00:00:00.583,00:00:03.208
[Text: Farah Pandith – Special
Representative to Muslim Communities,
U.S. Department of State]
As-Salamu Alaykum and Ramadan
Kareem!
00:00:03.208,00:00:06.083
As the special representative to
Muslim communities
00:00:06.083,00:00:08.417
here at the U.S. Department of
State,
00:00:08.417,00:00:10.500
I want to wish Muslims around
the world
00:00:10.500,00:00:13.250
a joyous and reflective Ramadan.
00:00:13.250,00:00:16.125
I have been fortunate enough to
spend the first week
00:00:16.125,00:00:17.792
of my Ramadan with you
00:00:17.792,00:00:21.625
during my travels to Indonesia,
Malaysia and Thailand.
00:00:21.625,00:00:24.500
As a Muslim who
grew up in the United States,
00:00:24.500,00:00:27.375
it always pleases me to see how
Muslim communities
00:00:27.375,00:00:29.958
around the world celebrate
Ramadan
00:00:29.958,00:00:32.667
in their unique and rich local
traditions.
00:00:32.667,00:00:36.125
It is one of the most enjoyable
parts of my job.
00:00:36.125,00:00:38.792
I’ve been meeting so many
wonderful people
00:00:38.792,00:00:42.042
and hearing your voices, your
dreams, your thoughts,
00:00:42.042,00:00:44.542
your goals — are all important.
00:00:44.542,00:00:47.083
We have many challenges to face
together,
00:00:47.083,00:00:49.750
and it is my sincere wish to
work with Muslims
00:00:49.750,00:00:52.750
around the world, particularly
the youth,
00:00:52.750,00:00:54.750
to come up with creative
solutions
00:00:54.750,00:00:57.625
to obstacles that lie before us.
00:00:57.625,00:01:01.083
I strongly believe that together
we can address the issues
00:01:01.083,00:01:04.375
of common concern, whether it is
the ongoing famine
00:01:04.375,00:01:07.250
in the Horn of Africa, the
dramatic transformations
00:01:07.250,00:01:10.458
taking place in the Middle East,
and the bridging of gaps
00:01:10.458,00:01:12.833
of misunderstanding that plague
people
00:01:12.833,00:01:15.458
of different faiths and
cultures.
00:01:15.458,00:01:18.667
I wish all of you a blessed
month of Ramadan,
00:01:18.667,00:01:21.250
and I look forward to meeting
you either in person
00:01:21.250,00:01:24.333
or online in the coming year.
00:01:24.333,00:00:00.000
Thank you!