Speeches & Articles

Remarks by Consul General Beth A. Payne
Global Anti-Terrorism Day Celebration
On Milad-un-Nabi/Birth Day of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad
At Shahid Minar Maidan, Kolkata
March 10, 2009

March 10, 2009

Mohammed Ali Azad
Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs and Finance
Syed Masud Mahmood Khundoker, Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh
Santa Mitra, Hon’ble Sheriff of Kolkata
Other dignitaries on the dais

Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh
(Peace be unto you, and so may the mercy of God and His blessings)
 
I am honored to be here today to join you in celebrating Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).  The Holy Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) brought the world a message of peace.  He taught us that all men and women -- from the various different regions of the world, from every color, creed and culture -- are blood brothers and sisters.  He taught us to love and respect one another for we “are all Adam’s offspring.”  In the words of this great prophet, “Allah, all Your servants are brothers/sisters."
 
Today, the world faces enormous challenges – an economic crisis, global warming, poverty and hunger, but the threat of terrorism is one of our greatest challenges today because it strikes at the heart of our communities.  Terrorism cannot be linked to any particular race, culture or religion.  Throughout history, we have seen terrorists, who had professed to be Christian, Jew, Hindu, or Muslim.  Those who target innocents – regardless of their cause - have no place in any society and threaten every society and are not true representatives of the faith.  This is why the United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with India, as well as other nations in the struggle to end terror.
 
In the words of President Barack Hussein Obama, “We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.”  In our struggle against terrorists, however, American will not sacrifice our core values.  

President Obama has already begun to restore the standards of due process and the core constitutional values that have made our country great even in the midst of war, even in dealing with terrorism.  From now on, our interrogation techniques will be consistent with international law, we will close our prisons in Guantanamo Bay, and we will responsibly withdrawal our troops from Iraq by August 2010.
 
The United States is also refocusing our resources on the greatest threat to our security – and the security of both India and Pakistan -- the resurgence of al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  We will increase American troop levels in Afghanistan, press our allies in NATO to do the same, and dedicate more resources to revitalize Afghanistan’s economic development.  President Obama will demand the Afghan government do more, including cracking down on corruption and the illicit opium trade.   As for Pakistan, President Obama has announced plans to increase nonmilitary aid to Pakistan and hold them accountable for security in the border region with Afghanistan.  We will work closely with our partners in India, seeking your wise council, as we develop strategies to confront both al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
 
In addition to these major policy shifts that affect the Muslim world, we would also like to renew our commitment of friendship and partnership with the various Muslim communities in India.  Islam is a religion that brings hope and inspiration to more than a billion people around the world and it has given birth to a rich culture of learning and literature and science.  I have been very fortunate over the past twenty years to have lived in a wide variety of Muslim communities; I’ve celebrated the various Eids in the deserts of Kuwait, under the date palms of Tunisia, in the heart of Baghdad, Iraq, and among the various Sufi brotherhoods of Senegal.  My life is richer because of what I have learned from my Muslim friends and colleagues. 
 
I have been particularly blessed to have been welcomed into several of India’s diverse and vibrant Muslim communities.  Indian Muslims have made major contributions to India's political life – their contributions to India’s education, art and culture are unparalleled.  Indian Muslims have also helped strengthen India's ties with the United States – whether it’s someone like Farid Zakaria whose political commentary is now a must-read for any serious policy maker in America – or A.R. Rahman who has won the hearts of so many Americans with his cry of “Jai Ho.”
 
This is why I believe that only by joining hands and hearts will we find a way to end terrorism, for in the words from the Quran:

“If anyone slew a person unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land― it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if anyone saved a life it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.”

Khuda Hafiz (“God be your savior”)