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Ambassador James F. Moriarty’s Remarks at the Iftar in Honor of Alumni of State Department Exchange Programs |  | | Ambassador Moriarty speaks at the Iftar in Honor of Alumni of State Department Exchange Programs. | | | Sunday, September 13, 2009
Assalamu alaikum. Ramadan Mubarak.
Ramadan is a holy time, a time for family and friends. That is why I am so pleased to be here with alumni of our State Department exchange programs. I consider all of you close friends of our Embassy, and I am glad that we are able to come together at this special time of year.
Tonight we also join in spirit with over seven million Muslims in the United States and over 1.5 billion Muslims around the world. Through your exchange experiences, you have seen the diversity of American life. Americans have their roots all over the world, as do American Muslims. When I think of iftar in the U.S., I think of Bangladeshi-Americans, African-Americans, Arab-Americans, Indian-Americans, and many others, all following their own traditions but coming together in the spirit of reflection, charity, and good will that characterizes Ramadan.
Ramadan is a time to think of the less fortunate as well. I know many of you have been inspired by the spirit of volunteerism and service that ignites American communities. Our exchange programs include the best and the brightest from across Bangladesh. You are leaders among your peers. As Bangladesh strives to become a secure, stable, and developed democracy, you will lead the nation toward the future. Whether you are in business, education, civil society, government, or academia, you have the potential to influence many sectors of society. Bangladesh is changing — and you are in positions to steer that change in the right direction.
It is a heavy responsibility, but I am confident that you will rise to the challenge. I especially want to speak to young alumni of our student programs. We have seen the potential in all of you. As you make the choices that will shape your path, know that we are confident in your abilities and your leadership skills. Use that potential to shape a career and a life that you will look back on and be proud of.
As you meet these challenges, please know that we at the State U.S. Embassy in Dhaka will be your partners. We want to engage with you, hear your voices, and work together for the future of Bangladesh. I am pleased that we have with us Lauren Lovelace, the newly-arrived Public Affairs Officer and Director of the American Center. She will be leading our efforts to reach out to State Alumni, so I hope you will share your ideas with her.
I look forward to working together for a better Bangladesh and a better world. As President Obama said in his Ramadan message, “We cannot change things over night, but we can honestly resolve to do what must be done, while setting off in a new direction – toward the destination that we seek for ourselves, and for our children. That is the journey that we must travel together.” Your cross-cultural understanding and your ability to bridge U.S. and Bangladeshi culture make you the ones who can help us reach that destination together.
Ramadan Mubarak. Thank you for coming this evening. |
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