Our National Spiritual Assembly has just received greetings messages for Naw-Ruz from our Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Tony Blair MP:
Naw-Ruz greetings from the Prime Minister (Rt Hon Tony Blair MP).
March 2007
It gives me great pleasure, once again, to send my best wishes to the Baha’i community in the UK as you celebrate Naw Ruz. The United Kingdom deeply values the presence of the Baha’i community and the unique contribution you make.
The words of your founder, that “the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens”, have perhaps an even greater resonance in 2007 than ever before. The universal challenges of climate change, and its potentially disastrous impact on millions of people across the globe, remind us forcefully that we are all fellow citizens of the world, all sharing in its destiny. As we confront these challenges I have no doubt that you, and your fellow Baha’is in other countries, have much to contribute to the debate and the pursuit of possible solutions, drawing on the tradition of working for social justice of which Baha’is can rightly be so proud.
With my best wishes to you all for the forthcoming year.
[Signed] Tony Blair
The Rt Hon. David Cameron MP, the Leader of the Opposition, has also sent a message:
March 2007
Happy Naw-Ruz
I am delighted to send all members of the Baha’i community my best wishes for a Happy New Year.
The principles which the Baha’i community hold dear – in particular unity and also the promotion of social justice, a belief in the importance of family life, and a concern for the environment – are of central importance to our society today.
The fact that so much work has been carried out to put these values into practice, through development projects around the world does great credit to your faith.
I know also that you will have in your thoughts at this time those communities elsewhere who face persecution because of their faith. Freedom to worship and to hold religious belief is a fundamental right which we must always cherish.
May I once again send my good wishes to you and your families at this time.
[Signed] David Cameron
They’re very good messages and they will be read out at our official Naw-Ruz reception in the House of Commons this evening.
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Egypt and Iran need to take notice of this example of honest assessment of the contributions of the Baha’i Faith to the world society. What a breath of fresh air!
Thank you for sharing….
Mr. Blair and Mr. Cameron provide an example of fair-mindedness! Why is it so difficult for Iran and Egypt to promote keeping their citizens in the dark by spreading rumors, falsifying history, and depriving their Baha’is citizens of fundamental human rights?
Best wishes to the Baha’is of the U.K. for a Happy Naw-Ruz and a fulfilling New Year!
As one Baha’i, I would like to express my appreciation of the services of U.K. Baha’is which have gained the respect and admiration of the Baha’is worldwide and the people of the U.K. as expressed by both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition!
I think we are fortunate in the UK to have a political system and a government that acknowledge the positive value that religions of many kinds bring to our society and the good that people of faith can do in the world. I am very happy that the Baha’is in the UK can, within such a framework, play a role which is then acknowledged by political leaders.
Beautiful new photograph of the countryside. I love the contrast of colours!
Thanks for the comment on the header pic. I’m rather proud of that photograph, which was taken during a National Assembly retreat weekend in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside.
Of course, my blog header has only a slice of a larger photo.
This is cool. As I understand it, the Baha’i Writings anticipate various world leaders who while not being Baha’is themselves would recognize the value of the Baha’i teachings and arise for their propagation. After all the mission of the Baha’i Faith is to the benefit of all people whatever their background, namely unifying the human race. Any fairminded person must see that as a positive thing. Alas that this is not yet the universal attitude of world leaders.
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