Hello everyone,
Evelyn here,
The following is a excerpt from Attorney General's News Briefs - "AGNews". It is from the April 14, 2006 issue. I also emailed this excerpt to some special friends.
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Message from Attorney General Charlie Crist
In ceremonies in Miami this week, some 12,000 people from more than
100 nations raised their right hands, swore their allegiance to the
United States and became American citizens.
These ceremonies made a compelling statement about the lure of freedom
as practiced here in the United States. The same appeal of liberty is
behind the current debate over federal immigration policy, as
literally millions of men, women and children seek out a better life
in the home of the free.
This week’s naturalization ceremonies serve as a poignant backdrop as
millions of Floridians exercise the very freedom that led Europeans to
settle these shores in the first place - the freedom of each
individual to practice the religion of his or her choice.
In two days, some 14.5 million Floridians who identify themselves as
Christians will celebrate Easter, the holiday at the core of their
faith. Two days ago, approximately 700,000 Jewish Floridians observed
the beginning of the Passover festival, commemorating the freedom of
the Israelites from bondage in ancient Egypt.
Regardless of an individual’s particular religious beliefs, we all
can
agree that the freedom to worship as one chooses is what sets our
nation apart. It is no accident that our Founding Fathers placed the
guarantee of religious freedom into the very first amendment to the
U.S. Constitution. With that in mind, we should all take a moment to
remember those brave American men and women of all faiths who are
fighting around the world to protect for our freedom.
Springtime brings renewal to our state, offering sights, sounds and
fragrances that were dormant through the cooler winter months. In the
same way, this week bring a spiritual renewal to the millions of
Floridians celebrating holidays of particular significance to their
faiths.
I wish each of you a joyous holiday.
Charlie Crist
In ceremonies in Miami this week, some 12,000 people from more than
100 nations raised their right hands, swore their allegiance to the
United States and became American citizens.
These ceremonies made a compelling statement about the lure of freedom
as practiced here in the United States. The same appeal of liberty is
behind the current debate over federal immigration policy, as
literally millions of men, women and children seek out a better life
in the home of the free.
This week’s naturalization ceremonies serve as a poignant backdrop as
millions of Floridians exercise the very freedom that led Europeans to
settle these shores in the first place - the freedom of each
individual to practice the religion of his or her choice.
In two days, some 14.5 million Floridians who identify themselves as
Christians will celebrate Easter, the holiday at the core of their
faith. Two days ago, approximately 700,000 Jewish Floridians observed
the beginning of the Passover festival, commemorating the freedom of
the Israelites from bondage in ancient Egypt.
Regardless of an individual’s particular religious beliefs, we all
can
agree that the freedom to worship as one chooses is what sets our
nation apart. It is no accident that our Founding Fathers placed the
guarantee of religious freedom into the very first amendment to the
U.S. Constitution. With that in mind, we should all take a moment to
remember those brave American men and women of all faiths who are
fighting around the world to protect for our freedom.
Springtime brings renewal to our state, offering sights, sounds and
fragrances that were dormant through the cooler winter months. In the
same way, this week bring a spiritual renewal to the millions of
Floridians celebrating holidays of particular significance to their
faiths.
I wish each of you a joyous holiday.
Charlie Crist
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Evelyn out.
Evelyn out.
