Melania Trump

“ The most important and joyous role I’ve ever had is to be a mother to my young son and what could possibly be more essential focus in everyone’s life than that of loving, educating and bringing up our next generation to be happy, productive and morally responsible adults? Together we must acknowledge that all too often it is the weakest, most innocent and vulnerable among us, our children, who ultimately suffer the most from the challenges that plague our societies. ”

“ No children should ever feel hungry, stalked, frightened, terrorized, bullied, isolated or afraid with nowhere to turn. We need to step up, come together and ensure that our children’s future is bright. In the coming months I hope to reach out to each one of you here today to call upon you for your support and guidance and look forward to joining you in collaboration to support and educate our next generation. ”

“ If we do not advocate a love of country to our children and the generations to come, then why would our children grow up to fight for their country’s founding principals and moral truths? If we do not teach our children the importance of helping those less fortunate — wherever they may be — then why would they become caring adults who dedicate themselves to charity? ”

“ It remains our generation’s moral imperative to take responsibility for what our children learn. We must turn our focus right now to the message and content they are exposed to on a daily basis through social media, the bullying, the experience online and in person and the growing global epidemic of drug addiction and drug overdose. ”

“ We must remember that they are watching and listening so we must never miss and opportunity to teach life’s many ethical lessons along the way. As adults we are not merely responsible. We are accountable. I hope you will join me in committing ourselves to teaching the next generation to live by and honor the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, which is my paramount in today’s society and my focus as first lady. ”

“ Whether it is drug addiction, bullying, poverty, disease, trafficking, illiteracy or hunger, it is the children who are hit first and hardest in any country. And as we all know, the future of every nation rests with the promise of their young people. ”

“ And make no mistake, this will always begin with us coming together to embrace parenthood’s noble calling. Nothing could be more urgent nor worthy a cause than preparing future generations for adulthood with true moral clarity and responsibility. ”

“ Therefore, we must teach each child the values of empathy and communication that are at the core of kindness, mindfulness, integrity and leadership which can only be taught by example. By our own example we must teach children to be good stewards of the world they will inherit. ”