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A Season of
Understanding
Remarks by David
Kilgour, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)
and Member of
Parliament for Edmonton Southeast at the
Ninth Iftar
Mahil Celebration of the Canada-Bangladesh Muslim Community
St.Laurent
Complex, Ottawa
November 16, 2003CHECK
AGAINST DELIVERY Assalamu
Alaikum. Thinking
back to our celebrations at this time last year and in the fall of 2001, I can't
help but believe that that it was with great foresight that Allah chose this
lunar month to reveal the Holy Qu'ran to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUM).
Because of this timing, for the past few years Ramadan has fallen at
around the same period as celebrations of equal importance in various other
faiths including Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali and others. As
Canadians and as citizens of this shrinking planet, we have a choice:
we can observe our traditions within only our own faith communities - as
we are, of course, free to do. Or
we can recognize this intersection of timing for the powerful message it
represents: in Canada, in Bangladesh and around the world, the need for genuine
understanding between faiths is more important than ever before and the
unprecedented opportunities to reach out and build bridges between communities
must be seized. Indeed,
fasting is common to virtually all faiths (Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic ones
alike). It is a simple, yet
powerful practice that bears a universal message to all humankind.
As Nazreen Tareen writes in her article, 'Fasting and Ramadan:'
"Fasting teaches us self-control, patience, perseverance, selflessness,
salvations and self-restraint. Fasting
is direct communication between God and the individual." Fasting
brings us closer to Allah, and in doing so, also brings us closer to all of our
brothers and sisters on this earth. By
sharing the tradition and spirit of Ramadan tonight, you have extended your arms
to undertake a much-needed dialogue - a gesture that deserves to be reciprocated
many times over. Assalamu
Alaikum. Dhannabad. |
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