« No one is worse even if he wakes up »

The President of Iceland addressed the nation on the National Day for the first time today, in Austurvöllur on June 17.

« I really am delighted to be with you on this beautiful summer day, and no one is worse even if he wakes up, » said Halla Tómasdóttir in his address.

She said on June 17, a special place in the mind of younger and older generations, and he calls the child in the older ones, « The mind draws up pictures. A small child with one hand in a solid palm and a balloon or a flag in the other. Each of us in its own picture of the National Day of Childhood ».

She then led her case to the state of the world today and said she was worried about her and know that many in the world give rise to hopelessness. It is not uplifting to witness hatred of disputes in social media conversations, which are not imitated, especially when the world’s most powerful men who should be other role models.

« It is even more heavy, heavier than tears, to see – almost live broadcast – civilians, including thousands of children, become victims of war and crime.

« Everyone can choose to be in that team »

«  » However, the awareness of challenging challenges overwhelming is not at all my belief that these times of metabolism will have the opportunity to do us better. the knight of love and I reiterate that everyone can choose to be in that team, « said Halla.

She said the children were the publishers of the future and a reminder that we live in a country that is still wearing children’s shoes. « We are right to start our journey as an independent nation, curious, sometimes full of innovative, but also full of vitality. Children sometimes become scared and feel loneliness.

« The future will always surprise us. It lies in the nature of the thing that it is unruly. It will carry with both loans and loans, good news and bad things. But what’s most important is that we are dealing with the projects together and continue to be a country of creative solutions when it comes to complex challenges.

Imagine everything ahead. The films we are going to create, the stories we will have to write, the plays we have to premiere, the companies we have to start, the good works we have to do. Imagine that next year, when forty years have passed since the famous meeting in Höfði, where the leaders of superpowers began an indulgent conversation on disarmament, we could again become a forum for peace – often needed but now is necessary. « 

« Our achievements of little, but a knee nation attracts attention around the world »

« I have faith in this nation and everything we have achieved. Is our struggle for independence began, some thought it was a pretty bold goal. Now we stand here, independent in a whole human age, with a track record that we can be proud of, » said Halla.

«  » Few inhabitants of the earth live in the conditions that the earth under their feet are still shaping.

Our achievements of our small but knee nation attract attention around the world. During my visit to Japan, one of the most developed states in the world, it was surprising how many our hosts thought they could learn from Icelanders, including the utilization of geothermal energy and in gender equality. Iceland is at the forefront of the road trip to gender equality, although we know well that work is still being done.

It is also important to fight for equality in more areas than between the sexes, and I think, among other things, a lot of the status of boys, and for equality independent of generation and origin. In terms of Iceland’s reputation worldwide, it is worth remembering that our influence can be even greater as part of the Nordic power. In common, the Nordic countries form about the tenth largest economy in the world. Together, we can remember the cousins ​​of us in times when they are looking for a blazing light for models that show that people’s welfare, nature and economic are together. « 

« It requires courage and daring to preserve the child in himself »

Hall concluded his speech to remind of the preciousness of childhood, they are the time of imagination and creativity and « the time when the heart is open ».

« It requires courage and daring to preserve the child in himself. It only happens if there is confidence. Trust and be trustworthy.

She said the nation must take time to face each other, put the phone aside and have full time together with full participation and empathy. « Use our words, listen to their sound, enjoy how wonderful and unique language we have and teach new Icelanders to speak it ».

She herself said she intends to set a good example on social media and go on a summer vacation from Facebook, and generally sometimes reduce social media, and said she hoped that as many schools and families as possible will enter the summer and next fall with some sensible boundaries around those thieves.

« I would rather increase the number of conversations in real world, participate in and stand for more conversations with the hope that next year we will hold a national assembly and discuss the future that awaits our children.

Dear countries. Walking into this fortunate summer day. Remember to cultivate the child in us and will prioritize the children in our community. Let us dream and allow us to dream together. Our greatest achievements are just around the corner. « 

mbl.is/hákon