Speech at the New York Metropolitan Area Baptist Conference, Harlem, NY, October 22, 1984.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984/1054/thumbnail.jp

Ferraro, Geraldine

English

Fordham University School of Law

Fordham Law SchoolFLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship and HistorySpeeches 1984 Vice-Presidential Campaign10-22-1984New York Metropolitan Area Baptist ConferenceSpeech: Version 2Geraldine FerraroFollow this and additional works at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984Part of the Law CommonsThis Book is brought to you for free and open access by the 1984 Vice-Presidential Campaign at FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship andHistory. It has been accepted for inclusion in Speeches by an authorized administrator of FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship andHistory. For more information, please contact tmelnick@law.fordham.edu.Recommended CitationFerraro, Geraldine, "New York Metropolitan Area Baptist Conference Speech: Version 2" (1984). Speeches. 55.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984/55N'r" MFTROPOI I J..£-1\J AREA RAPT I ST CONEEPFf\JCF -- HM<LEM. N. Y. fjClf'illlf\.~L DC TOBER_ ')'/ I I 984 THANK YOU. REVEREND BURSON, FOR YOUR GRACIOUS INTRODUCTION. l AM HONORED TO STAND AT THE PULPIT WHERE REVEREND M.l. WILSON ONCE PREACHEu. REVEREND WILSON DEVOT~D HIS LIFE TO MA~ ING EOUALITf AND JUSTICE TRULY A RIGHT FOR ALL AMERICANS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK HEVEREf'-JD BURSON. REVEREND GRANT AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE. FOR INvr·rING M= ro ADDRESS THE CONFERENCE TODAY. AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE REVEREND GARDNEi"<., Af\ID WISH HIM LUCK IN HIS NEW PO::. IT I ON . LET ME SAY I'M TRULY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY, AND I'M PROUD TO TALK TO A CROUP THAT REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST OF THIS NATION'S SPIRIT AND DEVOTTON. BECAUSE OF YOUR EFFORTS, THIS CITY HAS LEARNED THAT THE WAY TO JUSTICE IS THROUGH PARTICIPATION; THE WAY TO SUCCESS IS THRCUGH HARD WORK, AND THE WAY TO EQUALITY IS THROUGH COMPASSION. I SAY YOUR WOP.I< TO F"EED THI~. CI TY'S SEN !OR CI TI ZENS AND HOMELE~S. TO RE cCUE THIS CITY'S YOUTHS FROM THE DANGERS OF DRUG ADDICTION, AND TO INVOLVE YOUR COMMUNITIES IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS ARE BEARING FRUIT. AND YOUR SUCCESSES ARE BEING W~TCHED. HARLEM/BAPTIST CONF. PAGE 2 THIS YEAR YOU HAVE HELPED REGISTER THOUSANDS OF NEW VOTERS, AND BECAUSE OF YOU, v..JHERE THERE ONCE WAS FRUSTRATION, THERE IS NOW A "'JAY TO BE HEARD. WHERE THERE ONCE WAS SILENCE, THERE IS NOW A VOICE FOR PROGRESS. WHERE THERE ONCE WAS DESPAIR, THERE IS NOW A RAY O~ HOPE. AND ONCE THEY VOTE, WE WILL ALL BE STRONGER. SOME PEOPLE -!"HINK THAT DEBATES DON'T MATTER. MR. BUSH'S CAMPAIG~·J AIDE JUST SAID, (QUOTE) .'/You CAN SAY ANYTHING YOU WANT DURING A DEBATE, AND 80 MILLION PFOPLE HEAR IT," WHEN AS~ED WHAT HAPPENS IF MISSTATEMENTS ARE CORRECTED LATER IN NEWSPAPERS, HE REPLIED, (QUOTE) "So WHAT? MAYBE TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE READ IT .. OP T\t-10 THGIJSAND, OR TWENTY THOUSAND." THAT CYNICAL OUTLOOK OF FOOLING MOST OF THE PEOPLE MOST OF THE TIME MUST BE THE OPER~TING PRINCIPLE OF MR. REAGAN AND MR. BusH. BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT TH~IR PERFORMANCE IN THE LAST THREE DEBATES, THE TRANSCRIPT IS LITTERED WITH MISSTATEMENTS. l N THE F rr;:s r D£::.I3ATE, Ml~. f~E:..6.GAN SAID DEF I c I TS DON IT CAUSE HIGH INTEREST RATES -- WHEN THEY DO. HE SAID HE HADN'T REDUCED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR THE ELDERLY -- WHEN HE HAD. AND HE SAID THE RATE OF INCREASE IN POVERTY HAS DROPPED -- WHEN IN FACT IT HAS~ RISEN, HARLEM/BAPTIST (ONF. PA<"::;F 3 IN THE SECOND DEBATE. MR. BUSH SAID REAL INTEREST RATES DON'T MATTER -- WHEN THEY DO. HE '.3AID SPENDING FOR THE NEEDY IS UP -- WHEN IT'S DOWN. AND HE S.C'\ID THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION HAD surPORTED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT EXTENSION -- WHEN IN FACT THEY CRAGG ED THE IF< FEf=:T ON THAT ~lEASURE, LAST NIGHT, THEY WERE AT IT AGAI1~. FIRST RONALD REAGAN SAID A CIA AGENT IN NICARAGUA REVIEWED THE DOCUMENT WHICH ADVOCATED ASSASSINATION. THEN HE SAID THERE WAS NO CIA AGENT IN NICARAGUA. BUT \JHFREVER THE AGENT WAS, AMER I CA lt-JAS STUNNED TO LEARN THA 1 THE CIA HAS WRITTEN AND IS CIRCULATING IN NICARAGUA A MANUAL THAT TEACHEC.:. ASSASSINATIO~L TERROR, BLACKMAIL, KIDNAPPING, AND MOB VIOLENCE. IT IS WRI1TEN MORE IN THE SPIRIT OF STALIN THAN JEFFERSON. IT READS LIKE MAO, NOT LINCOLN. IT BEFITS A DICATORSHIP, NOT A DEMOCRACY. IT'S AN INSULT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPL[. MOREOVER, ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THAT REFINING THE MURDER TECHNIQUES OF (LNTRAL_ AMEFnCANS WILL ADVANCE OUF~ NATIONAL INTEf-<ESTS rs GRAVE!_Y MISTAKEN. IN OUR OWN SELF INTEREST, WE SHOULD BE BUILDING ECONOMIES, NOT MINING HARBORS. WE HAVE TO STOP THE COVEl<T WAI'. IN NI C/\ l~AGUA. HARLEM/BAPTIST CONF. PAGE 4 THEN, RONALD REAGAN SAID HE HAD A GOOD RECORD ON HUMAN RIGHTS. WELL, LET'S LISTEN TO WH.li.T THIS YEAR'S NOBEL PRIZE WINNER, BISHOP TUTU OF SOUTH AFRICA, HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION'S HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY: (QUOTE) 0 THE NAME OF THE Ul'JI.TED STATES IN THE BLACK Soun-I ,i\FRICAN COMMUNITY WAS MUD," BECAUSE OF OUR SUPPORT FOR A SYSTEM THAT HAS BROUGHT, (QUOTE) "UNTOLD MISERY TO so MANY OF Goo'~. CHILDREN." WHEN WALTER MONDALE W;l.S VICE PRESIDENT HE WHH TO iHE PHILIPPINES AND PRESSURED THAT REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT FOR POLITICAL FREEDOM. BUT WHEN GEORGE BUSH -- THE EXPERT -- WENT TO THAT COUNTRY AS VICE PRESIDENT, HE IGNORED THEIR RECENT HISTORY OF MARTIAL LAW AND ARBITRARY IMPRISONMENT OF DISSIDENTS, AND HE TOASTED PRESIDENT MARCOS DY SAYING, (QUOTE) "WE LOVE YOUR ADHERENCE TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPALS, AND DEMOCRA_t.IC PROCESSES." WHEN WALTER MONDALE WAS VICE PRESIDENT, HE WENT TO VIENNA AND PRESSUF~ED Sount /\nu CAN 1-'REMI EH Vot\S TER TO END THC RAC I ST SYSTEM OF AFlAlnHt::ID IN THAT TRAGIC COUNTRY. BuT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS COZIED UP TO THAT RACIST SYSTEM OF APARTHEID, AND I SAY 1 T's TI ME TO TURN THE T/\BLES ON Soun1 AFR I CA. (,) \\l/\L TER MONDALE AND l WI LL PUT THE HEAT ON SOUTH AFR I CA, t.-ND LET THEM 1 .. N()W Af71AI.: rl-IE ID MUS r l.ND. \~[ ~-JI LL PRESS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS l''OT. ONLY IN THE SOVIET Ur\JION BUT ALSO IN THE PHILIPPINES .D,1 ·JD Soun1 AFR I CA. HARLEM/BAPTIST LONF. PAGE 5 FINALLY, RONALD REAGAN SAID WE SHOULD LAUNCH AN ARMS RACE IN SPACE. HE SAID WE SHOULD SPEND A TRILLlON DOLLARS IN SEARCH OF A ST.AR WARS WEAPONS SYSTEM TO PROTECT OURSELVES. THIS WOULD BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND SENSITIVE WEAPON EVER BUILT. A.FTER WE BUILD IT, RONALD REAGAN WANTS TO DEMONSTRATE IT TO THE SOVIETS, BUT HOlrJ DO WE DEMONSTRAl E A SYSTEM THAT HAS TO KNOCK DOWN EIGHT THOUSAND WEAPONS? \--/E DON'T KNOW THAT, BUT Wt: DO KNOW THAT AFTER WE TEST IT, RONALD REAGAN W/'\NTS us TO GIVE IT TO THE SOVIET UNION. Now WHAT KIND OF SENSE DOES THAT MAKE? l DON'T KNOW WHY l.lEY SAY THINGS IN THESE DEBATES WHICH ARE PLAINLY NOT TRUE, BUT IF THEY KEEP IT UP, I'M PREPARED TO BE A Ol'1E-WOMAN TRUTH SQUAD. PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL GET FROM FRITZ MONDALE AND GERRY FERRARO, LLT ME TELL YOU SOML:THING. fHIS CAMr:iAIGM IS MORE IMPORTANf THAN A CONTEST BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE. Ir's MORE THAN A CAMPAIGN BETWEEN TWO PERSONALITIES. IT'S A CHOICE ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER IN (OUR LIVES AND IN THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDR:N. LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS: WALTER MONDALE AND I ARE ON YOUR SIDE. WE BELIEVE IN CIVIL RIGHTS. AND WE STAND ON A RECORD OF COMMITMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT TO PROVE IT. HARLEM/BAPTIST (ONF. PAGE f) WHEN WALTER MONDALE WAS IN THE SENATE, HE HELPED WRITE THE FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968. HE HELPED PASS THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT. HE WAS A FIGHTER FOR HEAD START. HE LED THE BATTLE FOR THE INDEPENDENT LEGAL SERVICES THAT BRING JUSTICE TO EVERY AMERICAN. HE INVESTIGATED THE PLIGHT OF MIGRANT WORKERS. AND HE WROTE LANDMARK DAY-CARE LEGISLATION. NAME A DECENT CAUSE, AND FRITZ MONDALE HAS BEEN THERE, FIGHTING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. WHEN MOSES LED HIS PEOPLE ACROSS ThE RED SEA, ANU OUT OF BONDAGE .. NO ONE ASKED WHO WAS THE FIRST TO CROSS, BUT WHETHER THE LAST ONES WERE SAFE. AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PROMISED LAND, AND IT'S TIME FOR ALL Oi- US TO cr~oss OVER. As THE REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SAID, WE WILL NOT BE SATISFIED, (QUOTE) "UNTIL JUSTICE ROLLS DOWN Lif<E WATERS, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE THE MIGHTY STREAM." WITH DOCTOR KING, LET'S DECLARE FINALLY THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BC .Jl.JUCiED NUT l '. l ltl[ COL.Uf< Uf.' Tlll~ll< 9~ IN , BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CH/\R/1,CTER, 0 WITH DOCTOR KING, LET'S SAY WE FACE AN ADVt.:RSARY, BUT WE HAVE FACED ~DVESARIES BEFORE, AND THIS ONE TOO WE SHALL OVERCOME. HARLEM/BAPTIST CONF. PAGE 7 WALTER MONDALE AND l SUPPORT CIVIL RIGHTS, NOT SEGREGATED ACADEMIES. WALTER MONDALE AND l BELIEVE IN JOBS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED. WE DON'T BLAME WORKERS FOR BEING UNEMPLOYED, THE WAY THIS PRESIDENT DQES. WE BLAME THIS PRESIDENT. WALTER MONDALE Al'JD l BELIEVE IN EDUCATION. RONALD REAGAN W,~NTS TO LAUNCH A TEACHER INTO SPACE. BUT WE SAY WE SHOULD INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS HERE ON EARTH. WALTER MONDALE AND l BELIE.VE IN THE ELDERLY. To PROTECT THEM, LET'S HAVE RONALD REAGAN COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY IN CALIFORNIA, INSTEAD OF CUTTING IT IN WASHINGTON. WE'RE IN A FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T MAKE IT ON THEIR OWN, RONALD REAGAN SAYS THE HOMELESS LIKE LIVING ON THE STREETS. WALTER Mm 1i::1ALE WANTS To 1-1r::LP THEM Fr ND SHELTER, WE'RE IN A FIGHT FOR THE HUNGRY, THIS ADMINISTRATION SAYS THERE rs NO HUNGER IN AMERICA. WALTER MONDALE WMHS TO INVEST MORE IN THE HUMAN RACE AND LE.3S IN THE ARMS RACE, HARLEM/BAPTIST CoNF. PAGE 8 AND WE'RE IN A F!GHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, WE MUST STAND FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE ABROAD BECAUSE, AS REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. KNEW, (QUOTE) "INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE." THE Tif"'IE TO BEGIN THAT FIGHT IS NOT LATER -- IT'S NOW. THE TIME TO GO TO WORK FOR OUR FUTURE IS NOT LATER -- IT'S NQl.N' THE TIME For: A RE-BIRTH OF JUSTICE IS NOT LATER -- IT-SNOW. AND THE TIME TO ELECT W.l\L TER MONDALE PRESIDENT AND GERRY FERRARO VICE-PRESIDENT IS NOT LATER -- IT 1 3 NOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. -- END --

New York Metropolitan Area Baptist Conference Speech: Version 2

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New York Metropolitan Area Baptist Conference Speech: Version 2

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