Lincoln Center Herat Celebrates the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s Birth
On February 16, 2009, the Lincoln Center Herat held an event celebrating the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Guests included Governor Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani, the Mayor of Herat, the Deputy Chairman of the Provincial Council, the Director of the Education Department, the Director of the Herat Culture and Information Department, a Vice-Chancellor of Herat University, the Head of UNAMA for the Western Zone, the UNHCR Acting Chief, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission Chief, the Chairman of the Herat Industrialists Union, the Voice of Women Executive Director. Other attendees included Fulbright, International Visitor and YES Alumni, representatives from the Herat Public Library, the National Gallery and the Herat Literature Union, and lecturers and students from Herat University.
After a Qari recited passages from the Qur’an, Brad Hanson, the U.S. Department of State Representative, spoke about Abraham Lincoln and three aspects historians highlight; saving the Union, ending slavery, and extending a hand of peace and reconciliation to the defeated Southern rebels. Then, as fitting for an educational center named after Lincoln, Hanson read excerpts from Abraham Lincoln’s “Letter to His Son’s Teacher” and Nazir Noori, the Lincoln Center Coordinator, read the Dari translation.
Governor Nuristani then spoke, focusing on Abraham Lincoln as an individual who transcends national boundaries, cultures and time. The Governor also discussed the US Civil War, in particular, the Battle of Gettysburg and Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address. Mr. Sarwary, Director of the Herat Department of Information and Culture, also addressed the gathering, emphasizing Lincoln’s educational background. He noted that Lincoln was a self-educated man and a self-made philosopher. Both the Governor and Sarwary urged Heratis, especially youth, to take advantage of the Lincoln Center’s educational resources.
After the speeches Noori announced the US Embassy Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Essay Contest. He also invited attendees to the Lincoln Center on February 19 for a documentary screening of “The Biography of Abraham Lincoln.” The ceremony was concluded with a cake cutting by the Governor, the State Department Representative, and the Director of Information and Culture.
After the event many guests praised Lincoln’s “Letter to His Son’s Teacher” and requested copies of the text in English and Dari to share at their educational institutions. Local and international media, including Herat local TV, Tolo TV, Radio Killid, Reuters, Radio Liberty, and Pajhwok News Agency covered the event.