Today, I would also like to challenge you to draw inspiration from the past, but to firmly have your eyes on the future. One of the greatest challenges before us is finding affordable and efficient ways to harness our awesome technological resources. There are no longer problems of geography. All throughout this great country of ours, young men and women have been left out of the loop, stranded on the side of the information superhighway. All of the promise that information technology holds for education and government will be undermined if we don't use this historic opportunity to unify our country, to allow more and more of our citizens to participate in the American dream.
Technology has the potential to raise the living standard of everyone.
The Civil Rights struggle was about equal access and opportunity. But the information age is about bridging the Digital Divide between the information rich and information poor. By doing that, we help to maintain the American concept of freedom and justice for all. It is important to remember that people with technology skills are employable anywhere in this country regardless of race, sex, ethnic origin, or physical status. Today, the struggle for access to information is as important as the struggle for food, clothing and shelter.