Condoleezza Rice unveils a Ronald Reagan statue in London

[Peter Dow]

This video is a music video of an outdoor ceremony held near the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London, on 4th July, US Independence Day, in 2011, the centenary of the birth of the 40th President of the USA, Ronald Reagan to unveil a new statue of Ronald Reagan there.

Condoleezza Rice, the Former US Secretary of State, is there representing Nancy Reagan, the former US First Lady and wife of President Ronald Reagan.

Condi thanks the people of Great Britain for the honour bestowed upon Ronald Reagan and upon the American people of establishing this statue of Ronald Reagan, describing the special relationship as an unshakable faith in our values across an ocean and across time, our courage to act on those values, to save one another from trouble and to project those values and hopes for those who still toil in tyranny, understanding the irrepressible human spirit which triumphs because the desire for freedom is universal.

The statue represents Ronald Reagan's partnership with another great patriot Lady Thatcher, Prime Minister of Great Britain.

The world we see today, a Europe whole, free and at peace, a Europe in which we enjoy friendship and alliance with the former captive states in the transatlantic alliance called "NATO" seemed impossible in the dark days of World War 2 and in the days when the shadow of Soviet communism covered half a continent and even in the beginning of 1989. Incredibly, the Berlin wall came down, Europe was liberated, and hammer and sickle would came down from the Kremlin for the last time.

This gives us hope and optimism and will to stand this those who are still trapped in tyranny, to stand with those who profess faith in our values.

The statue is a commemoration of a glorious past and a call to an even more glorious future.

The video includes images which recall Condoleezza Rice's role in ending the cold war and the liberations of Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

The music is "Rule Britannia" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".

1989: Condoleezza Rice ends the cold war.

The For Freedom Forums

[eFestivals]

the queen is evil personified, but a feeble-minded racist war-monger must be celebrated as the good guy. Viva le republic.

[Uncle Liam]

Yeah, but he luuuuuurrrrrves Condi.

I guess that single and looking ad isnt going down to well.

[Peter Dow]

Washington Monument: From the mountain top to the promised land

BBC: Obama unveils Martin Luther King statue in Washington

US President Barack Obama has dedicated a new memorial to the assassinated civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, at a ceremony in Washington.

Addressing the crowd, Mr Obama said that Dr King was now among the founders of the American nation.

The 30 ft (9m) granite statue lies near the spot where Dr King delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech in 1963.

The ceremony had been due to take place in August but was postponed due to Hurricane Irene.

'Draw strength'

President Obama toured the monument with his wife, Michelle, and his two daughters.

Speaking to an audience of tens of thousands, he said Americans were right to celebrate Dr King's dream, and vision of unity.

"On this day, in which we celebrate a man and a movement that did so much for this country, let us draw strength from those earlier struggles," he told the crowd on the National Mall in the US capital.

"When met with hardship, when confronting disappointment, Dr. King refused to accept what he called the 'is-ness' of today. He kept pushing for the 'ought-ness' of tomorrow," Mr Obama said.

"In this place, he will stand for all time, among monuments to those who fathered this nation and those who defended it."

The statue is situated between the memorials for Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929, Martin Luther King was a clergyman and leading figure in the US civil rights movement.

He was assassinated in 1968 during a visit to Memphis, Tennessee, aged 39.

Edited October 17, 2011 by Peter Dow

[Uncle Liam]

YOU. NEED. HELP.

[Ed209]