PRESS RELEASE
RELEASED ON SEP 12,
2008
DALLAS, Texas. The 12th Annual Thanksgiving
Celebrations & Awards Night is set for Saturday, November
22nd between 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM in Dallas, Texas. The
event is an expression of the Foundation for Pluralism,
Center for Studies in Religious pluralism and Secular
Societies and encouraged by the World Muslim Congress.
"The purpose of celebrating this event is to thank God for
helping us learn to accept, respect and appreciate each
other’s uniqueness and;
1.
Give
thanks for the blessed life we all enjoy in these United
States of America.
2.
Celebrate the diversity of God's creation and enjoying the
cultural heritage of each ethnic group.
3.
Appreciate and recognize outstanding volunteers in each
community.
4.
Gather together as Immigrant Americans with naturally born
Americans in celebrating this wonderful holiday.
5.
For
many of the immigrants it is an introduction to the
American way of life.
Thanksgiving celebrations & Awards Night brings together
the diverse ethnic, social, civic and religious
communities of Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex. In the last
Eleven celebrations every spiritual group including the
American Indian, Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain,
Jewish, Muslim, Shinto, Sikh, Tao, Wicca, Oloriya,
Zoroastrian and other communities have participated. This
year we intend to reach out to every possible tradition
that we can trace and together we can celebrate.
Additionally, our invitees include people from different
nationalistic /ethnic ancestries. Our Mayors and Public
and civic representatives will be invited as well.
The uniqueness of the program is highlighted with the
Turkey Carving ceremony, followed by Dinner. In previous
years, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Congressman
Pete Sessions, Mayor Morris Parrish, Mayor Pro tem Bob
Townsend and several dignitaries have performed the
symbolic Turkey Carving. This year another dignitary will
be honoring us with his/her presence. The highlight of the
evening is the Cultural pluralism expressed in term of
Native American Dances and four other nationalistic
dances, last event was colored by Egyptian, Taiwanese,
Filipino and Indian dances. This year we will reach yet
another milestone.
Traditionally the evening has been dedicated to the Native
Americans who have preserved the mother earth for all of
us, it is their belief in nature and their caring for the
land that we have come to cherish. Over the years we have
appreciated and recognized individuals and the communities
who have contributed towards the pluralistic heritage of
America. Martin Luther King Jr., awakened the
conscience of this nation and prompted changes in the
Civil Laws that have paved the way for most immigrants to
make America their new home. All the South Asians and I
are here today because of Reverend Martin Luther King’s
reformation of our collective conscience.
The Jewish community has been a
catalyst in creating a solid foundation for religious
freedom in
America.
The
Jewish community was honored for working to preserve the
religious freedom in this country, they were hugely
instrumental in making America for what it is today;
God’s land, where all God’s creation can worship the
creator every which way they want.
Mike Ghouse expresses his gratitude, "
We salute the Native Indians for nurturing survival
and we salute Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Jewish
Community for their outstanding contributions in making us
all proud of the United States of America. We admire the
Native American, African American, Hispanic, Jewish,
Muslim, Catholic, Mormon, Wicca, Sikh and other
communities for enduring all the difficulties and
humiliation but relentlessly pursuing for a United
America, an America for all people to live and cherish.
We appreciate their courage to continue to remain
steadfast in their loyalty and patriotism in contributing
towards the growth of this great nation. A senior
representative from each community will bless the
ceremony.
