WTC President’s Award for Distinguished International Service

Mr. President --- Officers and Members of this - the first World Trade Center; "dedicated to World Peace and Understanding" --- and to dear family and friends --- ladies and gentlemen! I want to particularly recognize my wife, Miriam and my daughter, Rhesa, for having contributed so much toward my enjoying a "life time" of successes, such as this.

Please know that I am indebted to those members of this august body, who felt it is important to establish the "President’s Award for Distinguished International Service" --- to be conferred upon a member of the WTC, "who has achieved exceptional international distinction in the cause of world peace and understanding". Kindly permit this appropriate oxymoron: "that I am at once humbled and proud that you have bestowed this very high honor on me". Humbled because there are others who are equally, if not more deserving --- proud because it is an honorable reward for service that began almost a half century ago. You see when the President of the American Bar Association, Charles S. Rhyme, launched the prestigious Commission, known as "World Peace Thru Law", he named me one of the Charter Members.

Over the years since 1964, I have learned many valuable lessons from my assignments by "World Peace Thru Law" to deliver addresses on behalf of our American social, economic or legal institutions in London, Paris, Latin and South America, Manila, throughout the Caribbean, five of Japan’s largest cities, Mexico City, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

In these travels, with challenges of justice, based on freedoms --- four or more --- it has been my privilege to listen and learn. As I sat everyday for several months during the Fifty-Fourth Session of the United Nations ---- as I stood before that august body to address the then one hundred and eighty four nations, it was very clear to me then, as it is "crystal clear" to me now, that most, if not every nation --- without doubt the vast majority --- clung unalterably to the fundamental principles which are the foundation stones of our nation. That nearly every one of my colleagues, at the U.N., held the same convictions as I did, regarding the pursuit of individual freedom, and in our time, the pursuit of peace. On more than one occasion I witnessed persons representing the so-called "communist bloc" speaking reverently about individual pursuits and achievements ---(although in many ideas and ideals "we were at opposite ends of the poles" in our beliefs). I waited in vain however, to hear them extoll valor - Purity and Justice - The Attributes of our Old Glory!

Recently Queen Noor, of Jordan appeared on CNN, and she made our testimony clear when she declared" "We must assure that every child, of every nation, can aspire to be whatever their heart, education and welfare dictates --- as their pursuit of happiness."... In peace!" Powerful words ---from someone of a distant shore, but the ambition of you and your neighbors for their children and for children around the world ... and my ambition for my grandchildren!

If we had applied those lessons we learned from people around the world, in the sixties, in our response to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, we might not be in the predicament we find ourselves in today. World Peace can only be achieved thru lawful goals and pursuits --- regrettably because we did act then, we are billions of dollars and thousands of lives too late! But our America will rise to this occasion --- because freedom tho’ trampled, must triumph because it is our very being!

Just as I have acknowledged that others may deserve this award, so many others continue to make us proud as they search relentlessly and feverishly for those seemingly elusive foundation stones which we seek in the cause of world peace, trade and understanding. With this award, each of you join with me in the cause of World Peace and Understanding.