Mission Media Releases

July 4th Message from U.S. Ambassador to Tonga Larry M. Dinger

As the United States of America celebrates its national day on July 4, we also recall the life of King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, with whom we shared a birthday.  I was honored to represent my government at the King’s funeral last September.  The United States will always be thankful for the productive and friendly relations the late King fostered with us, which are continuing under the reign of King George Tupou V.

This year, the United States’ celebration of its 231^st birthday will include a port visit in Nuku’alofa of the U.S. Navy Destroyer USS John Paul Jones.  The ship’s Captain, Commander James Housinger, and I will host a reception on board to mark the day that is so memorable for both our nations.  The Navy ship particularly illustrates the close bilateral military relationship.  A second Tonga Defense Service deployment to the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq in the next few weeks will be further testimony.

The United States was blessed with a group of founders who made every effort to find workable mechanisms for solving the seemingly intractable problems of the day.  Those founders transcended class and partisanship to become statesmen.

Not everything they proposed succeeded.  The current U.S. Constitution was our second attempt.  Even that document has now been amended 27 times, and, admittedly, our nation remains imperfect.  But a strength of the U.S. democracy is an ability to adapt to changing circumstances while ensuring the people’s rights are preserved.

We advocate such systems for other nations, too, aspiring to confirm the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

As Tonga strives to recover from last November’s tragedy, major issues remain: reconstructing Nuku’alofa’s business district; exacting justice for those who did wrong; healing wounds through reconciliation; and certainly continuing past progress toward a more democratic future.

The United States acknowledges that Tonga’s issues are for Tonga to resolve.  At the same time, we remain committed to the Asia-Pacific region, including to Tonga, our long-time friend.  Thus, we encourage Tonga’s leaders to work together to find the most statesmen-like ways possible to resolve differences and chart the course to a peaceful, prosperous, and suitably democratic future.

My wife Paula and I wish everyone in Tonga a happy Fourth of July, 2007.