November 25, 2012 - Remarks at Ashura Luncheon at Dialog Forum, Coexistence, Understanding and Enrichment

Thank you, Mustafa Gezen, for inviting me to join Dialog Forum for the Ashura Brunch.  It is a pleasure to share your fellowship today and to again see former Rabbi Melchior.

                Like Dialog Forum, I believe that people, regardless of national boundaries or religious practices, have much in common  -- and that what we have in common is greater than what divides and separates us.  I also believe that meeting with others who have different backgrounds, perspectives and beliefs is important to our understanding of each other and our ability to work together to solve common problems – and it enriches our lives.

As the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, I have the opportunity to travel throughout the country and learn about the important social, political, and economic developments.  Both Denmark and the United States have a shared interest in building strong and welcoming societies where all residents have the opportunity to thrive.

When my grandfather Jens Jensen immigrated to the United States, he brought with him Danish traditions and values that defined our family and helped shape our community.  He worked with many other new Americans from many countries to build his community.

His father, my great-grandfather, was a small farmer from Mid-Jutland and a member of Landstinget from 1918 to 1940.  Perhaps the most important family tradition my grandfather brought with him across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States was the commitment to involvement in politics and government as a way to ensure that everyone, no matter how small or how poor, was represented and had the chance for a better life.

Nearly three weeks ago, we held the U.S. federal elections.  From my point of view, the outcome of the Presidential election was the right one; it was good for the U.S. and good for the world.  There have been many previous elections when my favored candidates did not win.  Election season should be a great reminder of how fortunate we are.  Let us appreciate our good fortune to live in countries that are democracies.  We live in democratic countries where we hold transparent elections; people vote, and we abide by the results; we routinely transfer power from one party or coalition to another, and we do it peacefully.  Many people around the world do not have this experience.

Let us appreciate also that we live in countries that permit us to practice the religion of our choice.  Of all the freedoms we cherish as Americans, among those we hold most sacred is the freedom of religion – the right of each of us to worship as we choose.  It is forever enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Along with the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, and the freedom to assemble, we cherish the right to free exercise of the religion of our choice.

Again this year, President Obama hosted an Iftar dinner at the White House.  His guest list included members of Congress, U.S. leaders and diplomats of the Muslim faith.  On display as the guests entered the White House was the Koran owned by Thomas Jefferson.  Records show that Jefferson purchased this English translation of the Koran in 1765 – more than a decade before he wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.”  These words were written by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

We know that the Koran also teaches that “each of us is equal to the other.”

               The great religions of the world share these ideals – compassion for fellow human beings, commitment to human dignity, and devotion to a loving Creator from whom we draw strength, especially in times of challenge.

Three days ago we celebrated Thanksgiving in the United States.  It is a surprise to many to learn that Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday, but rather it is a national day holiday declared by our Presidents going back to the first President.  Americans of all faiths – and those of no faith – gather with friends and family to appreciate the bounty and blessings bestowed upon us.  It matters not whether you worship God, Allah, Yahweh or the Great Spirit of the Native Americans.  Thanksgiving is the most important American holiday because all Americans share the spirit of the day, regardless of country of origin, ethnic background or religion.  For many immigrants, it quickly becomes a favorite holiday – and family tables are spread with a combination of ethnic foods and the traditional American Thanksgiving foods.

Last year during Ramadan, my attention was drawn to a story on CNN about two young American Muslim men in the United States who in 2010 decided to visit 30 mosques in 30 days.  Last year, they did it again, selecting mosques in 30 different states, from Alaska to Hawaii, from Minnesota to Louisiana.  We brought one of those two young men to Denmark last fall, Aman Ali.  He would like to be a comedian, but in the meantime, he is inspiriting many in countries around the world.

               From him, I learned many inspirational stories about members of the Muslim faith living in places throughout the United States.  One of the places Aman Ali found most intriguing was my home State of South Dakota, in the heartland of Scandinavian and German heritage.  There he found a Native American who converted to Islam and found his faith.

He told me that the first building in the United States which was constructed to be a mosque was in North Dakota.  While Muslims worshipped in mosques in pre-existing buildings in other cities, this first mosque was built by Syrian-Lebanese immigrants.  It was build underground, where it provided protection from the harsh North Dakota winters.

Too often we focus on our differences.  As we focus on Ashura, let us celebrate the richness and diversity of our world of many faiths.  

One of the things I miss most about not being in the United States is the diversity in my country.  The diversity that comes with immigrants from around the world is one of my country’s greatest strengths and is what made the American dream and built the greatest economy in the world.  You see this diversity when you walking down the streets of New York, Washington or Chicago.  You see people of all sizes and shapes, wearing a vast variety of clothing styles and hair styles.  As for me, I particularly appreciate the diversity of ethnic foods and fusion restaurants.  I love the opportunities to hear music and see dance from places around the world.

It strengthens our society when we are able to tap into the ideas and experiences of people from different backgrounds, who bring together different perspectives and different ways of looking at problems and finding opportunities. 

No one society has all the best ideas or the best traditions -- or even the best food.  Let us be grateful today for this diversity.

Let us remember that we are more alike than we are different.  We all want the same things.  We want healthy babies; we want to educate our children; we want to live in safety with clean water; we want jobs; we want to be successful members of our communities.

Let us reflect on the fact that for each of us, our success and happiness depends upon each other and on our ability to live together in mutual respect.  Let us understand that diversity is a source of richness and strength, and not division.  Our lives become richer when we make room to appreciate other cultures.

                Dialog Forum, thank you for bringing us together today and reminding us of the importance of meeting across cultural and religious boundaries.