His remarks spoke directly to the 150,000 people in the audience who had just been sworn in as naturalized United States citizens. He said, weve gathered here to affirm a faith, a faith in a common purpose. A common conviction. A common devotion. Some of us have chosen america as the land of our adoption. The rest of us have come from those who did the same. What was the object that nerved us . Or those who went before us, to this choice . We sought liberty, freedom from oppression, freedom from want, freedom to be ourselves. Behind me, just across columbus circle, is central park. 73 years later were here to affirm that common faith that learned hand proclaimed. Today well begin a conversation about how to strengthen our democracy at home. And help foster a new consensus that spreads freedom abroad. Over the past century, the world has witnessed the transformative power of freedom around the world. In 1900 there were no true democracies. My mother was born before women had the right to vote. And only until the Voting Rights act of 1965 were restrictions on voting by africanamericans finally lifted. Conditions began to change in what has been described as waves of transformation. By the end of the 20th century, from western europe to latin america to asia and africa, societies that had been ruled by military governments or dictators were choosing democracy. And communism collapsed almost completely. Millions of people around the world no longer think of themselves as subjects, but rather as citizens with rights. And thats a major accomplishment. This progress is a testament to the human spirit, to the sacrifices made by brave men and women who fight for freedom, and to those courageous individuals who continue this fight for freedom today. George and i believe that freedom is the universal desire of all people. During our time in the white house, and now at the Bush Institute, weve met with dozens of dissidents and democracy advocates from every part of the world. Despite their differences of history, culture, language or religion, one thing is constant. A fundamental belief in the dignity of all human beings and their right to be free. These conversations have reminded me of the fragility of freedom. Particularly in places where its newly won. Last year Freedom House noted the 11th year of decline of freedom around the world. This is due to the use of more forceful tactics by authoritarian regimes and to a rise in global terrorism. Weve seen populist and nationalist forces gain strength in democratic states. Even in the United States, which remains a beacon of freedom to others, Freedom House has raised concerns about signs of erosion that need attention. Research shows that less than 1 3 of American Students in grades four, eight and 12 are proficient in civics. The knowledge of the american constitutional system and the role of government in Civil Society in the lives of free people. This trend is even more concerning when you consider more than 1 3 of respondents in a recent annenberg study could not name a single right protected by the first amendment. More than 30 of people surveyed couldnt name a Single Branch of government. We must prepare our children and grandchildren with the tools they need to be informed, engaged citizens, who care about individual liberty and democracy. We must teach them history, we must insist they understand the government their blessed theyre blessed to live under. We must teach our children how to listen, to show empathy, to show civility in the face of disagreement. And to overcome malice and hate. And we must model that behavior ourselves. This is the task of parents, teachers and anyone who touches the lives of young people today. And its our patriotic duty as americans. This situation didnt develop overnight. Weve been neglecting to tell our nations story for years. It will take time and effort to repair. Two years ago the Bush Institute released Freedom Matters, a supplemental crick limb for curriculum for high schoolers. Our goal with Freedom Matters is simple. To foster the next generation of americans. Perhaps even a future president of the United States. To care about democracy and individual liberty at home and abroad. Freedom matters is Available Online for anyone to Download Free of charge. The 16 lessons in Freedom Matters combine the personal stories of dissidents and democracy advocates featured in the Bush Institutes institutes freedom collection, with broader universal concepts of freedom, rule of law, limited representative government, and the protection of basic human rights. This is just one of the ways the Bush Institute is committed to developing a consensus about the value of freedom. Were grateful to work with partners on a new initiative. Im thrilled to announce that in collaboration with Freedom House and the center for diplomacy and global engagement, were launching a major Public Opinion research study, a poll that will help us learn how americans feel about their democracy and what americans believe their role is in spreading liberty abroad. The results of the poll will serve as a resource for others who share our commitment to democracy and freedom. Grace joe is a fine example of someone who is committed to spreading liberty worldwide. Grace came to the United States as a refugee from north korea. And she knows what life is like when freedom is absent. As an inaugural recipient of the Bush Institutes north korea freedom scholarship, grace wants to help other north koreans trapped beyond pyongyangs iron curtain. George and irhonored that shes here today to share i are honored that shes here today to share her story. Please welcome please join me in welcoming grace joe cho. [applause] my name is grace and i am an american. [applause] thank you. It is my privilege to be an american. When freedom is absent in my life, it was dark, sad, desperate and i was fearful. My grandmother, when she raised me until i was 7 years old, and she passed away. Because she starved and she didnt have any food to eat. Her last words were for to us leave the village and survive. Also her last wish was to eat a baked potato. I was so little i was not able to provide her wish, but by the grace of god i survived. I came to america and i found freedom. My father, who was a hero to me, he tried his best to try to find a way to help us to leave north korea. However, the regimes ruth regime ruthlessly killed my father. His only crime was to cross the border between china and north korea and his only crime was to bring a bag of rice for his dying children. He was handcuffed on a train, he was not able to see or stand completely. He starved for many days and severely tortured. My youngest brother died because of starvation. Corn t have enough pouder to make his porridge. He decided to leave us first. Maybe because he realized that the regime, the country is not worth working to leave. When i grow up in china, i was able to eat white rice and pork and sometimes i can eat meat. The life in china was difficult but it was way better than life in north korea. However, i had to hide and run to place to place every time in china. However, we tried very hard and how much we were careful in china, we still got caught many times by Chinese Police and forcefully sent back to north korea. Each time we were sent back to north korea, i had unforgettable memories that remind me that freedom is a treasure. I now know the blessings of liberty in the United States. I am a happenpy College Student happy College Student, which is almost the dream life. I always dreamed to go to university and study all i wanted. Now i became a College Student and im very honored and very appy to share this news. I also work at a private dental office and support my family, also i travel place to place to raise my voice for my people. All this life, i cannot imagine if i lived in north korea or in china. So i feel very blessed, again, and im very happy to be an american. [applause] thank you. American leadership to advance the freedom in the world is essential. Because keeping people alive in the world is the most important and valuable thing in this orld, i believe. Because when people try to help other people, its very difficult and they also face challenges and difficulties. When i meet them, i always tell them this. Eping a person alive is 10 times harder than you killing a person. But you are doing a good job and keep going. Working together, americans have the ability to change the world. Thank you. [applause] announcer ladies and gentlemen, please welcome nikki haley, Madeleine Albright and condaleeza rice. [applause] ms. Schnetzer good morning. Im the director of global initiatives of the Bush Institute in dallas. New york was my home from 199 to 2003. Some of those were difficult days but i can tell you that the spirit of liberty never wavered here and its alive and kicking today. So thank you for hosting us in this city today. This session is about naming threats to liberty in the world today. Some are old, some are new. But this session is mostly about turning our attention as a nation to action and getting things done. And at the core its about affirming the imperative of American Leadership. To help us explore these issues, we have three distinguished leaders who really need no introduction. But for the record, im joined on the stage by nikki haley, the u. S. Permanent representative to the United Nations. Madeleine albright, the 64th u. S. Secretary of state, and chair of the National Democratic institute for international affairs. And condaleeza rice, the 66th u. S. Secretary of state. Its going to be hard for me to say madam secretary on this stage today. So im going to try to mix it up a little bit and make sure we know with whom were chatting. So, shall we begin . I think well start with the first piece that i mentioned and simply name the threats that we have in the world today. And theyre serious. Nuclear weapons in north korea. The brutality of isis. Russias aggression in europe. Chinas aggression in asia. And more. All of these threats attack the values and institutions that have energized americas growth as a nation and have contributed to spreading the spirit of liberty abroad. Ambassador haley, lets begin with you. Has how is the United States prioritizing these traditional threats in the world and to our nation, and what should American Leadership look like, whether at the u. N. Or through our alliances in order to address them . Ms. Haley well, thank you and first i want to thank mrs. Bush for slg us president and mrs. Bush for having us here today. Putting me between these two cool women is a highlight. Thank you very much. And grace jo, you inspire us so much. You are the reason we fight for what we fight for. So thank you very much. [applause] we do have a lot of threats. But we also have to remember that leadership matters. So our biggest threats obviously, north korea, iran, isis, those are the three because we have to always make sure were doing everything we can to protect americans and our allies. So well continue on that front. But then you have so many other issues. When you look at the migration problems that we have. And you see the human rights abuses that are happening, whether its in burma, whether were seeing whats happening in venezuela, in cuba. All of those things, they matter too. Because if any government doesnt take care of their people, conflict will follow. Human rights is such a clear part of what we have to do and then you have to look at china and russia as major players. Russia cant necessarily win anything. They dont have a big enough military. They dont have a strong economy. So they insert themselves in every situation to create chaos. China is doing what they do best. They are business people, they are making sure they have infrastructure all over the world. So theyre making sure they have a stance in there. And the United States needs to be above all of that. We need to make sure were watching our threats, we need to make sure that we continue to lead in every aspect, and we always have to just be true to who we are as americans. Ms. Schnetzer dr. Rice . Ms. Rice i would agree completely. Youve listed the threats and the crises and i think its clear that the International System feels not just chaotic but indeed dangerous. Im really glad you are where you are. Youre doing a terrific job. Might we just begin, i think that grace jo gave us the testimony that we need at the core of what were talking about here. I do want to say, i think the threats are more complex, theyre more difficult. I think that the nature of social media and the communication makes it more difficult than when i was there or when madeleine was there. But i think we need also to recognize that the United States has done this before. It could not have looked as if we were going to get to 1989, 1990 and 1991 when the soviet union collapsed, germany was unified, it couldnt have looked that way in 1946 when the italian communists won 48 of the vote and the french communists won 46 of the vote. The question wasnt would Eastern Europe be communist, it was would western europe be communist . In 1948 the berlin crisis and the birth of israel and war breaks out in the middle east the next day. And the soviet union explodes Nuclear Weapons five years ahead of schedule in 1949. And the chinese communists win. It could not have looked as if we were going to triumph. So you have to ask what happened. And American Leadership happened. The United States of america said, were not going to return home. Were not going to be terrified by these threats. We are going to insert ourselves right in the middle of these threats. And a pledge through article five of nato, an attack upon one is an attack upon all. Think of taking that pledge when the seve set soviet union was astride half of europe. We decided we were going to stand for people who needed to live in liberty and freedom. I had the great joy of being trained by madeleines father. Shell tell her own story. But the crombings orbell family would not have is you korbel family would not have survived without the United States of america. The threats are multiple. We can talk about specific tactical and strategic responses to them. But the core has to be the United States has to be confident enough to say that with our leadership we can solve the problems that we face. There is nobody else to do it. Anybody else who tries to do it will not do it on the basis of our values. And if we dont work from our values, our interests will be compromised as well. Ms. Albright i do think the threats are as listed. But i also agree with conde in terms of the role that the United States has to play. I do think this is an incredibly complex time, to use a diplomat term, the world is a diplomatic term, the world is a mesothelioma. The bottom line is that the issues are coming from everywhere. And i think grace jos story is so moving. Im an immigrant. The thing that i liked most of all twoose give people their naturalization certificates. The first time i did it was on july 4, 2000 in monticello. Im giving out naturalization certificates and this man, i hear him say all of a sudden, can you believe it, im a refugee and i just got my naturalization certificate from the secretary of state. And i went up to him and i said, can you believe that a refugee is secretary of state . And i really do think that speaks to what america is about. So welcome. I am an american. And so are you. Its great. I do think that the issues are, and i think, conde, you described them so well, in addition to that, i think were living in a very different world. Where the combination of the technology, the interconnectedness of society, have created issues where people it used to be that there always was a division between rich and poor but the poor didnt always know what the rich had. So the technology is something that is out there. I do think it is absolutely essential for the United States to lead. You said, i think being at the u. N. , you can really see that unless the u. N. Speaks, the u. S. Speaks at the u. N. , either at the beginning, to start the conversation, or at the end to summerize, or sometimes in the middle, nothing happens. So i am very concerned in terms of how we project our leadership, how we explain to the American People that nothing works without us. And that there are certain sacrifices that have to be made to have that leadership role. But we dont do it alone. The word indispensable, theres nothing about it that says alone. It means engaged. And i think there are incredible challenges out there that you see every day, that we used to, but i really do think American Leadership, and this is absolutely crucial, and how to explain it to the americans. Ms. Haley i think i have an interesting story in terms of when i first got there, we obviously had issues. But the one that was really defining was when the president made the decision to hit syria. And after the chemical weapons. When he made that decision, the number of calls and emails i received from countries saying, its so good to see america lead again, was amazing. And it was enlightening to me because they felt like we h