Greetings and congratulations to the Maryland Amarican Turkish Inhabitants on the occasion of your 2004 Iftaar Dinner. I regret that I cannot be there with you to share the dinner and the evening with all of you. In these tense and fearful times it is very important that we come together to reaffirm our common humanity and commitment to democratic principles and practices for all peoples.

Turkish Americans contributed much and in many ways to our community.Your veterans have served in our nation's armed forces with valor.Your educational,cultoral and religious institutions have enriched all of our lives. Your businesses are important contributors to the economic engine of the State of Maryland. You work hard every day to provide a home for your family and good jobs for your employees.

Know that I am your side-fighting for improved educational opportunities,a safety net for seniors, increased access to capital for minority businesses, and national and homeland security. I also support legislation to prohibit racial profiling and strenghten our hate crimes laws. And while we have the responsibility to make sure that Americans are safe and secure within our borders, that security can never compromise the individual rights and the personal freedoms that are the basis of our democracy.

American is one nation: unified by our patriotism, yet comprised of diffirent races, faiths and cultures.We celebrate our individual cultures and maintain our own ethnic and religious identities. But our nation is a mosaic, held together by values that we all share: honor, family and community.

Thank you for all you do everyday for your community and the nation.

Sincerely,
Barbara A.Mikulski
United States Senator

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