Frist: “we can be the generation to make extreme poverty… history.”
I’m watching the RNC tonight where Senator Frist, Co-Chair of ONE Vote ’08, just gave a speech that spoke directly to many of ONE’s issues. Some highlights below, the full script after the jump.
“Health builds trust ,and health bridges divides. That’s why America’s investment in medical diplomacy is a long-term investment in national security. Health is a currency for peace.
I’m proud to tell you that it was a Republican president and a Republican-led Congress that launched our nation’s historic initiative to fight AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in the world’s poorest countries — the greatest global health commitment in history.
Has it made a difference? Oh yes! In just six years, the number of Africans on life-saving treatment jumped from 50,000 to over 2 million! The incidence of malaria has been slashed by two-thirds in some countries. Today, 20 million more children are in school.
But much work remains to be done.
HIV/AIDS continues to hollow out entire generations of people at the prime of their lives. It’s easy for people to lose hope.
And when they do, the vacuum is filled with desperation, instability, and – yes, the seeds of terrorism.”
“we can be the generation to make extreme poverty… history.”
—-
Remarks by Senator Frist, M.D. at the RNCC 9.4.08
A few years back, I was in Southern Sudan.
Late one afternoon, walking down a dusty, rural road — a family approached – a mother with a yellow jug of water on her head and a baby swaddled across her back.
She was following two young children … who were playfully spinning an old bicycle wheel with a stick. The children came over and greeted me.
The older child said, “My name is America.”
I said, “America? I love your name that’s where I’m from. How did you get your name …”America?”
Glancing up at his mother with pride, the boy explained, “My mom named me ‘America’ because an American doctor saved our lives the day I was born. Without America, I would not be alive.”
There are millions of other children around the world like “America,” thanks to the volunteer spirit of everyday citizens and Republican leadership that made this cause a priority.
This medical diplomacy transforms hearts and minds and revolutionizes how people of the world see us.
Health is the foundation for strong families and for prosperous societies. Health builds trust ,and health bridges divides.
That’s why America’s investment in medical diplomacy is a long-term investment in national security.
Health is a currency for peace …
I’m proud to tell you that it was a Republican president and a Republican-led Congress that launched our nation’s historic initiative to fight AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in the world’s poorest countries — the greatest global health commitment in history.
Has it made a difference? Oh yes! In just six years, the number of Africans on life-saving treatment jumped from 50,000 to over 2 million! The incidence of malaria has been slashed by two-thirds in some countries. Today, 20 million more children are in school.
But much work remains to be done.
HIV/AIDS continues to hollow out entire generations of people at the prime of their lives. It’s easy for people to lose hope.
And when they do, the vacuum is filled with desperation, instability, and – yes, the seeds of terrorism.
John McCain understands that health diplomacy can be a powerful antidote to terrorism.
John McCain knows you don’t go to war with someone who has saved the life of your child.
Six weeks ago, Cindy McCain and I were in the small, central African country of Rwanda.
…a country where, in 1994, an extremist government …slaughtered over a million people in the worst human catastrophe since the Holocaust.
In a meeting with local leaders, I asked who in the room was actually in Rwanda at the time of the genocide. Few raised their hands – but Cindy McCain did.
You see, at a time when most of the world looked away, Cindy was there, on the ground — with medical relief, a huge heart, and open arms.
Through more than 50 similar medical missions, Cindy McCain has brought comfort to those in anguish, serving as America’s most passionate ambassador for peace.
John McCain understands that entrepeneurship and sustainable economic growth bloom where there is democracy, accountability, and free markets.
Using innovative new institutions like the Millenium Challenge Corporation, he will make certain that U.S. aid will not be squandered by corrupt foreign governments, or wasted by inefficient bureaucracies.
John McCain understands that health and responsible international assistance are core components of our strategy for national security.
They become the foundation for enduring peace.
John McCain understands that we can be the generation to make extreme poverty… history.
John McCain will lead with compassion and urgency to save lives, to show America’s greatness, and to spread peace through health, one child at a time… for a better, safer world …for us all.
God bless you… and God bless the children of the world.
- Previous Post Your Voice, Your Vote
- Next Post ONE in the Cindy McCain Bio Video!
Blog Contributors
Hot Topics
-
Fight the Famine, Feed the Future
ONE is campaigning to ensure that the Congressional budget does not cut foreign assistance programs like Feed the Future that help people break the cycle of poverty and hunger. -
Crisis in the Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in 60 years. More than 11 million people, mostly nomadic pastoralists and farmers in south-central Somalia, north-eastern Kenya, and south-eastern Ethiopia, are severely lacking access to food. -
The Beginning of the End of AIDS
2011 marks 30 years since the first cases of AIDS were documented. Take a closer look at the specific, achievable goals we must hit by 2015 to make this year the beginning of the end of AIDS. -
Agriculture Accountability
As aid agencies warn more than 9 million people could be affected by a food crisis in East Africa, world leaders are failing to keep their 2009 promises to tackle the causes of chronic hunger and support farmers in the world's poorest countries.
From Our Members
-
Our question on faith and development, answered by the White House
Feb 9th, 2012 | Posted by Field -
Remembering ONE member Laurence Carolin on Airplane Day
Feb 8th, 2012 | Posted by Field -
Rep. Dicks is not the Norm… he’s a champion
Feb 3rd, 2012 | Posted by Field
From Our Partners
-
US aid for water, sanitation and hygiene should benefit the poor
Feb 9th, 2012 | Posted by Guest Blogger -
Six Valentine’s Day gifts
Feb 9th, 2012 | Posted by Paulena Papagiannis -
Remembering ONE member Laurence Carolin on Airplane Day
Feb 8th, 2012 | Posted by Field
September 4, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Senator Frist has done an outstanding job. Thanks Senator for simply being a good human being.
September 5, 2008 at 1:12 am
Senator Frist made some compelling points here, and of all the moments at the RNC, because of the fondness i have for this great man who has spent a lot of time and medical care and really has a genuine heart for the people of the third world, especially the children, well, i appreciate the speech being printed here. great points were made concerning the issues important to ONE.
it’s undeniable the progress in global health and education aid in the past six years. many kudos to bipartisan grassroots lobbying, including us ONE members, who have been bringing the issues of global extreme poverty and hunger to the forefront. i’m very pleased that Senators Frist and Dashel are c0-chairing Vote ’08.
September 5, 2008 at 1:43 am
Extreme poverty will only disappear when extreme wealth is eradicated. From the undeserving few back to the exploited many should be the motto for the generation that will make poverty history.
September 5, 2008 at 4:45 am
I agree with Sal. (Extreme poverty will only disappear when extreme wealth is eradicated.)
Unfortunately, the REAL issue why so many in the world are living in extreme poverty is never sufficiently addressed.
Thanks Sal – I hope that you’ll continue to offer an alternative viewpoint in this forum. The truth is sorely needed.
AS ONE, debbie
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org
September 5, 2008 at 2:03 pm
It seems that the truth is only as some people want to see it. I am far from wealthy, but I certainly don’t want to see a redistribution of income. That solves nothing. Communist countries found that out. One is working hard to eliminate extreme poverty, and I believe in what One is trying to do. Senator Frist is a terrific human being, and should be given credit for his humanitarian efforts.
September 5, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I have always believed in what ONE is doing and no one is disrespecting Sen. Frist.
September 5, 2008 at 9:23 pm
where did you even see the word “disrespect”? I have always marveled at people who tell other people what they believe or say. I hope that everyone on this site believes in One.
September 5, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Where do you see anyone telling anyone what they believe or say? I am simply speaking for myself which I am allowed to do in this forum.
Let’s just agree to be AS ONE and have a nice weekend – OK?
September 5, 2008 at 9:48 pm
again, don’t try to put words in other people’s mouths. I support One strongly. So do a lot of other people. I just don’t think it is fair to use subtle attacks on a site dedicated to helping millions of people. That should be the only focus. I always have nice days, evenings and weekends. I live in Paradise.
September 6, 2008 at 10:38 am
I respect the work that Sen. Frist and One are doing to alleviate global poverty. And I fully support the cause of One. It is very true that health care is a currency for peace. And in developing nations epidemics of HIV/Aids can nurture seeds of instability and even terrorism. I think it is ironic for this speech to have been given at the RNC before a crowd of delegates who do not even support providing health care for all Americans. It is surely a noble cause to reach out to nations poorer than ours to offer our help. But shouldn’t we also committ ourselves to the cause of making sure that all of our citizens have adequate health care? This is something that McCain and the Republican platform do not support. In fact McCain proposes to do absolutely nothing to address the problem of the 50 million uninsured Americans and untold millions more who are underinsured.
Furthermore it is true that the larger the income gap between rich and poor in a society the more you will see inadequate health care, lower levels of education and eventually more citizen unrest. That is simply a fact. In our own country we are at a level of wealth inequality not seen since the Depression era 1930′s, all brought about in the last 8 years during which Republicans controlled the Executive and Legislative branches of government completely.
Wake up America!
Obama/Biden 2008
Peace and love,
Laura
September 6, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Laura, I respectfully disagree with you. I do not see government as a means to provide health insurance for the American people. In fact, I prefer not to have government involved if that is possible. Why? Because when government gets involved things go very wrong. I pay for my health insurance, and I have all my life. There have been times when it has been a real hardship, such as when I had to insure myself, a brother and my mother. Three different policies, three times the cost. But I never felt that the government owed that to me. I still don’t. Growing up in the projects as one of nine children, my parents taught us to be self sufficient. They also taught us that the government did not owe us a living or anything else. Working in a steel mill, I learned how intrusive the government and labor unions could be. I belonged to a union, because I had to if I wanted to keep my job. I think Senator Frist made his speech in exactly the right place. National security is important to me. I recognize that One’s goals of eliminating global poverty will make us safer. I have no issue with helping less fortunate individuals, but I don’t believe that it should be required. I believe in the goals that One is trying to accomplish. They offer a hand up, not a hand out. That is the lesson that we must learn.
September 8, 2008 at 1:34 am
I agree that extreme poverty will not disappear until extreme wealth dissolves as a goal of those in economic wealth and political power. ONE is a nice ideal, but it won’t be accomplished by politicians who come to toot their horns for their party, which former senator Frist is doing. Why is it that he still pursues the policy of permanently getting rid of an inheritance tax in the U.S.? Why is it that his family’s healthcare corporation milked the medicare system, which is meant to address issues related to poverty? And he needs to be honest about his party’s reaction to some pretty awful things they did to my father’s reputation and military service, during which he worked on solutions to addressing malaria during the Vietnam War. The reason he’s so bent on this is for his own public relations’ sake. But some people just swallow the hypocrisy whole. ONE doesn’t exist until he can come to a truth and reconciliation table and tell admit what he has done to perpetuate poverty and keep other people down and in service to his and his cronies’ interests. When that happens, I’ll actually believe in what ONE says it’s doing. Until then, I want the truth.
September 8, 2008 at 1:48 am
By the way, since when did FORMER senators get the privilege to run around putting Senator without the “former” in front of their names. Even Al Gore as a former vice president does not refer to himself with his former official title. With due respect for his former title, does he still believe in his mind that he is a senator currently serving as an elected official in the U.S. Senate? Someone needs to help bring him back to reality. I don’t know other former senators or congressional representatives who go around doing this.
September 9, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Dear ONE Commenters
Has it occurred to anyone that the lack of community and consistent activity on this blog may be due the combative atmosphere found here — most sadly, from ONE members themselves?
We aren’t really here to debate the particulars of political and economic theories dear to us, are we? We have a clear purpose here: to discuss concrete, actionable ways of helping end global poverty by working within existing political structures. If we need to debate other issues — of economics, candidates’ worthiness, election predictions, etc. etc. and 1000x etc. — there are plenty of forums online to make our voices heard on these many other issues.
Is it really helpful when we criticize enthusiastic new volunteers as “clappy” (implying their contribution lacks substance, or is not appreciated) or vigorously debate people on issues that are — ultimately — not a part of ONE’s core purpose of help?
You can believe people are reading this blog to see what kind of an organization ONE is, and what kind of feeling they can expect.
It seems to me, when we project an aggressive energy, we limit our ability to be helpful to the very people we care most about: innocent suffering people who need all the help they can get.
September 9, 2008 at 6:09 pm
thanx, chris
staying close,
sammi
September 9, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Chris,
Are you the new person that we contact when posters are not following the guidelines for posting here in the ONE Blog that Ginny originally posted?
Hope that you’ll respond back.
AS ONE, debbie
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org
September 10, 2008 at 9:52 am
Hi!
Just to clarify, I am not the Chris who posted on this thread at 2:59. Whenever I post, I’ll sign off as Chris, ONE.org or something to that effect.
Debbie K, whenever you want to flag something for us, please use this link: http://www.one.org/contact/blog.html
Hope all is well and as always, many thanks for the lively discussion!
Chris, ONE.org
September 25, 2008 at 4:38 am
I’d like to chime in agreement with Sal and Debbie. We need to eradicate Extreme Wealth because it is linked to (and causes) Extreme Poverty. I’ve just launched a video about this issue:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QkSDqIMCTAg