The hope and dream of every thinking person is to live in a world where freedom and justice prevail and the rights of every single human being are guaranteed. Unfortunately, there still are nations in which these hopes and dreams have not yet been achieved. Around the world, communism, as an economic or a political system, has shown to be a failure. It has been a failure in Vietnam. Soon everyone, even the Vietnamese communist leaders, will know that too.
History is on the side of freedom and democracy.
The Vietnamese people, who have had the opportunity to live in a free society, have prospered. Given the same opportunities in their native land, all the Vietnamese will prosper as well. I am confident that your efforts to challenge the Vietnamese government to expand democracy, freedom and human rights for the people of Vietnam will ultimately be successful. It is with a sense of pride and great satisfaction that I send my greetings to all of you as you commemorate International Human Rights Day. I applaud the Vietnamese community in the Bay Area for organizing this important event.