Courageous in defeat
Thanks to The Daily Star for printing messages from Barack Obama and Dan Mozena on this present Fourth of July. I also thank The Daily Star for the photo and article “A Huge Howard” on our goal-keeper who was tremendously courageous in defeat to the very talented Belgians. I downloaded the “Star-Spangled Banner,” our national anthem, from YouTube and sang it and reflected on its last line, “land of the free and home of the brave.” I did the same for the “Pledge of Allegiance” to our flag and reflected on its last line with “with liberty and justice for all.” One of the constitutional values America shares with Bangladesh is freedom of religion along with secularism which is one of the four pillars of the Bangladesh constitution. Secularism is not against religion, but it means an “even playing field” for people of all religions whether they are Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, or even atheists. This is why I am personally opposed to blasphemy laws which would likely be defined in terms of only what one religion considers blasphemy and would therefore disrupt the even playing field.
Scott Elliott
Working and living in Uttara, Dhaka
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