Glendale Park, Dallas
Source: Star Local News
By Jari Khan
New Leaf Family Church of Dallas and Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Dallas Chapter, have joined hands to celebrate America’s Day of Independence.
The event will reflect on the difficult path of achieving freedom and justice for all, that nation had gone through for past 200 years. It is a unique opportunity for people of different faiths to come together as one people guided by God to commemorate the sacrifices that men and women in uniform are making while they protect the American nation and its principles of freedom.
The celebration also highlights the importance of America as a multi-cultural nation where people must live with and understand one another. The celebration will include food, activities for children, musical selections and prayer. This day is very important event for all of us who live in United States and make up the mesh work of this great nation.
On this great occasion I have penned down a poem to highlight why as an immigrant I love this country so much even more than my mother land. The poem goes as under:
My adopted country
A country has adopted me and I have adopted her
When millions of my Ahmadi brothers and sisters are suffering back home
My adopted country has raised voice for them
When there is tsunami in Far East
When there is earthquake in mountainous regions of my motherland
Or in open seas in Haiti
My adopted land’s helicopters and planes were found flying
Helping people in need, people in fear,
When dictators rule their lands
When oppressors oppress the human rights,
When kings and ruthless rulers kill their very own people
My adopted country is there to protect them
From the wrath of their oppressors
Freedom of religion and conscience is her goal
Throughout the world.
People of my adopted country embraced me and many others
With open arms and open minds
My adopted country has come a long way
From George Washington to Abraham Lincoln to JFK to Reagan to Obama
And Clinton is there too working for better of the poor and the needy
These are the faces of my country that I am proud of
Whether black or brown or white or Christian or Jew or Muslim or any religion or no religion
It is Equal for all, love for all and hatred for none
Now having felt the freedom of religion and speech
Freedom of conscience and thought and right to vote openly
On this 4th of July, I would like the whole world become United States of Freedom
Like United States of America
This first Interfaith Independence Day Celebration will happen on 4th of July, between 10 a.m. and 12 noon at Glendale Park in South Dallas: address is 1515 E Ledbetter Dr. Dallas Texas 75216
Contact Dr Jari Khan @214-364-7011 for more details
It was a great event today. Many people both from Ahmadiyya Muslim community Dallas and also New Leaf Church community attended the event. It include all ages from infants to older adults. It was also attended by Dallas Sheriff, Lupe Valdez, one of the few Sherifs in US who made comments to the audience. she said why not people come together rather than be away from each other. The community enjoyed gatherings. Fox channel came to interview and recorded the event to be shown on TV channel. Alhmadolillah it was a great success. Both president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mr Suhail Kausar and Rev Dr Corey C Toney, promised to do the event at a larger scale and also keep the cooperation building. Mr Joe, Bishop from Congresswoman Eddie Burnice Johnson was also present and addressed the audience. the program ended with prayers for the country.
Lupe Valdez is one of the few woman Sherifs in US, i meant.
Congratulation Jari for your efforts which make this event a success