Today, I would like to pause to congratulate India for reaching the milestone of 70 years since achieving independence and becoming the largest democracy in the world. For the past two years, I’ve joined my neighbors to celebrate Indian Independence Day by celebrating songs and flags from both the United States and from India.
In spite of all the turmoil in our country, we need to hold dear the freedoms we exercise in our democracies – the freedom of assembly, the freedom of speech, freedom of worship. Let us never forget that the responsibility and rights of living in a democracy challenge us to work hard for the greatest freedoms for all – freedom from want and freedom from fear.
Indian Independence Day 2017 in Ponderosa Park