MAVOCKE--He may be a devout Lutheran, but President Brenton Menuhaeo on Thursday marked the beginning of the Muslim holy month Ramadan in an inner-faith ceremony in the nation's capital.
Speaking before a crowd of predominantly Muslims, but also containing Christians, Jews and members of other faiths, Mr. Menuhaeo offered his thoughts on Ramadan, the holy month celebrated in the Islamic faith.
"Ramadan is a time when Muslim families come together to celebrate their faith, to express their devotion to their faith and to each other, and to strengthen their inner beliefs," Menuhaeo said.
"For non-Muslims, we must remember that Ramadan is a sacred time for our Muslim brothers and sisters. Muslims are our fellow Grassadellians. They are our neighbors, our family members, our friends, coworkers, teachers, doctors, scientists, musicians, writers. All around this country, and beyond our borders, there are hundreds of millions of Muslims who celebrate this sacred time.
"That is the power of our democracy. Though as Grassadellians, we are of many faiths, we have the right and the privilege, as free citizens of this great country, to practice, celebrate, and recognize our faith in the way that we see fit, without oppression or opposition from the state or from our fellow countrymen. Democracy strives in the midst of diversity, and the practice of peaceful Islam has strengthened our country."
The president went on to give his personal wishes to Muslims.
"To all Muslim-Grassadellians who are celebrating Ramadan, I offer my sincere thanks for your contributions to our country, and wish you a month of happiness, refreshing, and a strengthening of your faith and family ties."
The inner-faith ceremony the president spoke at was proof, Menuhaeo said, that different religious communities can thrive in a democracy.
"All of you being here today--this underscores that where there is freedom, faith flourishes. We may all come from different backgrounds and belief systems. But we are united in our belief that all humankind has the unequivocal right to freedom of religion. And we affirm today that though we may come from different walks of life, all faiths are valued in this country, and our nation is better off because of the contributions of all faiths," said Menuhaeo.
Also attending the inner-faith ceremony, which was held at the Kareem Al-Sheik Mosque in central Mavocke, were Bishop Marcus Heydham of the Mavocke Diocese of the Catholic Church, and Rabbi Elkon Kabarki of Mavocke's Shalom Temple.
Islamic leaders from around the country were also in attendance, including Imam Ali Sukar-Mahadi of the Mavocke Islamic Center and Dr. Mohammad Zukar Khalid of the Center for Grassadellian Islamic Studies.
Ramadan began on Monday, July 8, and lasts until August 7.
Speaking before a crowd of predominantly Muslims, but also containing Christians, Jews and members of other faiths, Mr. Menuhaeo offered his thoughts on Ramadan, the holy month celebrated in the Islamic faith.
"Ramadan is a time when Muslim families come together to celebrate their faith, to express their devotion to their faith and to each other, and to strengthen their inner beliefs," Menuhaeo said.
"For non-Muslims, we must remember that Ramadan is a sacred time for our Muslim brothers and sisters. Muslims are our fellow Grassadellians. They are our neighbors, our family members, our friends, coworkers, teachers, doctors, scientists, musicians, writers. All around this country, and beyond our borders, there are hundreds of millions of Muslims who celebrate this sacred time.
"That is the power of our democracy. Though as Grassadellians, we are of many faiths, we have the right and the privilege, as free citizens of this great country, to practice, celebrate, and recognize our faith in the way that we see fit, without oppression or opposition from the state or from our fellow countrymen. Democracy strives in the midst of diversity, and the practice of peaceful Islam has strengthened our country."
The president went on to give his personal wishes to Muslims.
"To all Muslim-Grassadellians who are celebrating Ramadan, I offer my sincere thanks for your contributions to our country, and wish you a month of happiness, refreshing, and a strengthening of your faith and family ties."
The inner-faith ceremony the president spoke at was proof, Menuhaeo said, that different religious communities can thrive in a democracy.
"All of you being here today--this underscores that where there is freedom, faith flourishes. We may all come from different backgrounds and belief systems. But we are united in our belief that all humankind has the unequivocal right to freedom of religion. And we affirm today that though we may come from different walks of life, all faiths are valued in this country, and our nation is better off because of the contributions of all faiths," said Menuhaeo.
Also attending the inner-faith ceremony, which was held at the Kareem Al-Sheik Mosque in central Mavocke, were Bishop Marcus Heydham of the Mavocke Diocese of the Catholic Church, and Rabbi Elkon Kabarki of Mavocke's Shalom Temple.
Islamic leaders from around the country were also in attendance, including Imam Ali Sukar-Mahadi of the Mavocke Islamic Center and Dr. Mohammad Zukar Khalid of the Center for Grassadellian Islamic Studies.
Ramadan began on Monday, July 8, and lasts until August 7.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment