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SECRETARY KERRY: It's a special privilege for me to join the International Center for
Journalists in celebrating the essential role all of you play in promoting freedom of expression
and fostering democratic principles around the world. As you know, I spent quite a number
of years in the United States Senate, and just as the senate's oversight role is enshrined
in the constitution, yours is in the fabric of the Bill of Rights. In fact, an earlier
draft of the First Amendment written by James Madison was explicit about the media's watchdog
role. The freedom of the press, it said, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty shall
be inviolable. That was the first draft, but as any newspaper reporter can tell you and
many probably have, sometimes the editors cut the best parts. I've always believed that
America is stronger when we not only proclaim free speech, but listen to it, when we not
only demand the truth, but heed it. After all, the truth is the American bottom line.
It's fundamental to who were are, and all of you at heart, are truth tellers. You know,
when I came back from Vietnam, I got my first sense of trying to tell truth to power, in
protesting the war. And I remember vividly how journalists just like you came together
to help change our nation with the printing of the Pentagon Papers, which was a seminal
work, that actually wound up saving American lives and helped to turn the course of that
conflict. The world is a better place, because journalists were willing to fight for the
truth, and are willing to fight for the truth and do what's necessary to make a difference.
And I'm proud of the difference that you're making today. This year ICJ is recovering
-- is recognizing, excuse me, three exceptional journalists who exemplify that special brand
of courage in reporting. So I want to offer my congratulations to Roman Anin, to Umar
Cheema and to Richard Engel who have richly earned their awards. Thanks to Roman, we have
a deeper appreciation of corruption in Russia, and its debilitating affects across borders.
And Umar has set a new standard for courage in quality investigative reporting in Pakistan,
exposing corruption and abuse of power, and at great personal risk I might add. And Richard
Engel of NBC News has brought the tumultuous situations in Egypt, Libya and Syria directly
into American homes with unparalleled grit and tenacity, and with a great sense of reality.
All of you are truth tellers in a noble cause and today we recognize and honor your work
and we stand in solidarity with journalists the world over, those who have lost their
lives and sacrificed their freedom to promote the freedom of others, and those who continue
in that struggle. When we protested back in the 1970's the war in Vietnam, some people
would weigh in against us. I remember people saying, "Hey man don't you know it's my country,
right or wrong". Well our response was very simple, we'd say, "Yes my country, right or
wrong. When right, keep it right. And when wrong, make it right". That's our mission
as citizens, and that's exactly what journalists and the free press can and continue to do.
They go out and they try to make it right. Thank you, and congratulations to those being
recognized tonight.