Political Quotes

“I rise to speak on a special day. Today is my wife's birthday. Today is National Freedom Day, when we recognize President Lincoln's signing the 13th Amendment banning slavery. This is the reason we celebrate Black History Month in February. Today, February 1, begins American Heart Month, acknowledging the great heart of the American people, as well as the need for health care. But today, February 1, is also the first day of World Interfaith Harmony Week. In 2010, King Abdallah II of Jordan spoke before the U.N. General Assembly, and he asked the U.N. to declare a week every year to promote understanding and tolerance between the world's religions. In his speech before the U.N., this is what King Abdallah said: It is also essential to resist forces of division that spread misunderstanding and mistrust, especially among peoples of different religions. The fact is, humanity everywhere is bound together, not only by mutual interests, but by shared commandments to love God and neighbor, to love the good and neighbor. What we are proposing is a special week, during which the world's people, in their own places of worship, could express the teachings of their own faith about tolerance, respect for others and peace. The resolution was adopted unanimously at the U.N. General Assembly, and all nations, religions, and peoples were asked to observe it. By happy coincidence, as the Presiding Officer knows, King Abdallah is in Washington right now.…”