Prepared Remarks of Attorney General

Alberto R. Gonzales
at the National Conference on
Citizenship
September 18, 2006
Good morning, and thank you for having me here.

I’m an admirer of this group and of your purpose. Because we live in an incredible
country, the greatest on the face of the planet, leading the world in freedom and
prosperity… and you have rightly identified the fact that if we don’t participate in
politics, government and community service, if we aren’t aware of why the
American fabric is special and engage in its development – we risk the decline of
our greatness, a diminution of our influence.

Even in a democracy – in our case a representative republic – the people can lose
their influence if they choose not to participate. A disengaged populous leaves a
small, self-selected group of people in charge. And of course, what we are designed
to achieve here in America is a government of the people, by the people, and for the
people.

Your purpose, and our collective purpose here today, is to keep an eye on whether
our citizens are participating in President Lincoln’s hope, Dr. King’s dream, our
founding fathers’ vision.

I want to say a few words here about an issue currently in the news that implicates
American history and civic and political participation, and that is the current
discussion about our treaty obligations under Common Article 3 of the Geneva
Convention. It seems that criticism of the tactics used by the Government in the war
on terror are often framed in the context of the Government not respecting our
values, our civil liberties, and our rights under the Constitution. Clearly, we all
believe that we should follow the Constitution, but what does that mean? For
example, our due process rights under the 5 th and 14 th Amendments and our right
to be free from unreasonable searches under the 4 th Amendment are susceptible to
many interpretations. Thus their meaning have been informed throughout American
history by court decisions and by related statutes passed by Congress. The
interpretations by our branches of government reinforce respect for the Constitution
by providing clarity and definition to ambiguous words and phrases. Such actions I
would argue, strengthen the Constitution and no one would seriously argue that
seeking Supreme Court review of the Constitution is an effort to strips away our
rights or an attempt to weaken or redefine the Constitution.

The same logic applies to the current discussion of our obligations under Common
Article 3. Because of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Hamdan case, we now
understand that Common Article 3 applies to our conflict with Al Qaida. But aside
from the important requirement of humane treatment (which, by the way, the United
States was already providing) it is perfectly reasonable to ask what Common Article
3 requires.

Common Article 3 prohibits outrages upon personal dignity and humiliating and
degrading treatment. Such phrases standing alone mean different things to
Americans. Think of the differences in interpretation that will exist between
differing legal systems and cultures of the nations of the world. Much as we are
informed by the courts and Congress as to the meaning of due process and
unreasonable searches under the Constitution the President believes it is important
for the Congress to provide clarity to the meaning of Common Article 3 consistent
with our values, using a U.S. Constitutional based standard. The President is
advocating a standard that prohibits cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment—a
standard based on years of U.S. Court decisions interpreting the constitutional
prohibitions on cruel and unusual punishment that protect U.S. citizens in custody.
This standard was overwhelmingly supported by the Congress last year in the
Detainee Treatment Act.

Seeking this clarity is important to our efforts to continue gathering information

about our enemies. In all that we do in the war on terror we seek to promote the rule
of law and protect freedom. Defining our treaty obligations after the fact through
domestic legislation has been done many times by our Congress and it ensures an
understanding of our treaty obligations that is consistent with our values.

As Attorney General, I attend a good number of naturalization ceremonies, which

are focus-studies on the meaning of citizenship and I think provide an interesting
backdrop for your work.

The ceremonies are always very personal for me. My parents were both children of
immigrants and they instilled in me a deep appreciation for being an American.
They never let me forget that being a citizen of this great country means having
limitless chances – if you work hard and are prepared for that once in a lifetime
opportunity!

It is a natural phenomenon that with every generation that we are removed from our
immigrant roots, we lose some of that passion. Someone who chooses to be an
American has probably thought more about what makes this country special… what
makes it better than the country they are leaving behind.
The new citizen even takes a profound oath – swearing to “support and defend the
Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign
and domestic” – and most of the new citizens I have seen take the oath have tears in
their eyes when they repeat the words. Because they are so very proud to become
Americans.

I often leave naturalization ceremonies wondering: when is that moment of pride

and allegiance for those of us who were fortunate enough to be born here? And how
can we inspire that feeling in those who may not know how fortunate they are?

Tragedy can inspire feelings of pride, gratitude and patriotism, though it seems like
a terrible way to get there.

Five years ago last week, Americans took flags out of their closets, pinned them on
their lapels and sang the national anthem at sporting events with deepened emotion.
Thousands joined America’s armed forces to fight for the freedom and the life they
saw brutally attacked on that day.

I had a chance, two weeks ago, to visit for the second time the front-lines of the war
on terror in Iraq. And the steadfast resolve of our men and women in uniform, as
well as our civil servants who are there to help the Iraqi people stand up their new
government, was inspirational.

These men and women work in a dangerous environment, with daily temperatures
well over 100 degrees. They are away from their families. But everyone I met was
energetic and proud…so proud to serve a country that has given us all so much. The
Americans on the front lines believe what they are doing is important, so important
that they are willing to risk their lives for the mission. Just being in their presence
made this grandson of immigrants so incredibly proud to be an American.

To have seen these men and women at work in Iraq is to know that we will prevail
in this decisive ideological struggle.

To have seen them is also to have learned something about citizenship.

That post-9/11 spirit of citizenship is so vibrant among our troops, but I know that it
is not universal in our country. I think we all thought, and hoped, that the renewed
sense of citizenship and patriotism would last… and that it would be one more way
in which we show our enemies that they won’t win this war on terror.

The study you have released today, unfortunately, indicates that while 9/11 does
seem to have increased community and national service and voting, we aren’t seeing
the full-fledged civic renewal that we’d hoped for.

We can take heart in the progress, but must take stock of what is still missing.
I agree there are three key elements to American citizenship; they form a starting
point in terms of teaching and inspiring civic involvement:

First, learning and appreciating America’s history and foundations – in our

day-to-day lives that translates to a respect for the rule of law.
Second, voting – We cannot expect to have populist government if the public
does not broadly exercise their right to hire and fire their representatives.
And third, volunteerism – While I believe strongly that the best “hand-up”
ever given is freedom, we cannot take pride in ourselves or our nation if we
are not taking care of our neighbors when they need us.

Respect for our Foundations: History and the Law

In my job, I am sworn to protect and defend the Constitution. I am humbled by that

duty, as I believe our Constitution is one of the most important documents in the
history of humankind.

I believe that we might find a re-birth of citizenship in a renewed emphasis on the

Constitution in American history classes. Wouldn’t you like to see a graduating
high school class who can at least recite the preamble?

I offer it here, today, as a refresher course… and to emphasize my point:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense,
promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and
our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America.”

I wish I could bring every American to the National Archives to see the documents
that our country is built on. At this point that is unrealistic, but in the mean time, I
feel strongly that this group and, indeed, every leader in public life, should call on
American schools and teachers to spend more time studying the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution with their students.

The founding of our country was a very special time in world history – let’s teach it
with a certain amount of reverence.

Voting

When they are old enough – again, around the time they graduate from high school
– I’d like to see every young American declare their own independence and respect
their Constitution by voting.

After all, the right to vote, and to have that vote count, is absolutely central to the
existence of freedom. When President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of
1965 he said the right to vote is the lifeblood of our democracy. In Afghanistan and
Iraq young American soldiers have fought and died so that Afghans and Iraqis could
vote. And despite continuing danger, the citizens of those countries have
participated in the millions.

This forum is an ideal place to brainstorm about how we might inspire younger
generations to do better than their parents and grandparents have done in turns of
voter participation.

I think we can start – as leaders, parents and teachers – by emphasizing that all
elections are important, not just Presidential elections.

And it isn’t enough to simply cast a vote. It is equally important that the voter’s
choices be informed about the qualifications of each candidate and the merits of
each referendum or initiative. As a former Secretary of State and Chief Elections
Officer for Texas, I know well the challenges of motivating our citizens on elections
day.

Voting needs to be a habit, as regular as celebrating holidays. An enthusiasm for the

act can be contagious – so let’s show our kids that voting, for a grown-up, is a
special occasion.

This group is in a unique position to put a challenge to the American people – why
not ask that, this November, every voter bring a friend, relative or colleague who
doesn’t normally vote to the polls with them? Let’s set the bar high: Americans love
a challenge.

Volunteerism

The last element of citizenship to emphasize is volunteerism.

I found it compelling that your civic health index showed a correlation between
voting and volunteering at the state level. I hope you are able to dig deeper on this
and see if one inspires the other, and if there are things that federal, state and local
governments can do to inspire both.

Whenever I speak to young lawyers I always encourage them to consider public

service because in giving to others we rekindle and refine ourselves. It feels good to
help others…to know that you have made a difference in someone’s life. Such
opportunities not only make you a better lawyer, they also make you a better person.

There can be no question that volunteerism is good for society and good for the
soul. I’m also interested in what it can do for a nation that is so blessed, so
prosperous, that we may have lost a bit of perspective on our own fortune.

I am proud to serve a President who has put an emphasis on volunteering, on giving

back. As he has said, “The great hope of the country lies in the hearts and the souls
of its people.”
The President has also spoken about the Armies of Compassion that make our
country so great. Whether it is the war on poverty, the war on drugs or the war on
illiteracy we have citizen soldiers who confront daily the evils of our society so that
our country remains a place where dreams still come true.

I am but one soldier in the Armies of Compassion. But I commit to you to do my

part, working shoulder to shoulder, side by side with you for our beloved America.

Thank you again for having me here today, and thank you for your important work.
May God bless you, may He guide your decisions and may He continue to bless the
United States of America.

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