12 2 STA T .53 35 PROCL A M AT I O N8 2 7 5 —JU L Y 23 , 2 0 08 Itis i nourNa tion ’ s int e rest to h e lp those w ho are su f ferin g un d er op - pressi v e regi m es defeat the ideologues of hate with an ideolog y of hope .A dvan c ing the cause of li b erty advances the cause of peace. A free society upholds j ustice and defends human dignity. O ver the years , many have underestimated the power of freedom to overcome tyranny, but history has shown us that freedom will prevail. In the 20 th century, the evils of S oviet communism and Na z i fascism were defeated and freedom spread around the world as new democ- racies emerged. T oday, our Nation faces new struggles with adversaries who murder the innocent and see k to subject millions to their violent, totalitarian rule. Still, we remain confident that the light of liberty will again overcome this darkness. To bring that day about, we must support young democracies in places like Afghanistan and Ira q . In countries like B elarus, Burma, C uba, Iran, North K orea, Sudan, Syria, and Z imbabwe, people continue to live under oppressive regimes, and we will work for the day when all these nations are free. By opposing these despots and helping young democ- racies grow, we will lay the foundation of peace and prosperity for generations to come. Throughout Captive Nations W eek, we renew our pledge that as people across the world find their own paths to freedom, they will also find a friend in the U nited States of America. The Congress, by J oint R esolution approved July 17 ,1 95 9 ( 7 3 Stat. 212 ) , has authorized and requested the P resident to issue a proclama- tion designating the third week in July of each year as ‘ ‘Captive Na- tions Week.’’ NOW, T HE RE F ORE, I, G EORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 20 through July 2 6 , 200 8 , as Captive Nations Week. I call upon the people of the United States to reaffirm our commitment to all those seeking liberty, justice, and self-determination. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of July, in the year of our L ord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third. GEORGE W. BUSH Proclam a ti o n8275 o fJu l y 2 3, 2 0 08 60thAn n iversa r yof the I nte g ration of the U nite dS tates Ar m ed F or c es BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation The United States is founded upon the belief that every person has unalienable rights and matchless value. Throughout our Nation’s his- tory, brave patriots have made great sacrifices to protect this ideal and to advance the cause of freedom around the world. On the 60th anni- versary of the integration of the United States Armed Forces, we pay
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