US REBILDNEWS SUMMER 2017 US REBILDNEWS SUMMER 2017 | Page 16
Danish Prime Minister
Lars Løkke Rasmussens
speech at St. Croix,
March 31, 2017
Ladies and Gentlemen!
It is an honor for me to be here today. And a great pleasure
to visit your beautiful island for the third time. My wife and I
have been greeted by sincere hospitality from the moment we
arrived. For this, I am truly grateful. We are very pleased to be
back. On this exact day – a hundred years ago – the Stars and
Stripes of America replaced the Danish Dannebrog as the
official flag for the Virgin Islands.
A hundred years. It is a long time ago. But the preceding years
under the Danish flag are not forgotten. Neither in Denmark nor
at the Virgin Islands. Still today city names such as Frederiksted
and Christiansted remind us of our common past. And so do the
many houses and buildings, that still bear the marks of Danish
presence.
I’m pleased, that thousands of my fellow countrymen visit your
beautiful island every year – and this year in particular. They
feel a special bond of friendship with you and your home. So do
I, as I stand here on this historic day. A touch of common destiny
that time cannot erase. But although we share a common past
– we have not always shared the same story about that past.
When I was a child – the popular Danish story about the West
Indies, was a romantic one. Exotic islands. Peaceful coexistence.
I even remember the tales of the Danish king, who was the first
in the world to ban slave trade. A pioneer of humanity, we were
told. A hero.
But most of you were told and lived a different story. The true
story. A story of how slavery continued after the ban. How too
often conditions only improved on paper. And of how many of
your ancestors continued to suffer. The true heroes were the
men and women who stood up to the injustice.
Over the years our history has been explored and questioned.
And today we can study the millions of historic documents and
pictures from the Virgin Islands. They are now available online
thanks to the Danish National Archives. Many of them so
precious, they have been proclaimed as world heritage by
UNESCO. Sure, it is important to get the facts right.
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But I suggest we also look somewhere else: In our hearts and
minds. I suggest we ask ourselves: Is there any justification for
suppression? Any argument for treating people brutally? We all
know the answer. The answer is no! There is no justification –
what so ever – for the exploitation of men, women and children
that took place in these islands under Danish flag. There is no
justification for slavery. It is unforgiveable. It is a dark and
disgraceful part of Danish history.
So when I search my heart. My mind. There is no doubt: The true
heroes of the past are the men and women of the Virgin Islands
who defied suppression.
They were not given their freedom. They took it back. Led by
brave souls. Who risked their own lives to set their fellow
countrymen free.
Dear friends!
We must acknowledge that what happened in the past has
affected where the islands are today. We cannot undo the
past. What we can do is to improve the future. Only by freeing
ourselves from the nightmares of the past can we make our
dreams of the future come true. This is the lesson from the true
heroes of the past. Despite overwhelming obstacles, their i
deals of liberty, equality and dignity prevailed.
Today, the people of Denmark and the people of the Virgin
Islands share common historic bonds. Today, we share the
same view of history and today, we share the same heroes.
And hopefully, we shall also share a bright future.
Tomorrow, I will make a visit to the University of the Virgin
Islands, where I will launch a five year scholarship program. It
is my hope, that this new program will pave the way for further
development in both our countries. And bring new hope and
opportunities to young people in the Virgin Islands. The youth of
our countries are the future. They must keep their dreams alive.
Take destiny into their own hands. Just as the heroes of the past
did. And this time around, we will not hold them back. We will
push them forward.
I wish you all a meaningful and memorable Transfer Day.
Thank you.