THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release May 4, 2009
East Room
5:28 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Hello. Gracias.
AUDIENCE: Bienvenidos.
THE PRESIDENT: Bienvenidos. Welcome to Cinco de Cuatro -- (laughter)
-- Cinco de Mayo at the White House. We are a day early, but we always
like to get a head start here at the Obama White House.
Cinco de Mayo marks a singular moment in Mexican history. Nearly 150
years ago, a ragtag band of soldiers and citizens, badly outnumbered
and facing impossible odds, held their ground on a muddy hill to defend
their nation from what was at the time the most fearsome fighting force
in the world. That decisive victory at what became known as the Battle
of Puebla ignited a pride in country and culture that Mexican Americans
feel to this day.
And tomorrow, on both sides of our border, we'll pay tribute to our
shared heritage by celebrating with friends and family, with love and
laughter. We'll remember that America is a richer and more vibrant
place thanks to the contributions of Mexican Americans -- (applause) --
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yeah! (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: I knew that was Manny over there. (Laughter.) Pat, do something about Manny. (Laughter.)
We'll remember that the contributions of commerce and culture, in
language and literature, in faith, and in food have all made America a
better place. And we will honor the service of Mexican Americans who
have worn the uniform of the United States. We'll also recommit to
advancing the ambitions and the dreams of generations of Mexican
Americans and all Latinos who have had an immeasurable impact on the
life of this nation.
But even as we mark this joyous and festive occasion, we do so mindful
of the fact that this is a difficult time for Mexico. The pain our
global economic downturn has inflicted has only been deepened by the
outbreak of the H1N1 flu, as well as the drug-related violence that has
robbed so many of their future.
One thing we know: Good neighbors work together when faced with common
challenge. And that's why we're working closely with the Mexican
government to identify and treat illnesses that are caused by this new
flu strain. I spoke to President Calderón on Saturday about this joint
approach. That's why we're working in an urgent and coordinated
fashion to end the drug wars. That's why we'll continue to stand
side-by-side with the Mexican people in pursuit of our common security
and our common prosperity.
So I know this is a tough time on both sides of the border. I know
some of tomorrow's celebrations have been downsized or cancelled out of
an abundance of caution, from Puebla to Mexico City to my hometown of
Chicago. And while we hope and pray that all these precautions and
preparations will prove unnecessary, I applaud the Mexican government
and all the leaders who are taking responsibility and appropriate steps
in order to keep the people safe.
As we honor our heritage and our heroes tomorrow, I also know this:
Mexicans, Americans, and Mexican Americans are all a people who've
known trial and persevered in the face of incredible odds. We're a
people of revolution; who value hard work and sacrifice; who forever
look forward to the future with a deep and abiding faith that the dream
of opportunity is still real and alive in our time.
And when one of my predecessors once visited Mexico City, he said that
"while geography has made us neighbors, tradition has made us friends.
Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies...
two great and independent nations, united by hope instead of fear."
John F. Kennedy's message nearly a half-century ago is my message now.
And when I made my first trip to Mexico as President, not just -- just
three weeks ago, I was greeted by the children of both our nations
waving flags of both our nations -- a powerful reminder that in the
end, everything we do is done to guarantee a better future for our
children and our grandchildren.
And while I was there, I found it impossible not to be touched by the
warmth, the vigor, and the forceful vitality of the Mexican people -- a
love of life I've seen in Mexican American communities throughout this
nation. And that's what we'll celebrate tomorrow, that's what we
celebrate tonight, and that's what we will celebrate in the future.
So feliz Cinco de Mayo. Thank you very much for being here. And party on. (Applause.)
Oh, I also want to -- I want to make sure that -- everybody knows the
Bidens, but I want to make sure to acknowledge my good friend and a
great friend of the United States, Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan, and his
lovely wife, Valencia. (Applause.)
Excuse me. In an incredible breach of protocol, I introduced my good
friend, the Ambassador, but he has greetings from the people of
Mexico. So I take complete responsibility for that. I apologize.
Will everybody please settle down, and let's hear from our Ambassador
from Mexico. (Applause.)
AMBASSADOR SARUKHAN: Senor Presidente, Mrs. Obama, Mr. Vice President,
Mrs. Biden, ladies and gentlemen, amigos, amigas. It is a great honor
and a pleasure to be here with you today to celebrate together Cinco de
Mayo. Perhaps no single anniversary captures the depth of our
friendship and the ties that unite us as this one does. True
friendship, they say, must undergo and withstand the shocks of
adversity to be entitled to that name.
I believe that Mexico and the United States have together on multiple
occasions in the past successfully faced hardships and overcome
difficulties so that we may rightly claim to be true friends.
Today our two countries have yet again joined hands to address a common
challenge. Over the past few days we have worked together tirelessly,
transparently and responsibly to identify and contain the spread of the
H1N1 influenza outbreak. We are firming and strengthening our
cooperation, as well as providing an all-too-real example of the
benefits of close cooperation and of the need to continue to deepen and
widen our ties so that we may together build a strategic partnership.
Therefore, today, as the situation begins to stabilize, I would like to
take this opportunity, Mr. President, to express the sincere gratitude
of President Calderón and of the government and people of Mexico for
all your support during this outbreak, and for your personal commitment
to strengthen the already strong ties that bind our two peoples.
The festivities surrounding Cinco de Mayo may have their origin in the
victory won in 1862 by Mexican forces against an invading French army.
But the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla has become a truly
transnational celebration symbolizing the friendship that exists
between our two nations, connected as they are by transported ties of
family, history, culture and trade.
Here in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has also become a broader
celebration, binding all Latinos as a community, and has acquired
distinctive American undertones. The transformation that this historic
date has undergone in this country mirrors the one that all immigrants
go through as they arrive and integrate into their new home, conscious
that the U.S. thrives because it welcome newcomers, who in turn embrace
its values and way of life.
And that is as it should be in a nation of immigrants such as the
United States. For American describes a oneness that points to
citizenship and not the place of birth or nationality of the men and
women it designates as Americans. It makes reference to a singular
citizenship and a highly plural civil society.
But beyond integration there must also be empowerment. And this to a
great extent is to be realized through the unity and organization that
many of you here have dedicated your life to promoting within the
Latino community. Full citizenship can only be attained if people are
well informed, organized and take an active part in the public life of
their country. Latino unity and organization is what precisely lies
behind one of the most significant stories unfolding in contemporary
America -- the coming of age of Hispanic community in this country, a
community that many of you here represent today.
We thus need to continue to actively encourage the responsible and
intelligent civic engagement and empowerment of Latinos to make sure
that their voice is heard and their culture celebrated, and to ensure
that they prosper as America prospers.
This is no small task, for notwithstanding the fact that the United
States is a country that welcomes immigrants it would be naive to think
that empowerment comes naturally and inevitably as a result of
integration. For some, for most recent immigrants, many of them
Latinos, the obstacles are indeed significant. Some would like to make
these people invisible. But as Ralph Ellison once said of the African
American community, "If they are invisible it is simply because people
refuse to see them."
This cannot stand, for to quote Ellison, "America is woven of many
strands. I would recognize them and let it so remain. Our fate is to
become one and yet many. This is not prophecy, but description."
Ladies and gentlemen, no other bilateral relationship is more important
than security and the prosperity of the United States than its
relationship with Mexico, in the same way that the well being of the
Mexican people is inextricably tied to the fates of the United States.
We must ensure that on both sides of the border our citizens remain
co-stakeholders to this all-important bilateral relationship. And in
this endeavor the Latino community must continue to play a key role.
The celebration of the Cinco de Mayo by both our countries is a most
permanent reminder of the common bond and heritage that our two nations
share. What we celebrate here today, Mr. President, is a common past
and hopes and aspirations for a common future.
Thank you very much. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: All right. Now you can go party. Thank you. (Applause.)
END
5:40 P.M. EDT
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