Speeches

Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i.,Virginia Blaser at the Eid-Ul-Fitr Dinner

Thursday, October 16, 2008
Clemens House, Floreal

Acting Prime Minister, Dr. The Honorable Rashid Beebeejaun;
Former Vice President Mr. Raouf Bundhun;
His Excellency Mr. Bakry Elamary, Ambassador of Egypt;
His Excellency Mr.Ghulam Farid Farrukh, Ambassador of Pakistan;
The Honorable Puisne Judge, Asraf Caunhye;
Members of the National Assembly;
The Hon. Shakeel Mohamed;
Distinguished Guests;

Good evening. 

Thank you to former Vice President Bundhun for your lovely words this evening.  And Eid Mubarak to everyone!

Ambassador and Mrs. Cabrera send their heartfelt regrets at being unable to share this evening with us, as he is in the United States for several weeks.  I know it is one of their favorite events of the entire year.

In the Ambassador’s regrettable absence, Mitch and I are delighted to welcome you to Clemens House and are very pleased that you have joined us this evening to celebrate Eid Ul Fitr this year.

The Muslim community of Mauritius, like Muslims around the world, recently finished the holy month of Ramadhan, one of the five pillars of Islam.  Ramadhan is a month of fasting, of self-purification, of humility, of charity to the poor and the needy.  All people of goodwill can share in these beautiful intentions and aims.  More recently, you celebrated Eid, the second most holy feast of Islam, a time of great enjoyment, of well-deserved feasting, and much visiting among friends and families.  It is our privilege to rejoice with you during this special time of celebration.

In addition to joining you in your celebration of Eid, let me also say that we celebrate with you two qualities of Mauritian life that are ongoing: your vigorous defense and practice of freedom of speech, the press, and religion, and your marvelous tolerance of other religious traditions. 

The Muslim community of Mauritius plays its own part in these great traditions of freedom and tolerance, values that we also celebrate in the United States.
 
As many of you know, Islam is a very important part of America, where seven million Muslims live, work and worship freely.  There are over twelve hundred (1,200) mosques in America, and over half of those have been founded in the past 20 years.  Clearly, Islam is an important part of our culture and nation – just like it is here in Mauritius. Just like it is in so many nations around the world.

So it is especially nice to note that here tonight are people from many of these nations.  Amongst us are ministers and mothers, diplomats and dads, religious leaders, businessmen and women, government servants and grandparents. 

With such diversity represented here, we are perhaps a group that is particularly suited to be both thankful for our many blessings and humbled by the opportunities we have to make our world a better place.

We can each of us seize these opportunities; to encourage others around us to do the same; to help those trying to find ways to improve our communities and make them stronger and better.

It is undoubtedly better put by the Prophet Mohammed, who said “A person's true wealth is the good he or she does in the world.”  What blessed people we are to have the wealth of opportunity to do just that, both as individuals and as a group.

Once again, I am delighted to have you all with us for this event.  Enjoy the rest of the evening!  

Eid Mubarak!