[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21635]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      OPENING OF THE MUSLIM EDUCATION TRUST CENTER, TIGARD, OREGON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SUZANNE BONAMICI

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 18, 2015

  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the grand 
opening of the Muslim Educational Trust Community Center in my 
district.
  I recently had the honor of attending the ceremony and thanking Wajdi 
Said and the Muslim Educational Trust Center's Board of Directors for 
their leadership and hard work to establish this important Community 
Center.
  Now more than ever, our country needs organizations like the Muslim 
Educational Trust, whose work for the betterment of society--through 
education, cooperation, tolerance, and public awareness--transcends 
faith and bridges differences. The MET is educating the next generation 
of Muslim leaders and in the process, enhancing relations between 
Muslim and non-Muslim Oregonians.
  Like most, I condemn the hateful, closed-minded, anti-Muslim rhetoric 
that has infiltrated our public discourse. Equally disturbing are the 
reports of violence against Muslim Americans and their places of 
worship. Hate speech has always characterized darker periods of our 
history and these episodes will be similarly judged.
  Just recently, on the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution's 
13th Amendment abolishing slavery, President Obama gave a poignant 
speech in which he described the long struggle that ended slavery, and 
the battle for civil rights and basic freedoms that followed.
  The victories won by previous generations of enlightened Americans 
have had far-reaching effects. However, discrimination remains 
prevalent and has manifested itself in an attack on religious freedom.
  During his speech, President Obama remarked, ``We betray the efforts 
of the past if we fail to push back against bigotry in all its forms.'' 
And he's right--we have an obligation to our nation, itself a protest 
against oppression, to speak up for the freedoms and safety of our 
friends and neighbors.
  President Obama also said, ``Our freedom is bound up with the freedom 
of others--regardless of what they look like or where they come from or 
what their last name is or what faith they practice.'' In the United 
States, this notion is fundamental and an important part of what 
distinguishes us from many other countries.
  The Muslim Educational Trust Community Center will continue to open 
its doors to all of its neighbors, enlightening minds and building 
bridges of friendship among Muslim and non-Muslim Oregonians. I am 
pleased to extend my congratulations and pledge support against bigotry 
in all its forms.

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