We donate hours and hours of programming to replace hate filled propaganda on Bosnian television. And when I'm pressed about what it's like to be the first female Secretary of State, I'm always tempted to mention Xena the Warrior Princess. More important, the genius of American art, like the freedom of our political institutions, sends a powerful signal of hope around the world. The people of every race and creed can live together and inspire each other. People can honor their ethnic and religious heritage without fear or harassment.
People can speak their minds without fear of being picked up and carted off to jail.
And people can amuse and entertain and uplift and even offend each other without fear of being silenced. This is the deeper message of American art in all its richness and variety on everything that it conveys. It's a message the world needs to hear and one that each of us here at home must always remember. As Secretary of State, my job is to see that America's global leadership lives up to the best images of ourselves and that we are able to send to the world through our culture and art. Fortunately, I do have a lot of help from cultural ambassadors such as all of you here, the men and women we honor tonight.