Former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has described the world as at "a global tipping point" where "even facts and reason are under assault like never before".Giving a public lecture at Trinity College in Dublin, she described it as a moment that will determine whether we embrace "free people, human rights and democracy" or "retreat to closed societies, oppression and authoritarianism".
Speaking to a packed to capacity lecture hall, it was speech directed at millennials, whom she said were "proving to be some of the most effective activists". Read more >>>>
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gives a public lecture at Trinity College Dublin. Picture: Maxwells
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered an impassioned speech about the merits of democracy during a special visit to Dublin.
She was being recognised with an Honorary Doctorate at Trinity College Dublin and spoke to a crowd at the university's Edmund Burke Theatre, an audience including students, activists and politicians, including former Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald.
The hour long engagement was sprinkled with signature Hillary presentation: discussing the ongoing fight for women's rights, the increasingly powerful influence over the West by Russia with just the right amount of humour.
"A lot has happened since I was last in Ireland. I became a grandmother twice over, which is just about the greatest thing in th world. As you may have heard, I ran for president. The grandparenting went great, but the other part, not so much," she said. Read more >>>>
Thank
you so much, John. Thank you for the introduction and thank you for
picking up the reins in Dan’s absence. This is a difficult time for him
and the Rooneys, and all of you have done a wonderful job of putting
together this trip for me. And I am delighted to be back in Ireland and
here at (inaudible) embassy – (laughter) – in the world to thank you for
everything you have done to make even stronger the bonds between our
countries and peoples.
But first, I do want to send my deepest
condolences to Ambassador Rooney, to his wife Patricia, and to their
entire family. Dan Rooney has done so much for (inaudible) the Republic
of Ireland and the United States, and he’s built an embassy family
nearly as big as the Rooney family – (laughter) – but not quite. And
this is a man who could go anywhere in the world for time off, but
instead he and his extended family embraced Lewis and Clark’s
expedition. He draws inspiration from the extraordinary people that he
knows and he works with. Somebody once said Dan Rooney would get the
Nobel Prize for Humility, if there were such a prize. And so our
thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
And I really do
wish he could be here, or be piped in, because he has bragged about you
to me and our team in Washington on a non-stop basis. You’d think the
mission had won the Super Bowl. (Laughter.) He tells me every time I see
him that you are a shining example of his ideals. Not only do you work
hard every day on this relationship, with so many different aspects of
our engagement, but you raised thousands of dollars for Special Olympics
and children with brain damage, you delivered cookies to our troops,
you built a house for a poverty-stricken family. You’ve given back to
the Irish community in ways large and small.
And in your official
capacity, because that’s what you do in your time off, you’re working
with our Irish friends to promote food security in Africa, advance
research and development in clean energy, and expand our trade and
investment to record levels. And I know you will be supporting Ireland
as it becomes the president of the EU next year. These recent years, we
know, have been tough for the Irish people. And we stand with them in
solidarity and support.
And for our wonderful locally employed
Irish team, we want to thank you. Would all our Irish employees raise
your hands, family members? Let’s give you a round of applause.
(Applause.) I learned long ago that ambassadors come and go, secretaries
of State come and go, but our locally employed staff remain as the
backbone, the memory bank of our missions. And we are so grateful to
you.
And to all of our American team representing several
different agencies in our government, thank you for what you’ve done
every single day, particularly the added responsibilities of preparing
for my trip.
And I am so proud to be here in Ireland, representing
our country and following the footsteps of President Obama’s incredibly
successful trip when he came to Ireland earlier in the year. Because we
appreciate what you’re doing and we stand with the Irish people as they
make such tough decisions for their own futures and show the remarkable
resilience for which they are known worldwide and have made so many
contributions to humanity.
I’ll have more to say about Ireland in
my upcoming speech at Dublin City University, but suffice it to say that
we back in Washington appreciate everything you’re doing to build an
even stronger and more prosperous Ireland and a deeper partnership
between us.
Thank you all, and let me come down and shake your hands so I can thank you in person. (Applause.)
Stacy posted this article at Secretary Clinton blog. I find it so touching I have to put it here, too. I did not know that this was the first dedicated trip to Ireland by a Secretary of State. I do remember that back on St. Patrick's Day, when she met with Prime Minister Brian Cowen and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheal Martin in Washington, she was also interviewed by an Irish radio station and was asked when she would be going to Ireland. At the time, she did not hold much hope for a visit within her first year at State since there were so many critical regions on her map. But this visit has clearly made an impression and provided a message that the Irish people like. They love our girl! (So do we!) Here's the lovely article from the Irish Times.
KATHY SHERIDAN
THIRTEEN CARS and three buses wound their way to Farmleigh and another piece of history was made as the first US secretary of state to make a dedicated visit to Ireland emerged from an armoured 07 BMW.
She came dressed in a royal blue “pantsuit”, feminised with a ruffle, a large silver necklace and black kitten heels, none of which detracted from that formidable gaze as she and the Taoiseach swapped diplomatic phrases under a lowering sky.
It was a transformed Hillary, wrapped in a black coat and jolly yellow scarf, who stepped from a limousine on South Anne Street in Dublin city centre a few hours later as dusk was falling.
The Irish are not a slow people. The Garda presence on South Anne Street was a giveaway and the lads in Kehoe’s pub were ready and waiting with a big cheer. Suddenly, from the emptying streets, humans were emerging from all angles, beaming just-got-lucky grins and wielding their camera phones, as a totally relaxed Hillary smiled and chatted her way towards Bewley’s, the usual wary secret service crew keeping watch but giving room for an astonishingly intimate love-in.
“Got your Michael Jackson glove?” she asked merrily, showing the stuff that made her great by clocking – in the dusk – the single white glove on a small boy’s hand.
Two little red-haired girls, Laura and Emma Smithers from Knocklion, Co Cavan, presented her with flowers : “Oh my gosh is that for me? Can I take them with me?” she asked, wide-eyed.
She was being recognised with an Honorary Doctorate at Trinity College Dublin and spoke to a crowd at the university's Edmund Burke Theatre, an audience including students, activists and politicians, including former Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald.
KATHY SHERIDAN