what an honor it is to be
    the President of the greatest land on the face of the Earth. God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:30 p.m. at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
    In his remarks, he referred to Mayor Victor H. Ashe of Knoxville; Mayor
    Anthony A. Williams of Washington, DC; Mayor James K. Hahn of Los
    Angeles, CA; Governor Angus S. King, Jr., of Maine; and Phil E. Keith,
    chief of police, Knoxville Police Department.