Mr. President, Senator Clinton, Ladies and Gentlemen:
“In the end you cannot win by making your neighbor lose”. Those words were spoken three nights ago on a dark and cold night in Dundalk, Ireland by President Clinton in his tireless quest to bring peace to the world, especially in Ireland.
But those words also describe the extraordinary activity in which we have all taken part this evening. It is a slogan which describes the outlook of Special Olympics. It is a true summary of what Special Olympics exemplifies. Everyone is a winner in Special Olympics, because everyone in Special Olympics is doing his or her best! In all the various contests and all are receiving recognition for their efforts.
President Clinton is a winner to many, many Americans and people from foreign countries all around the world because he treats all citizens of all countries as winners, like the athletes of Special Olympics, President Clinton threats everyone with respect. There are no boarders or boundaries. We are all children of God. Mrs. Clinton is a winner, too and not only in New York State!
She has worked tirelessly on behalf of children not only in our own country, but all around the world. Just as the athletes of Special Olympics who play together, and compete against each other, on playing fields all around the globe have taught us that we all have something to give, we each have something to learn. Mrs. Clinton has taught us that “it takes a village to raise a child”.
Like you, Mr. President, my wife loves and admires the Irish poet Yeats, especially his wonderful words, “this where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was, I had such friends”. The glory is that the athletes of Special Olympics have you and Mrs. Clinton as their friends. Let’s all drink to the man and woman who are both among the greatest of all of our friends.
