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A
NEW PERSPECTIVE ... FOR DEEP-ROOTED VALUES
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The blessed
month of Ramadan comes once again this year, embodying the meaning of national
unity, which is deep-rooted in the conscience and soul of every man and
woman who has lived under the skies of Egypt, drank from the waters of
the Nile, eaten from the fruits of its soil and inherited the most beautiful
of its values, i.e.: tolerance.
Egyptians have lived since the beginning
of time as one people, Moslems and Christians, upholding the principles
of goodness and peace - rejecting violence and fanaticism. They believe
that our God is one God and that different religions have come to complement
rather than divide one another. Thus they have been keen to promote the
idea that: “Religion is for God and the Motherland is for All.” |
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| They have demonstrated
strong unity in the face of the most acute crises and shared together the
happy and sad days of that nation. |
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| Headed by President
Hosni Mobarak, the godfather of national unity, all agencies in the state
of Egypt have endeavoured to deepen the concept of national unity.
This is vividly manifested in the president’s personal interest in removing
all the causes that might undermine such unity. He instructed all
leaders in the country to enhance the principle of nationhood for all Egyptians,
Moslems and Christians, and that all have equality in rights and obligations.
I have personally seen this during my many meetings with Egyptian officials.
including Mrs. Aisha Abdel Hadi, the Minister of Immigration. I have
seen how she diligently followed the affairs of Egyptians and was interested
in supporting the activities of the General Union of Egyptians Abroad.
I was honoured when she conferred upon me the position of Information Adviser
in Canada to the Egyptian Ministry of Immigration. |
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| More than ever
before, we need rapprochement and dialogue. We need to remove the
causes of disagreement and to advocate peaceful coexistence between all
the divine faiths. The challenges are certainly great. And
the world has now come together around one objective, namely to spread
goodness and peace among all peoples of the earth. Perhaps we can
see in this hospitable country of Canada and in the Province of Quebec
which has embraced us, the best example of action to maintain multiculturalism
in an environment of different religions as well as peaceful coexistence
among its people. |
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| We have willingly
chosen to live in this generous country, carrying within us all the noble
values that we have grown to respect in Egypt. We look forward to
a bright future for our children and grandchildren, to implant in them
the values of loving one another and to living together in peace.
We bring them up to reject violence and fanaticism and to deepen the concept
of goodness, love and peace among them. |
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| As we meet here
today, Moslems and Christians at one Iftar table, we renew our commitment
to continue to preserve and defend our national unity and to spread its
culture to the next generation. |
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| May God protect
our beloved Egypt from every evil and help our hospitable country Canada
to continue to live in peace and security. |
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| George Saad |
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2009 Ramadan Iftar Dinner
~ Click on each photo for Video.
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