PRESIDENT'S SPEECH OF HOPE
Your destiny is peace... The world is with you
By William Graham
Political Correspondent
BILL Clinton touched an emotional chord yesterday when he said that in the early days of the American republic "the gaelic term for America was Inis Fail -island of destiny".
And in his speech on the first stage of his Irish trip in support of the Good Friday agreement the US president said that "today Americans see you as Inis Fail and your destiny is peace... America is with you... the entire world is with you... may God be with you and give you strength for the good work ahead".
These few words summed up Mr Clinton's keynote address at the Waterfront Hall and the standing ovation from 2,000 people signalled a very warm and good old fashioned Belfast welcome for the president.
This was the day for big quotations and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon joined in the mood music by reminding Mr Clinton of the words from a poem by Maya Angelou spoken at the president's inauguration in 1993.
The quotation read: "Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need for this bright morning dawning for you. History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again".
Mr Clinton, not a man to be outquoted, turned to Yeats but not that well-known line that 'peace comes dropping slow'. The president rewrote another famous quotation. He said that with apologies to Mr Yeats "help them to prove that things can come together... that the centre can hold".
Certainly Mr Clinton's belief that the Good Friday agreement can hold and take root was the flavour of the day. And great praise was heaped on the president by other speakers including Prime Minister Tony Blair for his commitment to solving Northern Ireland's political problems.
Mr Blair put it succinctly when he said that no president of the United States of America has done more for peace in Northern Ireland than Mr Clinton.
Equally David Trimble said Mr Clinton's reception showed how deeply his concern and interest was appreciated by all and "that interest reflects the many who migrated from these shores... it reflects the dozen or so US presidents of Ulster descent."
Talking about praise - one man sitting in the audience at the Waterfront Hall - received just as great a welcome as the president, and that was George Mitchell who chaired the long and tortuous multi-party talks.
Mr Clinton spoke with fondness about George as did Mr Mallon who referred to the distinguished senator almost in biblical terms in leading the politicians quite literally into the "morning light of Good Friday".
The magnificent Waterfront Hall which is used to hosting big musical events was the ideal venue for the Clinton political speechmaking concert.
There were of course sombre moments in references to the terrible violence such as the Omagh bombing and Mr Clinton urged the people of Northern Ireland not to allow the chances of permanent peace and political stability to slip away.
Yet overall this was a message of hope speech from Bill Clinton who talked about Northern Ireland moving from the deep freeze of despair to the warm sunlight of peace.
It was just after 11am yesterday morning when Mr Clinton arrived at the Waterfront accompanied by Belfast Lord Mayor David Alderdice, Prime Minister Tony Blair, First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon.
There were only four chairs on the stage for the five speakers, but that was deliberate. It was a game of musical chairs as each changed places to, at one time or another, end up sitting next to the president, as the speeches were delivered.
Mr Clinton listened keenly to what was being said and took some notes. Then around 11.30am the president was called to make his keynote address and received a standing ovation. In the front row were members of Belfast city council and political leaders such as John Hume. It was noticeable that Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were seated not very far from Ulster Unionist Jeffrey Donaldson who was opposed to the Good Friday agreement.
After his speech Mr Clinton walked down to the front two rows for quick handshakes. One of the first to greet him was a delighted nine-year-old Elaine O'Boyle from Cushendall.
The president signed a card for Elaine who is a cousin of the SDLP's Alasdair McDonnell. This simply said: "Elaine nice to meet you" and she thanked him for his "good work".
That was the true spirit of the day at 'the Waterfront'.
By William Graham
Political Correspondent
BILL Clinton touched an emotional chord yesterday when he said that in the early days of the American republic "the gaelic term for America was Inis Fail -island of destiny".
And in his speech on the first stage of his Irish trip in support of the Good Friday agreement the US president said that "today Americans see you as Inis Fail and your destiny is peace... America is with you... the entire world is with you... may God be with you and give you strength for the good work ahead".
These few words summed up Mr Clinton's keynote address at the Waterfront Hall and the standing ovation from 2,000 people signalled a very warm and good old fashioned Belfast welcome for the president.
This was the day for big quotations and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon joined in the mood music by reminding Mr Clinton of the words from a poem by Maya Angelou spoken at the president's inauguration in 1993.
The quotation read: "Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need for this bright morning dawning for you. History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again".
Mr Clinton, not a man to be outquoted, turned to Yeats but not that well-known line that 'peace comes dropping slow'. The president rewrote another famous quotation. He said that with apologies to Mr Yeats "help them to prove that things can come together... that the centre can hold".
Certainly Mr Clinton's belief that the Good Friday agreement can hold and take root was the flavour of the day. And great praise was heaped on the president by other speakers including Prime Minister Tony Blair for his commitment to solving Northern Ireland's political problems.
Mr Blair put it succinctly when he said that no president of the United States of America has done more for peace in Northern Ireland than Mr Clinton.
Equally David Trimble said Mr Clinton's reception showed how deeply his concern and interest was appreciated by all and "that interest reflects the many who migrated from these shores... it reflects the dozen or so US presidents of Ulster descent."
Talking about praise - one man sitting in the audience at the Waterfront Hall - received just as great a welcome as the president, and that was George Mitchell who chaired the long and tortuous multi-party talks.
Mr Clinton spoke with fondness about George as did Mr Mallon who referred to the distinguished senator almost in biblical terms in leading the politicians quite literally into the "morning light of Good Friday".
The magnificent Waterfront Hall which is used to hosting big musical events was the ideal venue for the Clinton political speechmaking concert.
There were of course sombre moments in references to the terrible violence such as the Omagh bombing and Mr Clinton urged the people of Northern Ireland not to allow the chances of permanent peace and political stability to slip away.
Yet overall this was a message of hope speech from Bill Clinton who talked about Northern Ireland moving from the deep freeze of despair to the warm sunlight of peace.
It was just after 11am yesterday morning when Mr Clinton arrived at the Waterfront accompanied by Belfast Lord Mayor David Alderdice, Prime Minister Tony Blair, First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon.
There were only four chairs on the stage for the five speakers, but that was deliberate. It was a game of musical chairs as each changed places to, at one time or another, end up sitting next to the president, as the speeches were delivered.
Mr Clinton listened keenly to what was being said and took some notes. Then around 11.30am the president was called to make his keynote address and received a standing ovation. In the front row were members of Belfast city council and political leaders such as John Hume. It was noticeable that Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were seated not very far from Ulster Unionist Jeffrey Donaldson who was opposed to the Good Friday agreement.
After his speech Mr Clinton walked down to the front two rows for quick handshakes. One of the first to greet him was a delighted nine-year-old Elaine O'Boyle from Cushendall.
The president signed a card for Elaine who is a cousin of the SDLP's Alasdair McDonnell. This simply said: "Elaine nice to meet you" and she thanked him for his "good work".
That was the true spirit of the day at 'the Waterfront'.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0222
Published Date: 04-Sep-98
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