Remarks

Welcome U.S. Visitors

Children’s Home of Hope

February 27, 2005

Mr. Smith, Mr. Daneilsen, ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, namaskar and good afternoon.
 
Thank you for having me here on such a special day. National Women’s Ministries Day is an opportunity for all of us to recognize the important roles played by women in society as a whole and in all of our lives. The theme of National Women’s Ministries Day 2005, “More than You Imagined,” reminds us that women’s contributions to society are surely more than anyone imagines.
 
We are joined today by a group of women from Indiana, who have come to do much needed “spring cleaning” here at the Children’s Home of Hope. Every year, as the cold weather fades away and flowers start to bloom, we do “spring cleaning.” We clean out the junk from our homes and from our lives and give everything a new finish.
 
Over the coming days, these women will give this building a new coat of paint, they will redecorate; they will give the Home of Hope a new face. Their commitment to helping children, however, is much more than skin deep.
 
Renewal and rebirth are the themes of this spring season. As you all work to renew your home on the surface, we should all look within ourselves for areas in need of renewal. I am always encouraged to see individuals who consistently look beyond their own best interests to work for the benefit of others and people who are always thinking of ways to improve themselves.
 
Another, ongoing renewal occurs here every day of the year. The young people I see before me work with the staff here to renew themselves. Later in life, they will work to renew the heart and soul of Bangladesh.
 
In the 18 months since I arrived here, I have discovered that the nation of Bangladesh has a huge potential for success. That potential, however, can only be realized through the education, dedication and perseverance of its youth.
 
I value education because of my personal love of knowledge, because of its widespread importance to society and also because I have a daughter of my own and I want her to become an educated woman.
 
I have spoken on many occasions about the importance of learning English. English can open many doors for you, but it is not the only subject you will need to succeed in life.  You must learn Bangla, math, literature, art, science, and history, and you must also develop strong values and morals. 
 
A quality education has to include both knowledge and values.  The American civil rights leader and Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. described knowledge without values: “Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
 
Dr. King held fast to his values and beliefs even when many people said he was wrong. He believed in peace, freedom and the equality of all people. He fought for those ideals. In America, in Bangladesh and in every country, people are still struggling for them.
 
As spring brings renewal in nature and a group of friends from Indiana bring renewal to this building, we should all renew our personal commitments to education – scientific, social and moral.
 
Thank you again for having me here today. Namaskar.

 

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Note:  A Bangla translation of this article is also available from The American Center.  If you are interested in the translation, please call The American Center Press Section (Tel: 8813440-4, Fax: 9881677; e-mail: DhakaPA@state.gov; Website: dhaka.usembassy.gov).