August 30, 2011

Eid el-Fitr Message

The Holy Month of Ramadan is a time when Muslims around the world fast, pray, and do good deeds.  It is also a time for personal reflection and introspection, for charity, and for compassion. On behalf of the American People, I would like to wish all Muslims in Tanzania a happy Eid el-Fitr.   

This celebration ends a month-long time of self-reflection and reminds us that the values of Islam – charity, community, cooperation, compassion – are values which we also hold dear as Americans and which have contributed so much to cultures around the world.
As President Barack Obama said during the White House Iftar dinner on August 11 of this year, Islam has always been part of our American family, and millions of Muslim Americans have long contributed to the strength and character of our country, in all walks of life.  

The first Muslim ambassador to the United States, from Tunisia, was hosted by President Thomas Jefferson, who arranged a sunset dinner for his guest because it was Ramadan - making it the first known Iftar at the White House, more than 200 years ago.  

The Thomas Jefferson building at the U.S. Capitol has a mural titled "Human Understanding," where Islam is honored as one of the twelve greatest influences on American civilization, especially in the area of physics.

The United States and Tanzania share a rich religious and ethnic diversity.  I have been honored during my travels throughout this great nation of Tanzania to visit mosques, Muslim religious leaders, and communities to expand our friendship and cooperation.   

As Ramadan draws to a close, let us hold on to that spirit of community, so that all our children, regardless of where they were born or how they worship, can have that opportunity to become all that they are meant to be in the name of the Almighty, and in the furtherance of our common humanity.
Eid Mubarak.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________Alfonso E. Lenhardt is the U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania