Banquet speech
August 2003
Mayor Nakada and honoured guests.
As today has become tonight I am mindful of what I hope for from
guests and visitors to my city or my house. I hope for good humour,
generosity of spirit and some degree of manners from my guests.
What I fear above all else is the guest who regards his or her
voice as such a fine musical gift that they wish to share it with
us in a never ending concert of speech. My own voice is never very
musical and after a day such as today, when you have heard me speaking
via translation so often, I doubt it is sound you wish to hear
too much more.
As a good guest I shall then keep my remarks tonight very short
indeed.
It has been a wonderful visit to mark a hugely significant link
between Christchurch and Kurashiki. We have been humbled to realise
how much the sister city links between our cities appear to mean
to the people of Kurashiki.
It has been a great lesson in how the seeds of goodwill, sown
30 years ago, have blossomed to become something unique and meaningful
to both our cities. We have gone past the superficial barriers
of distance, culture and race to discover how much we share in
common.
It is a great journey to be able to mark in this way. There are
many who scorn the path of peace in favour of the well worn roads
of prejudice and fear. The cities and people of Kurashiki and
Christchurch have provided a valuable example that the path of
peace enriches us all. I am delighted to have been able to have
been part of this process of strengthening peace and friendship.
Tomorrow when we leave your wonderful city it will be to travel
to Hiroshima. We are going there to join with people from around
the world in remembering how hideous the price can be when we let
our leaders take us away from the path of peace.
Today we have marked our 30th year as sister cities and also
hopefully put in place another building block for increased respect
for peace and deeper understanding amongst our own people.
It is an achievement all of us should feel proud to have taken
part in.
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