FOLLOW US
D. Quayle: Address to Rally of Hope II
Written by Dan Quayle, Vice President (1989-1993), United States
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Address to Rally of Hope II
September 27, 2020
Distinguished leaders, heads of state, members of parliament and religious leaders from around the world, you are to be commended for participating in today’s Global Rally of Hope, which has brought together delegates from over one hundred and fifty nations in search of ways to create a more peaceful world. Your efforts are absolutely vital at this time and even though we are meeting in this virtual environment, we can feel connected because we share a common heart. Thank you for being here and thank you for the honor of speaking with you today.
I especially want to commend and congratulate Dr. Moon for her leadership and the decades of service to establish peace through so many activities, like the Universal Peace Federation, which she co-founded with her late husband, the Rev. Moon. Her recent American and global speaking tours which reached millions with the theme of Peace Starts with Me, are creating a narrative that the world truly needs now.
They are also co-founders of the Washington Times, with which I am very familiar. I have long appreciated the good influence that the Times contributes with its reliable news and insightful commentary, based on the core values of family, faith, freedom and service.
My friends, I wish to share a few thoughts with you today about coming together for peace. We all want peace. The question is, how we are going to achieve it? We have a lot of violence in the world, and so much dysfunction and unthinkable human suffering because of this.
We know that true peace comes about when people can unite, and the best way to come together is to recognize that there are universal values that can serve as a compass setting for everyone. I know this is one of the key pillars of UPF along with interdependence and mutual prosperity. And I applaud you all for shining the light on universal values that all people can share.
Consider the value of our families. Family is so important—your mother, your father, your brothers and sisters, extended family, aunts, uncles, friends. Family is everything. You see family in your neighborhoods, you see it at your place of worship.
Today, especially through our technology and communications we can see right here a global family striving for peace, decency, compassion, and human flourishing. That is why I support one of the main themes of UPF, that we are one family under God. That is a positive and powerful message.
How important is faith? I have always cherished the words in America’s Declaration of Independence that we are endowed by our creator with the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Faith is the most essential value to have, a belief in God and appreciation of the gifts that God gives us every single day. In times of challenge and turmoil like today, it is a good thing for us to call upon the Almighty to guide us forward.
Think about the sacred value of freedom. Freedom is a core value that makes everything work. Freedom is liberty. Without freedom human beings cannot reach their true potential.
Today, unfortunately, many people are not free. The painful division of that special nation of Korea reminds me of those years I had the honor of serving as Vice President of the United States of America. It was the greatest privilege to stand by the side of President George Herbert Walker Bush as he led America and the world through the end of the Cold War. President Bush was known for his decency, wisdom, and total commitment to service. Think of it. This was a global conflict with atomic weapons that lasted 45 years and could have destroyed us all.
I remember that momentous day when the Berlin Wall came down like it was yesterday. Our national leadership never expected the change to happen so fast and so peacefully. The Cold War ended without a shot being fired because peace-loving free nations pulled together, with a profound commitment to freedom and human dignity, bestowed upon us from our creator for all people, including all Russians and others who are now free from communism.
My friends, it is my solemn hope and prayer that we will witness a similar transformation on the Korean peninsula in our lifetimes. I saw it before, and I believe it can happen again. Through diplomacy and all nations working together we can bring a peaceful resolution to Korea. The DMZ will be a gateway for Korea’s new destiny of peace, freedom, unity, and happiness. And the work of Mother Moon, UPF, the Rally of Hope, and all of you who are here today will play an essential and decisive role.
And finally let’s think about service. Service to your family, service to your place of worship, your community, your country, service like this Rally for Peace. Service creates a positive ripple effect that can change people’s lives. That is why I have always counseled young men and women to get into public service because we need good young people who want to make a difference and create a brighter future. No matter our race, religion, nationality, or political views, when we come together, we serve a greater good.
As I think Dr. Moon likes to say: “If we live for the sake of others, even the most critical challenges can be solved.” In closing, as we go forward from this Rally of Hope, let us uphold the profound value of our families, our faith, our freedom, and living a life of service. This is the best way that we can achieve lasting peace and it shows how we can honor God’s gift of freedom for all people in every nation.
I am delighted to be a small part of this noble cause. Let us encourage one another to move forward and build a new movement for peace aligned with our Creator. Thank you very much and may God bless each and every one of you.
Hon. Dan Quayle was a member of the US Congress (House: 1977–1981, Senate: 1981–1989) and vice-president of the United States from 1989 until 1992.
To go to the Dialogue and Alliance: Toward a Unified World of Peace, click here.