Noting that the occasion has been "a long time coming," Secretary of State Hilary Clinton led the swearing-in ceremony yesterday for Religious Freedom Ambassador-at-large Suzan Johnson Cook.
[I]t has been a wait worthwhile, because in Sujay we have a passionate, visionary, and experienced defender of religious freedom. (Applause.) And we have a big stack of issues just waiting for her, because she and I will work in very close partnership in defending the values that those of us in this room hold so dear. Now, there is no doubt we will be busy, because around the world authoritarian regimes abuse their own citizens, violent extremists attempt to exploit sectarian tensions, and religious freedom is under threat from both quiet intolerance and violent attacks. The Obama Administration is dedicated to the rights of all people everywhere. Everyone, no matter his or her religion, should be allowed to practice their beliefs freely and safely.
Not especially known as a shrinking violet, it will be interesting to see just how vocal Dr. Cook – who also happens to be a Baptist minister – can be in this new position. As Secretary Clinton indicates, the world certainly faces dramatic religious freedom challenges, and in many areas of the world, political unrest has made the status of religious minorities all the more precarious. They deserve a strong and passionate voice.
