Tuesday, November 21, 2006

On the 50th Anniversary of the National Assembly of South Africa: A Message from President Thabo

By email from Lisbon, Portugal-based Marco of Povo de Baha, who provides such leadership to the Baha'i blogging community, comes this news item about the Baha'i Faith in South Africa. -gw

"Joburg," uploaded on August 6, 2005 by skymyr on flickr
The National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa hosted a banquet for the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh on the 11th of November in Johannesburg where some 170 non-Bahá'í guests and about 110 believers attended. The occasion not only celebrated the Holy Day but also the 50th year of the anniversary of the election of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South Africa. The Bahá'í Community was indeed privileged to receive a message of congratulations from the State president of this country, Mr. Thabo Mbeki.
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Kirstenbosch, famous South African bontanical gardens. Uploaded on September 3, 2006 by Victor Geere on flickr


MESSAGE BY PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ'ÍS OF SOUTH AFRICA

> I am most honoured to have this opportunity to extend warm greetings
> to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South Africa on
> this important day, the 11th of November, in which you celebrate your 50th Anniversary.
>
> That you are today turning fifty testifies clearly to your
> steadfastness and to the pivotal role you have played and doubtlessly
> will continue to play in advancing the cause of unity and amity in our beloved country, South Africa.
>
> Since its formation half a century ago, on 11 November 1956, the
> National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South Africa untiringly
> has promoted the spiritual, moral and material development of Bahá'ís
> in this country as well as that of the South African society in
> general. In this regard, your notable participation in the National Religious Leaders Forum has also contributed immensely in ushering in an age of hope in our country.
>
> The fact that your anniversary falls in the same year in which we
> commemorate our country's land-marking events, such as the tenth year
> of our democratic Constitution which recognises and promotes religious
> freedom, points further to the historical position you occupy in our country.
>
> Accordingly, on behalf of the Government and people of South Africa
> we say congratulations and best wishes to the National Spiritual
> Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South Africa on your 50th Anniversary.
>
> May you have more successful and fulfilling decades ahead!

2 comments:

Yzerfontein said...

That's a stunning clickie of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens - I've got the same one on my site.

Anonymous said...

nice post!
BTW, thanks for your suggestion, but when it's time for talking or screaming... nothing else can be replaced except shedding tears perhaps!
it's getting really chilly here and staying or even walking out for a long while is getting somehow harder...i can't walk around and take photos unless i take 2-3 sinus advil beforehand :-/
plus, i'm a little unmotivated and haven't even uploaded all the recent photos yet...
honestly, i am thinking of giving a big shake to my thoughts and my way of living... i'm getting sick of it bad! :(.. i'm thinking of starting to become more couragous... on and off i think of writing whatever i feel in my blog(s) ...! it needs guts that i'm not sure if i have enough!!! ooppsss!
----
anyhow, i guess you should be given an award or something for blogging, you are a full-time blogger with a colorful, image-filled blog page :)
did you know that?