Happy Nowruz from President Obama and Me!

Happy Nowruz from President Obama and Me!
By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe
The U.S. government and U.S. President Barack Obama and I wish all of my friends and colleagues a Happy Nowruz. May God bless you with good health, peace & joy in this new year.
Nowruz is literally translated as “new day” and acknowledges the spring equinox and the beginning of the Persian and Muslim New Year.
People from all walks of life, including government representatives of the United States have joined together, both in the House of Representatives and the Senate, to acknowledge the holiday of Nowruz and wish Nowruz celebrants well.
I’ve included a press release from both the U.S. Senate and Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton.
President Barack Obama even videotaped a Nowruz message (click below).


U.S. Senate Passes Nowruz Resolution
March 22, 2010, Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Senate passed by unanimous concent the Nowruz resolution sponsored by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and John Cornyn (R-TX).

A similar resolution was originally introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Michael Honda (CA-15th) and passed on March 15th, 2010. Like the House version, the Senate resolution also recognizes the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz, expresses appreciation to Iranian Americans for their contributions to American society, and wishes Iranian Americans, the people of Iran, and all those who celebrate the holiday a prosperous new year. The Senate version also encourages the peaceful celebration of Nowruz in Iran and supports the right of Iranians to exercise the freedom of assembly, expression, and speech.
Click here to read more
Nowruz Message
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC, March 20, 2010 - On behalf of the American people, I offer best wishes to all those around the world celebrating Nowruz. For Iranians, Afghans, Kurds, Azeris, and people across Central Asia, Nowruz marks the beginning of a new year full of promise and possibility. Families and friends will gather to rekindle old ties and make plans for the future. And in the United States, hundreds of thousands of Americans will honor their heritage and history. The spring equinox is a time of reflection and renewal across cultures and continents – signifying the hope of rebirth, health, and prosperity. This is an opportunity to remember how much we have in common -- the aspirations we all share for a peaceful and prosperous future – and to reaffirm the human rights and fundamental freedoms that are our universal birthright. As the Iranian poet Simin Behbahani writes, “we are all parts of the same body, similar in essence.” On this Nowruz, we honor those common bonds.

As we look to the year ahead, let us redouble our efforts to promote mutual understanding and respect. Working together, we can meet the common challenges and seize the shared opportunities of this new year and this still new century.

Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak.

Happy Nowruz!