Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 / May 20 a long friendship between our people, but Viva Cuba Libre. only if the Castro regime sees the light. Cuba’s independence was achieved a NOTE: The President spoke at 10:15 a.m. in century ago. It was hijacked nearly half a the East Room at the White House. In his century ago. Yet, the independent spirit of remarks, he referred to President Fidel Cas- the Cuban people has never faltered, and tro of Cuba. He also referred to Operation it has never been stronger than it is today. Pedro Pan, a 1960s immigration program in The United States is proud to stand with which thousands of Cuban children were all Cubans and all Cuban Americans who sent to the United States by their parents. love freedom. And we will continue to The Office of the Press Secretary also re- stand with you until liberty returns to the leased a Spanish language transcript of these land you love so well. remarks. Remarks on the 100th Anniversary of Cuban Independence in Miami, Florida May 20, 2002 The President. Thank you very much. I want to thank mi hermano—mi Sientense. Voy a hablar en Espan˜ol hoy, hermanito—[laughter]—y el gran Goberna- pero no. No. [Laughter] No quiero destruir dor de este estado. Thank you, Jeb. We un idioma que bonita, y por eso voy a love you y mi cun˜ada bella. [Laughter] I hablar en Ingles. [Laughter] Thank you for love being with my family. I love being having me. God bless you all, and thanks with my family. There’s nothing more im- for coming. It is such an honor—it is such portant than family in life, and I love my an honor—for me to be here today with brother Jeb a lot. so many who love freedom. I’m honored to be with a great Amer- One hundred years ago, a proud island ican, a great American who is a graduate people declared independence and put of Pedro Pan, Mel Martinez, who brings Cuba on a democratic course. We’re here a big difference in our Cabinet. [Applause] today to celebrate this important anniver- I didn’t realize Mel had that many cousins. sary. We are here today to honor the Cu- [Laughter] bans and Cuban Americans who strengthen I want to thank the two United States America with their character and with their Senators from Florida for being here, Sen- enterprise. We are here today—we are here ator Graham and Senator Nelson. I’m hon- today to proclaim loudly and clearly to the ored that you’re here. Thank you all for entire world—to todos—that the Cuban coming. I appreciate working with Senator people’s love of liberty cannot and will not Graham and his important job of chairing be denied. the Intelligence Committee in the United Audience members. [Inaudible] States Senate. I want to thank two fine The President. Not only today will we Congressmen, Ileana Ros y Lincoln Diaz- remind the world how much we love free- Balart. dom and long for freedom, but I also want I can’t—listen, every time I see and hear to talk about a proposal and a challenge Gloria Estefan sing, it makes my heart feel that will help put Cuba on the path to better. Gloria, thank you, and it’s good to freedom. see Emilio. And I appreciate Jon Secada 825 r 24 2004 10:45 Jul 26, 2004 Jkt 193762 PO 00000 Frm 00825 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\193762A.XXX 193762A May 20 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 as well. Jon, you did a great job. Thank people can realize their dreams. The suc- you very much—honored you’re here. cess stories are unbelievable and unbeliev- I appreciate Vicki Huddleston, our Am- ably powerful. People have escaped a jail bassador, Principal Officer at the U.S. In- and have come to America and have suc- terests Section in Havana, for being here. ceeded and have been able to raise their Vicki, thank you for coming—appreciate families and have been able to prosper. It’s you. I’m honored to be traveling today with a wonderful part of the American story. Otto Reich, the Under Secretary for the But it’s not just a story of the elderly State Department. Dr. Elsa Murano is here and the older Cuban Americans; it’s a story today as well, who is in my administration. throughout generations. I want to talk Thank you, Elsa, for being here. Where about Miguel Arguelles, who came to are you? Thank you, Doc—appreciate you America in 1995, at age 10 years old. At coming. Emilio Gonzalez, the Director of age 10, he couldn’t speak English. A few the Western Hemisphere Affairs of the Na- weeks from now, he’ll graduate as the val- tional Security Council—where are you, edictorian of Miami Lakes’ Barbara Colonel? Yes, Emilio. He’s on my National Goleman Senior High School. He comes Security Council. He reports directly to in 1995; he is going to be the first person Arroz—[laughter]—Senorita Arroz. [Laugh- to have graduated from that high school ter] to attend Harvard University. Today, when I landed in Miami, I got I want to read what Miguel wrote in off the airplane there and had a chance his application essay, and I want all Ameri- to meet a young man named Emilio J. cans from all backgrounds to listen to what Rodriguez. Emilio is with us today. Emilio, this young man said. He said he was born stand up for a second. [Applause] The rea- in a place where the sun shines brightest son I bring up Emilio is, I say oftentimes and drowns in tears, where Santa Claus to Americans who want to—how best they has not the visa to enter and dreams cannot can participate in our country, how best escape their prison of nonexistence, where to fight evil is to do some good, is to love hopes are shattered and religion is an en- a neighbor like you’d like to be loved your- dangered species, where freedom is in self. If you’re interested—if you’re inter- shackles. ested in helping define our Nation to the I love how you put that. It’s essential world and if you’re interested in resisting that—Miguel, that you not only succeed, evil, do some good. And that’s what Emilio but it’s essential that we remember the does. He is a 19-year-old honor student shackles of freedom that Miguel wrote at Miami-Dade Community College. He about, that there are people whose lives volunteers in park cleanup programs. He are being disrupted because Cuba is not does art shows for children, and he hosts free. I want to thank you for your poign- activities at a school for mentally challenged ancy. Cuban American children. For this, we’re And the shackles that this young man grateful for your service. Thank you for wrote about are an insult—an insult—to being here. the Cuban independence dreamed of by The accomplished individuals I just Felix Varela and generations of Cuban pa- named are just a small handful of over a triots. They’re an insult. The shackles he million fellow Americans from Cuban de- wrote about are an insult to Jose Marti, scent who make such an incredibly impor- who sacrificed his life for a great principle. tant contribution to our country. So, as on No, we stand here today to declare loud the one hand we—we celebrate independ- and clear to the entire world: Cuba must ence, but we also celebrate the greatness not only be independent; Cuba must be of America that opens her doors so that free. 826 24 2004 10:45 Jul 26, 2004 Jkt 193762 PO 00000 Frm 00826 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\193762A.XXX 193762A Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 / May 20 One hundred years ago, Cuba declared lations with the United States. Cuba is her independence. And nearly 50 years ago, scheduled to hold elections to its National nearly a half century ago, Cuba’s independ- Assembly in 2003. I challenge Cuba’s Gov- ence and the hopes for democracy were ernment to make these elections free and hijacked by a brutal dictator who cares ev- to make them fair. erything for his own power and nada for To make them free and fair, they must the Cuban people. In an era where markets give opposition candidates the freedom to have brought prosperity and empowerment, organize, assemble, and speak. They must this leader clings to a bankrupt ideology give them the chance to open up the air- that has brought Cuba’s workers and farm- waves, so they can get their message out ers and families nothing—nothing—but iso- to the people. To make them free and fair, lation and misery. I was amazed to read they must release all political prisoners so in this modern era, the Cuban regime they can participate in the elections. In banned the sale of computers to the public. order to make sure we know if they’re free What does that tell you? In an era where and fair, they must let human rights organi- every other nation in our hemisphere has zations into Cuba, to make sure that the chosen the path to democracy—every na- elections are free and fair. Once the 2003 tion in our hemisphere has chosen the path elections are certified as free and fair by to democracy—this leader instead chooses international monitors, once Cuba begins to jail, to torture, and exile Cuban people the process of meaningful economic re- for speaking their minds.