They come from countries which differ markedly from each other, and yet they're all heroes of the same cause. Their devotion to political and religious liberties unites them as it unites all of us who are committed to the freedom of mankind. I note with sadness and concern that one hero not with us today, Dr. Andrei Sakharov, is reported to be seriously ill. It's my hope that in the name of humanity the Soviet authorities will permit this noble individual to live his life in freedom and dignity. In honoring these heroes today, we proclaim our confidence that good and decent people will triumph over evil.
Dictatorships can pass away.
On the right, we've seen it happen in recent years, in Spain, in Portugal, in Greece, in Argentina. On the left, totalitarian ideologies that brutalize human beings to rebuild mankind into that which it is not are destined to fail. Totalitarianism on the left, just like nazism before it, will be disgarded by a disgusted humanity. Much depends on us, but we can be confident that the tide of history is indeed running on the side of freedom. This month marks the anniversary of two milestones in mankind's journey to freedom.