Consul General Speeches

Reception in Honor of the Inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama

Official Residence of the Mayor, Herengracht 502, Amsterdam, January 20, 2009

When Barack Hussein Obama takes the oath of office in a few short moments he will inherit a legacy of international and domestic challenges that are almost unprecedented in our time.

Yet he also embodies the spirit of hope and opportunity that lie at the foundation of the United States, and that have done so much to guide us in our quest for a “more perfect union.”

This afternoon I stood humbled and honored as the 47 carillon bells of the Oude Kerk pealed over the center of Amsterdam in celebration of the 44^th President of the United States.

Tonight, we are gathered to witness “a new birth of freedom;” the culmination of an extraordinary American political season that has stirred millions of Americans, and that has kindled goodwill among people across the globe.

As President-elect Obama said in an eloquent address on race relations last March,
“America can change.  That is the true genius of this nation.”

On such a day as this, we can stand together and believe it to be true.

On behalf of Charge d’Affaires Jim Foster I would like to express my profound gratitude to Mayor Cohen, the Aldermen of the City of Amsterdam – especially our host this evening, Alderwoman Gehrels – and Minister Timmermans for extending such a warm welcome to members of the American community on this historic day.

We are grateful for your steadfast friendship and for this tremendous gesture of support for America and the Americans that call Amsterdam home.

I am certain we will hear stirring words from the new President in his inaugural address, but if I can invoke him once more in the spirit of solidarity and optimism that illuminate this difficult time:

“Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well.”